The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-02-25


distance which interyenes between them, the proba-
bic close of the Legislative sessions at the pc
riod both at Washington and Paris would leave this
important question still undecided, and would in
crease its difficutses by fresh delay. Under such
circumstances, the Government has rejected the sys-
tenn ofemporisation. question of national dignity
had the first right to its socitude; and, gentlemen,
you aware how thar question has been treated.
Nevertheless, as the Treaty of July has become
neither less just nor less polite than before as the
proceeding adopted by the President of the United
States has not weakened the basis of equity and for
reason on which the trarsaction rests, the Govern
men has preserved in its determination present the
Treaty again for your examination. This engage
mcnt taken, it is for the honor of France that
it should be accomplished. In this important de-
liberation, the Chamber, whilst cooperating with us
iii watching over the national dignity, will no doubt
keep in view the sentiments of kindness and friend
ship which for sixty years have united the French
and American people. The Chamber will recur to
those high considerations of commercial and mari
time power which have always caused our alliance
with the United States to be regarded as an unal-
terable rule OF national policy. In thus speaking
our only wish is to pay homage truths ofevery age;
to place them in opposition transitory mpressoins
and, above all, to declare that France imputes ne
ther to the people nor to the Government of the
Union the sentiments and the propositions expressed
by the President of the United States. We desire
to look upon his message to the Congress mere
ly the inconsiderae act of isolated power; andthe
honor of the nation renders it the less impera-
tive on to persist in the policy which has ever
been that of the Kings Government-the policy of
good faith.
"Genteman,-You will scrupulously weigh the
motives which call for the adoption of the Treaty.
Above all, in examining it have done, you will
lay aside all considerations unconnected with the
question Itself-in other words unconnected with the
right and justice of the claims that have been made,
and with the compensation to be offered for the COM
mercial advantages which the Treaty has secured to
France
Impressed with these considerations, Gentlemen
the Government, through me, again lays before you
the Bill which shall now have the honor to read to
you clause Of which you will no doubt see the
prOpriety, has been introduced, to nerdct the pay
ments TO be made on the sum fixed by the Treaty,
until the intention of the American Government shall
be correctly ascertained. We have right, and it is
our duty, Gentlemen, to render that government
ponsible for such of its might wound the dig
nifty and the interests of France"
The following is the text of the Bill -
Art /. The minister of the finance is authorized
to carry to the Budget, of each of the years 1886,
1887, 1888, 1889, lS4O, lS4l, the sum necessary
to pay off in six equal terms the capital of 25 ,OOO
OOOfr. in execution of the Treaty signed on the 4th
July, 1881, between France and the United States,
and the ratification of which exchanged at
Washington on the I'd FEBRUARY 1882.
Art. 2. The sum of 500, ,OOOfr. which the Gov
ernment of the United States engaged to pay to
France in six annual terms, discharge ofthe claims
of French citizens shall be carried to the credit side
of special article of the Budget, in proportion
the recoveries are made. Credtsto similar amount
shall be opened to the minister of the finances for
the discharge of the claims that may have been
| liqudated in favor of French citizens.
! Art 3. The payments to be made on the sum of
25 OOO O0Ofr shall not be carried into effect till it
shall have been ascertened that the Government of
the United States has adopted measures injurious
to the French interests.
The reading of the preamble and of Bill OCCASION
cd in the Chamber, and after
the minister had quedthe tribune, several Deputies
formed groups and entered into close and animated
cony yersation.
/ The Bill then ordered to be printed distribu-
ted, and submitted for examination to the standing
committees; the discussion it being reserved for
n future sitting.
! Nj. Pellet de la Lozere, demanded that Govern
ment should order the printing and distribution of
all the reports of the successive Committees which
since the year 1881 had been charged to examine the
American claim ITSELF or the Bill relative to it.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs replied, that all
the documents relative to the American claim would
be laid upon the table of the Chamber and that such
ofthem as required publication should be printed and
distributed.
i The President said that it would be more regular
if all the documents in question not only sub
mtted to the Committee but also laid upon the Presi
dents table
Il The Minister of Public Institution said that there
was no objection to that course
We are enabled to contradict in the most positive
manner the statements in several of our bontempo
raries, that preparations are making at the Hotel of
the American Embassy for the departure of Mr..
Livingston, and that his Excellency was to leave
Paris this afternoon. These accounts are wholly
destitute oftruth, we have TO know, that
Notwithstanding the notification in the Moniteur,
Mr. H. has no intention of demanding his passports.
FEMALE INDEPENDENCE.
, young lady named Miss Greene, on the 4th of
July last year, delivered an oraton i'm Augusta