Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-17


of the 18th January last having been received this
Department after the adjournment of Congress- to whom
that note communicated, it is now made public by
the direction OF the President of the United States
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Paris, january 29h, 1885.
His Excellency CouST DE RreNY
Ministers Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs.
Sm: Having already had occasion to acknowledge the
receipt of your Exceencys letter of the 18th inst and
TO answer that part of it which most urgently required
my attention, proceed to consideration of tse other
matters which it contains shall do this with a sincere
desire avoid every thing that may excite irritation or
increase difficulties which already unfortunately exist
Guided by this disposition, shall conne myself to an
examination of your note considered only cxposi-
ton of the which his Maestys Government thinks
it has to complain of III the Message sent by the President
of the United States to Congress, the opening of its
present session.
Your Excelency begins by observing that nothin q
could have prepared his Maestys Government for the
impression made upon it by the Presidents MESSAGE
and that if the complaints he makes just as YOU
think them unounded still you would have reason to be
astonished at receiving the first of them Ia
such form. lfhs Majestys Government was not pre-
pared to receive complaints the part of the IT, s. for
noneSccutlon OF the treaty every thing have sad and
written since have had the honor of with
your Excellency, and your predecessor in Office must
have been misunderstood forgotten. can scarcely
suppose the first; for, If whole corespon dence
ferred to- and my verbal representations rccolected they
will be found in the unequivocal laugua0e 10 ~
press an extreme socitude for the execution of the
treaty-a deep disappointment at the several DELAYS
which have interviewed, and emphatically the necessity
which the President would be under of laying the mat
he hnsx
80, ii before that period he did not receive notice
that the law had passed for giving effect the treaty
TO urge the obligation OF the treaty. TO prepare his Ma
jestys Government for the serious consequences that
must result from its breach unnecessary DELAY in
executing it, my duty and has been faithfully and
unremtngly executed. To my own Official renrescn
tation, the 26th added the Goth July last tLc
precise instructions had received to inform his Males
tvs Government that "Ihc President could not avoid
laying before Congress- the first of December, full
statement of the position of affairs this interesting
subject or permit the session to end, do,
the Sd March, without recommending such measures as
the Justice and the honor of the country may require
In this alone, then, there sufficient Independently
of my numerous applications and remonsrances) to pre-
pare his Majesty Government for the Just complaints
of the United States, and for the Compression" they
ought 10 produce we'll for the mode in which they
were communicative mode clearly pointed out in the
passage have quoted from my note of the 18th July
that is to say by the annual message from The President
to Congress, which, have already had occasion
TO observe, his Maesty's Ministers have enormously
considered as addressed directly to hem and viewing
it in that light have araigned this document as con-
tanning groundcss complaints, cOuched in language not
called for by the occason and Offering for consideration
means OF redress offensive to the dignity of France
shall cndeavor by plain exposition of facts repc
those charges; shall examine them with the freedom
the occasion requires but suppressng the feelings which
parts of your Excellency letter naturally excite
WILL far possible avoid all those topics for recrni-
nation which press upon my mind The observation
am about to make will not be deemed departure from
this rule, because is intended to convey information
which seems to have been wanted by his Maicstys Nil
MISTER when late OCCASION he presented law TO the
Chamber Of Deputies. VI proper, therefore TO state
that although the military title of Gcnea was goriousIv
acquired by the present head of the American Cavern
ment he is not, in official language designated as GEM
raj JacisoR, out g. The President OF the United
States, and that his communication made in that
character.
proceed TO the examination Of that portion of
your Exceencys letter which attempts to shew that the
complaints setforhn the President message ground
less.
Itbegins by assuming, principle of argument that
after the Chamber of Deputies had rejected The Law and
his Maiestys Government had promised TO pr,sent il
w. by That
given up all right to complain Of any anterior DELAYS
have vanly endeavorcd sir TO find any rule of reason
ing by which this argument can be supported Ii gould
undoubtedly be much easier to strike off from the case
the delays Of two years in proposing the law, than
justify them
1t IS true that the United States. with moderation
and torbeaance for which they receive credit waited
two years almost without complaint for The perform
of treaty which engaged the faith Of the French
nation to pay just indemnify, for which they had alrea-
dy waited more than twenty years 1t is true at His
Maiestys Government offered solemn assuyanccs that
as soon as the Constitution of the country would permit
new attempt would be made TO redeem tho national
pledge given by the treaty. IL is true also that the Pre-
sdent OF the States gave credit to those assurances
asotrue, and your Excellency CLOSE sight
of that importantand unconesed fact that formal notice
was given that the performance Of those promises would
be expected according TO their letter. and that he could
delay longer than the first Of Dee the execution Of
duty which those had induced him TO post
pone Whatever reasons His Majesty government had
for not complying with Mr. serr1riers enoseefoent or
however they may have interpreted IT, tie President
could not be prccuded from considering the whole cas
hS opeH, duutng 10 ms statement the
stoned by the delays anterior 10 The vote Of rejection
Those delays still unaccouned for and are rendered
more questionable by the preference given to another
treaty, although subsequently, made for the guarantee 81
the great loan.
Confning your observations to this second period Won
say that the reproachcs which the President thinks him
self authorized IN making TO France may be comprised
IN the following words "Ihc government Of the kim
had proposed to present The treaty Of July anew to lie
Chambers as they could be assembled; but bev
have been assembled The 3lst July Of the last wear
ana the treaty has not yet been presented" Stating this
as inc whole OF the complaint you proceed, sir in your
am obliged, reluctantly, here to make use Of aro,
mens winch IN the course Of this discussion have beeu
often repeated, but which TO have made no inercs
SION on Ills haIestys government. 1 am Obliged in re-
Pelhng the reproaches addressed to the Pcsident 10
DuDg 70 your recollection The terms Of tic promise on
which ne relied tie circumstances attending IT, and the
OBJECT Tor which u was given These must be fv nm
derstood and fully weighed before the question beoc
Us can be resolved. W
Inc circumstances under which Mr. serfuriers nor,
was written ore material in considering lis true i'm /
port Inc payment stipulated by treaty dujy ratified
on DON sides, had Just been formally refneed b., . 80,