Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-13
Twenty-third Congress---ed scss.
RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.
In Senate Of the United States.
REPORT


|
Or THE COMMITTEE FoREIGv REL ArIoHs.
MIR. Clay, from the Committee of Foreign Relations
made the following Report
The Committee Foreign Relations have according TO
order. had under consideration that part of the Mes
sage OF the President of the United States which
icrs TO the present state of relations with France
and having attentvcly examined the correspondence
which has passed between the two Governments
communicated to Congress, and delibcrated ON the
whole subject with earnesncss commensurate with
the high respect due to the views of the Chief Magis-
uaie and demanded by the delicacy of the questions,
and the magnitude of the interests involved beg leave
| now to submit the following Report:
The committee must, in the first place express their
entire concurrence with the President the Justice
oil the clams of the citizens of the United Staes for
which indemnity is stipulated by the treaty of the of
July, 1881. They had their origin in a series of mea-
of the French Government which Frustrated the
cearest principles of public law and violated the most
solemn engagements consccrated by pledges of national
faith. The veil, by which their enornity attempted
to be covered OF prior aggrcsons authorized inflicted
upon the neutral commerce of the United States by the
enemy of France thin the slightest de-
cepon Nothing in the conduct of one beigerent,
Justify the preparation of injury upon innocent
third party but if everything necessity of self
preservation should in any case, prompt the inicon of
such an injury, nothing could excuse il but ample and
immediate reparaton. At the period when these agrees
sions committed, the u S. would have stood fully
justified in the face of the whole world if they had APP
peacd to to ayenge their wrongs and vndcate their
rights And is known to those who with
the history of the times that hostile
against France seriously considered and actually
proposed in the councils of the United States. 1t
deemed expcdien not to adopt them but declare war
against the other begerent This selection of their
my, by the Government of the United States did not
proceed from any nsensbily TO the injuries of France
but was prompted by conviction that with France
in the actual condition of things would unattended
WIN any practical consequences, whilst Great Britain
1t was believed might be made feel the effects of her
more violent and unjust measures
Whilst, however, the Government of the u. States
felt itself constrained, by prudential considerations to
abstain from an appeal TO that period against
France, resolved never to acquiesce in the injustice
which citizens Of the United States had experienced at
the hands of France, but unremngly persevere in
demanding the indemnity to which they Justly
titled 1t was due to ancient relations with France TO
the interests OF the two countries and the of
the case since the injuries not resented when they
were tesh that redress should be first sought by friendly
negotiation. AS early 1872 distinguished citizen of
the United States depued 10 France when the power
OF the Emperor was at its greatest height demand
satisfaction His sudden and unexpected death proba-
ply prevented the accomplishment OF the object of his
mission From that PERIOD down TO the signature
OF the treaty under consideration, every American adj
minstraon, and every American minister at Paris with
the exception of short period of forbearance dictated
by delicacy and friendly feelings towards France have
earnestly pressed for the indemnity which are emit
tied From the multitude and the of the agrees
sons committed by France, is difficult TO ascertain at
this day, their precise amount and it never probably
can DC exactly verhcd even by Judicial investigation,
owing TO the loss oil evidence and other But the
committee concur, perfectly, with the President in the
opinion he has expressed in his Message that it is alb
soutey certain that the indemnity falls far short of
the actual amount of just claims independently
OF damages and interest for the detention During the
progress of the negotiations and NJ the nome of of sion
ing the treaty the American minister who concluded it.
had IN his possession authentic documentary evidence
demonstrating that the measure of indemnity far be-
low the measure of wrong The President is therefore
fully justified in saying, that the settlement involved
sacrifice in this respect well known the time
Although the commission which has been created de-
eide the claims has not yet closed its labors enough
has been already disclosed to establish that this sacr
ice greater than that which the American minis
ter ought to have known the signature of the treaty
Nevertheless intelligence of the conclusion of the
treaty received in the United States by the people
and their councils with general satisfaction Time
hunfc fltn 80
ake iaI oeheath me unsParng scythe and the people
of the United States in the treaty least partial
though tardy justice rendered to those injured citizens
who yet nger behind, and to the descendants of those
who died unrcdressed. Above all the people of the
United States in the treaty the removal of the only
obstacle to the restoration OF that perfect harmony with
France, which has been near their hearts
Never, this side of the ocean, could the people of
the United States believe that treaty which, at least
upon its face after its mutual ratification bore all the So
IDENTITIES of perfect obligation of both parties was to be
violated the other side So confident Congress of
its faithful execution, that it hasened pass the laws
necessary to give France the full advantage of the spu
ations inserted for her benefit and render the sums
stipulated to be paid to the American citizens avaa-
bic possible. Congress also provided by law that when
the instruments should be received they should be in
vested in productive fund 1t prior this latter
provision, that the Secretary Of the Treasury made
draft in favor of the Bank of the IT, upon the Treasury
OF France, for the first nstamcnt that protested It
might have been delicate towards France it certainly
would have been Fortunate if this draft had not
been made, until information had been obtained of the
necessary appropriation by the French Chambers to meet
1T; but the committee unanimously of opinion that
the mode adopted fully justified by the terms of the
treaty. and that no objection against it be fairly
drawn from them.
Near two years have elapsed since on the Cd Februa-
ry 1888 the first instament of the indemnity became
due without any provision for its discharge During the
greater part of this me from the of the protest
OF the draft the American Government has strenouslv
urged upon France the fufment Of the treaty. and il is
with profound regret that the committee find that its
earnest cndcayors have hitherto been unsuccessful
Inc President Justly remarks, chat the idea Of acqui-
escng in the refusal Of the execution the treaty will
not Tor moment be entertained by any branch of the
American Government. The United States can never
abandon the pursuit of claims founded the
waited wrongs And it, contrary all Just expectations
rance should persist in the nonulment of the treaty
when negotiation shall be completely exhausted il will
then become the boundcn and painful duty Of the United
states, TO consider what measures called for the
occasion, by their honor their interests and the Justice
due to their injured citizens.
Inc period, IN the opinion Of the President has area-
dy arrived for entertaining the consideration Of this
mentous question. IL his conviction that the Uni
ted States ought TO insist prompt execution Of the
redress in their hands" And he accordingly re-
conmends that law be passed authorizing reprisals
upon French property, in provision shall not be
made for the payment of the debt the approaching
sion Of the French Chambers" These rcprsals would
not in the opinion Of the President give France any
just for war; but if she should continue IL refuse
an act of acknowledged justice, and "n violation of
the law Of notons make reprsos part the occa-
sion of hosies againstthe United States she would
but add violence TO injustice and could fail expose
herself to the just ccnsure of civilized nations and to
the retributlve judgments Of Heaven"
The President does not present this Of rcprsas
as thc only for the consideration of Congress lie
says, III it shall be the pleasure Of Congress 70 at the
further action Of tho French Chambers no further con-
sderaton Of the subject will at this session, probably