Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-01-22

60. wv onhea states, and the obligations Of
1os'ess 70 the people Of the United States 10 >.
"a'' except IN The last extremity, all seem /,
inc COMMITTEE TO demand that we should a wa;, III.
result OF tho renewed exerions Of tho French K;rv
ana MS Cab'ne,,to secare the financial means 4, ar
ceuic the treaty -
. ne conm''lee agree with The Pre- sidcnf TINT The
y suites ought not To consco, 10 gong behind the
"c''y of any purpose Of disturbing its mutual s,p
u'a'lons II ought 10 be considered bs having hnsl.
closed whatever processes to settle Blu. Tor al
other purposes. tho door OF negotiation ought to bo
considered as yet open. The obc. OF negotiation /.
W "aaoe'"s 'ae'', and urging arguments, and nv
appe"s u reason, TO bring nations to common con.
~ ""u conclusions Ia q previous part of
'epor' mas been stated that deep rooted pre-.
J'o,ees, ana great misconccpton Of facts. prcyaled
n the Chambers with rcspec. 10 tho ,r.s,y and a..
lee'a'iy IN regard TO tho amount Of indemnify.
nero ~ reason TO apprchend that these impedi-
'nen's l, Just consideration and fair execution
=, '"e s"Po'a''ons OF the treaty are not vet COM
P'oe'y removes Among the last acts Of tho French
government which have boon communicated bv
The Executive 10 the Senate, IL a nuo from ~.
french Minister OF Foreign Affairs, undo, date
we ON August last requesting information ~ 10
,"e proceedings OF tho commissioners appointed I'm.
oo' 'he treaty with Spain Of 1872 documents 10
prove that tho owners Of American weasel, .e;y.d
have received no par, of the indemnify allo ed hy
mat treaty the report moda 10 Congress, bv ~.
ooaro OF Commissoners at tho last session Of Con.
gross Tor the distribution OF the indemnify s,ipvls,ed
VI .ne 'teay OF 1881 Ind tho report 10 Cops,cs.
o' me indemnity for slaves allowed by England in
tho treaty of Client.
Inc OBJECT OF this information and Of those dac.
u'"en's, sought for by tho French Ministry. h M
'ouo' 70 e"'gh'en tho French Chambers, and TO
on''y mo Them the samo conviction 10 which IL
mas brought itself OF tho justice Of our demsnds 1,
shoo'a DC our wish, and our aim, in future neyotia.
''on TO explain every thing that is dark or doubtfn,
and 10 afford the fullest an clcnres, encida,on. a.
an points We might, indeed, proudly and coldlv
ho'o up inc treaty IN our hands, and say 10 France
mere IL your bond. which We demand you imms.
"'oty 10 discharge. But We owe Il to our charsc.
Ter 10 ruin, to justice, TO tho dignity Of the nation
10 satisfy tho French Chambers and thu vbol.
world, that although our demand is sanctioned and
Jusuhcd ny tho solemn obi guiions of a natiooal
compact wo would seorn TO insist upon il, II il wer.
MOI also sustained by thu mmutablo principles Of
eternal Is,icc.
In recommending adherence yc, Ion ,er 10 ne,o.
''a'on Tor the purposes indicated, the Committee
are encouraged by ,hc past experience of hi, 90
vernmon' Almost every Power Of Euro,,e. e,nr.
emily during tho wars Of the French Revolution.
ana several OF those Of the new States on the A.
"e''can continent, hnve from time 10 time, given
" '"o oh'ed states just cause Of war; Mons
OF treasure might have been expended and coun,les.
numbers OF human beings been sacrificed. IL tho
United States had rashly precipi,a,ed ,hemsslys.
INTO s'nis OF war upon the occurrence of every
wrong But they did not Other and moro mode
f"ic and better counses prevailed The result Al.
tested their wisdom. With most Of tho Powers.
Wy the instrument Of negotiation appealing 10 tho
dictates OF reason and Of justice, wa have hsppiIv
compromised and accommodated oil difficulties
Even with respect to Frarcc, after negotiations of
near 4uaiter'eeniury's duration; after Ycpeaied
"o"ilsslons ny successive governments of Franco
OF he justice Of some portion Of our claim, hut
alter various repulses under prelcx, or another
wo h''o advanced. not rct,ogradod. France. by a
'olemn irea'y, has admitted the justice and s,ipu.
lated 10 Fay a specified sum in satisfaction of ou,
e'n'm'. whether that treaty 10 morally and sbso-
'u'.ly binding upon the whole French pccp,e ar
mol, II Is the deliberate act Of the royal cxecu,,o
brunch of tho French Government which soe,k.
treats and contracts with all foreign nations Tor
france. The execution Of the ipualions of such
treaty may be dolayeI-postpon,J, as VIC bnvo
seen, contrary TO the wishes Of the Kings govern.
'nent but sooner or laer they must DO fulfilled or
Franco must submit to the degrading stigma of bad
faith. WV
Having expressed these views and opini,ns. III.
commute might content themselves and herr con.
c'udc-but they feel called upon to say something
upon the other branch OF tho ALTERNATIVES, stated ia
the outset. us having bsen presented by the Presi.
'ea' oil tho United States 10 the consideration 81
Congress The President Is under a conyiction.
hat the United States ought to insist on a prorr,
OK cnt'on OF tho treaty and in case il be refused
or longer delayed. nke redress in their own hand,
lie accordingly recommends that u law b, pa,soJ.
authorizing reprlsals upon French property in cnse
provision shall not be made foe tho payment Of tho
debt u. the approaching session Of tho Frcneh
Chamocrs. This measures he deems Of a pacific
character, and he thinks it may be rcsorted 10 with
out giving irs' cause Of war
/" truo that writer's on the public law speak
aud treat OF roprisas as peaceful remedy in cases
which they define and limit. Il il certainly a very
compeEd'ous one since tho injured nation has oWlv
to authorize the seizure and sale Of sufficient urc
perry OF the debtor nation, OF its citizens to satisfy
inc debt due and If il, quietly submit to the pvo.
cess there - mn end Of the business In that case
| however. we should feel some embarrassment a. "a
| the exad amount Of tho French bt for which wa
should cvy-becausc, being payable in six install
'nent', with interest, computed from the day Of tho
exchange Of the Publications Of the treaty, (Febru.
AIRY 1880 only two of those instalrnents are vet
due should we enforce ymen, of those two on.
~ and resort to the irritating. il no, hazardous 70.
ncdy ofrcprisas, as the olhcss shall SUCCESSFULLY
fall due 1or,'n consequences Of default in the n.ens
OF the hfs two,consider them all now duo and levy
| for tho whole
Repr''nl' do no, of themselves produce state Of
Puoic war ont ihey are MT unfrcqiently the nm
mediate precursor Of it. When they are secon,ps-
MED With an authority from the Government vhieh
admits them, 10 employ force, ,hcy are believed ia
| variably 10 ha led in IL, xvh.~. a.