Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-10


decrccs on the grounds that compensation had brcn adc
for them in the effects Of the rcaiuory measures which
the Un.cd States had adopted in the place Of a,cabe
demands for satisfaction NJ. dc Montmorency, however,
ack edgeI That the Americans appeared 10 nave
right to indeninicailon,
For The seizures nahe after .t0rembrr ], 1910, mas
much as the DEGREES having been lnnuled, their effects
should also have CEASED;
= For the iUsS If Tie rcsSe'S rhtca hdd 6ccA destroyed al
sea;
lie even indicated Mrd class; TO embrace probably,
the vessels sequescrcd at Saint SebastIuns which are
in the report, but omitted IN the conclusions
-1Lruy from Mr. ErOsra To BarOn dc Ddmas, Of Deem
Ter ~, lc=7.l
Thus il is clear that ~ de Montmorency acknowledg.
ed the legitimacy of the principal cacgores OF Amer
can claims. lie even, in letter to Mr. Galalin OF
June 1e2 expressed desire to have them al! embraced
in dciintve arrangement But he considered it most
proper to defer making final estimate of their amount,
until after the conclusion OF the Treaty Of Navigation,
then under negotiation at Washington, aud which was
intended to terminate the serious MISUNDERSTANDING be-
tween France and the United States
Mr. Ga!atin complained Of this new delay. IN his let
ter Of June ~ l2 the Minister Of Foreign Affairs;
but the rctext q" the delay was soon at an end
for the Treaty Of Navigation concluded at Wash
innton on the 18th of June, lo22
nj Gallan shortly after (August II: 1922 insisted
that the question of indemncalion should be brought
before the Kings Council. NJ. de Viele who was then
conducting the business in the absence OF NJ de Mont.
morcncv began (Sepember B. le2 by alleging the ne
means, futile indeed of gaining time he soon however,
discovered serious oLjccllon which was used du
ring several years for the purpose OF erudlng the press
ing demands of the United States.
We have seen that by the 9Th article OF the treaty OF
ccs<ion Of Louisiana Of April 80, l5O3, France had s
pulacd that her vessels should forever after twelve years.
be received in the ports Of the coded territory, on The
terms OF the most favored nation. BY the treaty OF
TO receive British vessels in all the ports OF the Cnon
on the same American vessels, on conoton OF
reciprocy" They offered this same advantage to
all nations by act of Congress, OF March 81 lSlo ana
some accepted it. Thus at the expiration OF twelve
years following the conclusion of the treaty OF loO The
most favored nations received in the ports OF Lou
sana the footing If perfect equality with those Of
the United States.
As early as 1917 NJ Hyde de Melville, then Minister
Of France in the United States had bccu arg' To- de-
nand this treatment for French vessels in the Louisiana
ports. He did make the demand on the I'D o February
ISL in letter to MIR. Adams: the Secretary OF Stale Ut
the United States. After objections, by no means
compatible with Tie American character Tor business, lie
Government Of the United States alleged that the re-
ccptio ofthe British Prussan and Dutch vessels IN The
ports of the United States, the same io0ilng win
American favor but the result oil reciprocal
agreement; and that the same terms France might Sc
cure for her vessels the same trcament- Letter jf0m
j q. .7damS to II. de .'euriHc IF iiHrch 2Ah lei
Nj. de Melville, in his letter TO Mir. Adams Of April
3D. 1921 protested against this assimilation OF France to
other Powers tits but JUST said he, that other nations
should return equivalent for favor but how can an
OF
already paid in the cessinn of Louisiana If French YES
sells to be admitted into the Louisiana ports ON
the terms with Amcrcan-evrn since the treaty CT
crssiDn except condition Of reciprocity, why was 1t
thus stipulated in that treaty. since those terms IT was
already secured to France by the treaty of lcUO
This the subject Of the arguments on this SUBJECT
presented each side in volunn"us notes. lhe dis.
cussiom produced no results; the CONVENTION vi icZS
LETT unsettled, and even unmenluncd, difficulties Which
il could not seize Ltr from H. dc NrurMe 10 BGron
PnSguier. IF .inguA !4M lS2l
a. de- ViIl,e IN his letter Mr.. Gallatin Of N"vcn.
