Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-12
RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.
In SENATE OF rae UNITED STATES.
REPORT OF THE MNITTEE ON
FOREIGN RELiTTONS.
TCONCLCDED.I

Mr.. Livingston. in the belief Of the anxious de-
sire OF the king and his government faithfully to
execute the treaty. 1t is due to frankness and
Justice to declare that they have not seen any
reason whatever 70 occasion doubt or distrust as
70 the sincerity OF the King. II would be ncre-
dbe that the king should not be DESTROYS TO ex-
ecute treaty ia the formation of which he had
a personal and particular agency, which was
concluded by his voluntary authority, and when
had finally received his deliberate sanction. In
dependent of the obligations of justice and good
faith the head OF any government would be
prompted, under such circumstances, by person.
nj character aud pride. to desire the success OF
leading measure Of his administration.
Il having been thus arranged between the two
governments, that they sh mld await the issue oil
a renewed appeal to the French Chambers, Tor
the requisite appropriation Of funds to execute
the treaty the committee have examined into
the causes which have induced the President to
recommend H. Congress the adoption OF
measure of self redress, to be used in the con-
tinSency Of their refusal TO make the approprl-
alton. The President states, i'm his message to
Congress, that "The pledges given by the
French minister, upon receipt of his Instructions
were that as soon after the election of the new
members the charter would permit, me le9IS-
lative Chambers Of France should be called to-
gether, and the proposition laid before them;
that all the constitutional powers OF the KING
and his cabinet should he eXerted tn accomplish
the object; and that the result should be made
known early enough to be communicated to
Congress at the commencement OF the present
session"
The President continues, I" regret to say that
the pledges made through the minister ofFrance
have not been redeemed. The new chambers
met on the 3lSt July last and although the sub
ject Of fulfill NJ treaties was alluded to IN the
speech from the throne, no attempt was made
by the King or his Cabinet tn procure an appro-
priation 10 irry it into execution. The reasons
given for this on SSon, although they might be
considered sufficient in an ordinary case, are
not consistent with the expectations founded up
on the assurances given here, fOrthere is no con-
stitutional obstacle TO entering into legislative
business al the first meeting of the Chambers
This point, however, IN ght have been overlook
ed, had not the Chambers instead of being call
ed to meet al so early day that the result OF
their deliberations might BE- communicated to
me, before the meeting of Congress, been pro-
rouged to the 10Th of the present month-a Pc
riod so late that their decision can scarcely be
made known to the present Congress prior TO
its dissolution. To avoid this delay our minis
ter i'm Paris in virtue of the assurance given by
the French minister i'm the United States strong
ly urged the convncation of the Chambers at IN
earlier day but without success. II is proper to
remark however, On 1t this refusal has been &C
companed with the most positive assurances,
on the part of the Executive Government Of
France, Of their intention to press the appro-
priation at the ensuing session at the Chambers"
The pledge given by The French Minister, tn
which the President is presumed To refer, is con
tanned in the folio wing paragraphs OF his note
TO the Secretary OF State, OF the 9TH June, 1884
"The Kings Government, sir, will make every
loya and constitutional effoIt tn that effect and
will do all that its persPvering persuasion of the
Justice and of the mutual advantages Of the
treaty authorize you to expect from II. Its in
tention, moreover, is to do all that our Constitu-
ton allows, to hasten, as much as possible, the
period Of the new presentation of the rejected
law" In his answer To that note of the French
Minister, the Secretary of State expresses the
expectation of the President, that the King will
enable him, when presenting the subjecI to Con
gress as his duty will require him tn do, at the
opening Of their next session, to announce, at
that tune the result Of that appeal and Of his
majesty's efforts for its success. u the French
minister had, in a reply To this note, assented to
the expectation Of the President there would
have beeu ositive and explicit engagement,
and the subsequent omission to convoke the
Chambers in time to admit OF the coimunica-
ton To Congress, at its present session, the re-
suit of their deliberations would have heen an
indisputable violation Of it, hut he made no re-
ply, or il he did, it has not been communicated
the Senate.
At Paris the French Government was strenu-
ously urged by Mr.. Livingston, first to submit
the appropriation to the Chamber of Deputies,
which assembled on the 3lst July; and that not
being acceded tn, secondly, that they should be
specially CdHcu edtly III liie pun
pose. To these demands. Admiral De Rgny
IN minister of foreign affairs, at first replied in
his note of the 3lst of July, 1884, to Mr. Livings
ton, "the Kings government, do not hesitate
% repeat, will eagerly seize the first occasion
again to submit ID the elaboration of the Legis
lature the bill requisite for carrying into effect
the convention of 1881; and will use every ex-
ertion in its power 10 obtain an issue 10 this i'm
portant question conformable to the wishes of
the two Cabinets But certainly it will not be
requisite for me to explain the reasons which
will prevent the subject from being brought be-
fore the Chambers during the short session
which the King will open this day"
"This session, the only object of which is to |
give the Chambers~an opportunity Of organi-
ling themselves, will be almost Immediately pro- |
rogued; and il wif-be needlass to demonstrate |
to you, sir, the impossibify of keeping legis 7
:lafure assembled at a season ofthe year, during |
sIkhch in France, as in the United States and in
nsost countries under constitutional form of
government parliamentary labors are habitual-
ly suspended"
al regret then that on this point his Majesty's