Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-07-16

| OF the nation. Ipray your ExceIlency "a
observe, that my argument does not DENY
right TO all foreign powers oftaking pro
per exceptions to the governmental acts
and ianguageot another. II is 10 their in
reference IN its consultations, in its pro.
ceedings, while yet in an inchoate state
that we object. Should the President du
an official Executive act, affecting q for.
eign power. or use exccptionable LANGUAGE
IN addressing it through bis munster q,
through theirs; should law be passed
/ injurious to the dignity Of another nation
lin all these, and other similar cases. j
demand for explanation would be respect.
fully received, and answered in manner
that justice and regard to the dignity or
the complaining nation would require.
After stating these principles, let me add
that they have not only been theoretically
adopted, but that they have been practi.
cally asserted. On two former occasions
exceptions of the same nature were taken
to the Presidents Message by the Govern
ment OF France, and in neither did they
produce any other explanations than that
derived from the nature Of our Govern
ment, and this seems on both occasions TO
have been deemed sufficient; for in both
cases the objections were virtually aban-
doned. One, when Messrs. Marshall.
Gerry, and Pinckney were refused 10 be
received and again in the negotiation be-
tween Prince Polignac and Mr.. Rives. In
the former case. altho' the Message Of the
President was alledged as the cause of the
refusal TO receive the Ministers, yet, with
out any such explanation, their successors
were honorably accredited. In the latter
case, the allusion in the message to an ap-
pretended collision, was excepted to; but
The reference made by Mr.. Rives TO tho
constitutional duties Of the President.
seems TO have removed the objection.
Having demonstrated that the United
States cannot, 10 any case, permit their
Chiei Magistrate to be questioned by any
Foreign Government, in relation TO his
communications with the CO ordinate
branches OF his own, il is scarcely neces.
sary to consider the case of such an cx-
PLANTATION being required as the condition
on which the fulhlment Of treaty or any
pecunlary advantage was to depend. The
terms of such proposition need only be
stated to show that il would be not only
lnadmsslble, but rejected as offensive to
the nation TO which il might BIO addressed.
10 this case it would be unnecessary. as
well as inadnissible. France has already
received, by the voluntary act of the Pre-.
sident, every explanation which the incest
sense Of national hoLor could desire That
which could not have been given 10 a de.
msnd, that which can never be given on
the condition now under discussion for.
tunate succession Of circumstances. as I
shall proceed to show, has brought about.
Earnestly DESTROYS ofrestoring the good
understanding between the two nations,
as soon as dissatisfaction with the Presi.
dents Message was shown, | suppressed
every feeling which the mode OF express
sing that dissatisfaction was calculated 10
produce, and, without waiting for insiruc-
tons, fastened on my own responsible
~ 10 make communication TO your
predecessor in office on the subject. In
this, under the reserve that the President
could not be called on for an explanation,
did in fact give one, that thought would
have removed all injurious impressions.
This is the first Of the fortunate circu.n
stances 10 which | have alluded-for,u.
nate in being made before any demand
implying right 10 require il fortunate in
ITS containing. without any knowledge of
The precise parts Of the Message which
gave offence, answers TO all that have
since come TO my knowledge. lean east
ly conceive that the communication OF
which speak, made as expressly stated
without previous authority from my Gov
ernment, might not have had the effect
which its matter was intended to produce,
but il has since (as II have now the honor
10 inform your Excellency) received from
the President his full and unqualified ap.
probation. But it is necessary 10 add that
this was given before he had any intina-
ton OF an intention to attach it as con-
dihOn TO the payment Of the indemnity
due by the Treaty; given not only when
he was ignorant of any such intent, but
when he was informed by France that she
intended TO execute the treaty, and saw
by the law which was introduced that it
was not 10 be fettered by any such condi
lion. Thus, that is already done by vo-
luniary act, which could not have been
done when required as a right, still less
when made, what will unqnestionably in
the United States be considered degrading
as a condition. At this time, sir, | would
for no consideration, enter into the details
| then did. If could so far forget what
under present circumstances would be due
10 the dignity Of my country, should be
dlsavowed, and deservedly disavowed, by
the President. 1t is happy, therefore, i
repeat. that the good feelirg Of my country
was evinced, in the manner have stated,
at the only time when it could be done
with honor and though present cireum-
stances would forbid my making the com.
mmrnication then did. they do not pre-
vent my referring TO it, for the purpose Of
showing that it contains, as have stated
it does, every thing that ought TO have
been satisfactory. Actual circumstances
enable me TO do this now; future events
which need not explain, may hereafter
render il improper, and it may DO nuga
tory, unless accepted as satisfactory before
] the occurrence of those eYents lei Il be ex