Der -. lc2 proposed to resume the consideration OF
this subject, and include in the same negotiation, the
American claims and tie French clams for part Of
which the non.cxrcution Of the Louisiana treaty form
ed the grounds.
This proposition was rejected by Mr.. Gallatin. AZ
Ter many solicitations, which had been cyadcd alter
81 many aIournments without reason, now that the
opening Of regular nrguution could longer be re-
fused he could not, lie said allow it to be again coggcd
by tie addition Of question which was foreign 10 IT:
ard which had already been discussed Mr.. Gatfain )
Lettc,s " dc tWiec Of Noremtcr ~, lc22 AMI Fe-
trHary -: le23
The question from this moment became altered; but
the Federal Government long resisted It's transportation
To the new ground which France wished 10 place IT,
An offer was made TO the United States TO negotiate Sc
para on The .ouisinnH Treaty hut the" -"'"sH" ia az
mt into the discussion, claims so different III Their
nature aud inferior in Importance; ior they contend
ed the indcmnicaton demanded by France, was based
upon the pretended non.exccution OF treaty. the sense
Of which disputed, whilst that demanded by the
Americans Stfclly ]uSt, as IL was OH
loss Of property, which had been seZcd on destroyed ny
force, and without any right
A lunT controversy ensued which was not interrupt
cd by the changes either in the French Ministry or IN
Inc American Lcgatlon Ltners Of Mr. SaetaOn Charge
d4fa7rs Of the United States, IL w. dc Chaeuubiand,
.NiMistr Of Foreign ?fars IF France. Of Octoter M,
lc23; Of Mr. BrO,cn, minister Ptnpotcntnry Of Tie
United H@fS, 10 ". dc Chntcanbriand c rrd 2ch. e2l
Of ~ dc thatca"briond to Mr.. Bromn, Of n@y 1M e21;
Of Mr. ErUM to Baron dc D0moS Gt October 2oh, e24
h1rri uuIS clte Il.
Baron de Damas. after having been about one year
Minister of Foreign Affairs. undertook 10 answer the
principal argument of tho Minister Of the United States,
who had become more active and pressing. In his letter
OF November 25t 1875, he insists that the legality of
the American Claims by means uncuntcscd-
Tie King said he, ain returning 10 the throne, could
take, and had not taken upon himself the engage
n.cnt satisfy all the claims which might be presented
OH account Of the acts of violence and depreciation
United hy the Government Of the Csurprr, and anlIc
pang the objection which might be made on the score
of the Of Paris, he explained the responsibility
which France had then taken upon herself by saying
"1hc Powers whic had united against that governing n
ana which after having overthrow it, occupied the ca
pta and greater part of the territory Of France, cT0c
cd from her the restoration Of peace as plcdge OF
general reconciliation, the admission OF certain claims
which their subjects had preferred"
The Baron thus thought proper to invoke the revcrses
rather than the good faith Of France, and in order 10
avoid the admission that she had paid her debts he chose
to acknowledge that she had paid her ransom. lie, how
ever placed but little confidence in this argument OF
non.aduisson, which strongly opposed by the
American Minister in Ills letter of November III, le3;
for he continued TO offer negotiation for claims OF every
nature, American and French; and in report 10 Tie
king. Of July o. lo25 he admitted two cassrs of Ameri.
clanrs including those for vessels burnt at seaand
for vcssrls seized since the LIST Of November, $50 At
ter long resistance, the United States consented to
general mrg"tiaon but they 0resaw that the Two Co
vernmcnts would not agree, they proposed to refer the
decision Of the question 10 tie arbitration of third Go
vernmcnt. To this proposition, Baron de Danas gave
percmrtoy rciusal-[.fot's Of Earon dc Dn7nns, Of
September and .Norcmber 81 1227; and letter from Mr.
BrO,cm, Of December 10. lSg7. This proposal again
made after M. tie la Fcrronays, became Minister of Fo
reign Affairs in letter from MIR. Brown, of July -,