Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-12
-VGY1UY9E xXYsE.--No. Ga.

~, these views, the single condition winch the
,he ,n, proposed 10 annex to the payment OF
"e was that 1t should not he made until 1t was
ascet "heu mat the Government Of the United States
iad done nothing 10 niure the interests of France or,
- QUITS words, that stems had been authorized by
oT W'. OF hostile character town7as France.
"nat the disposition action Of CONGRESS m; rn -
was tlen unknown 10 the French Cabinet But ON the
1 OF January The Senate resolved That was nj lint
he xpedcnl to adopt any legislative measures in re-
10 lhe state o! affairs between the United States and
rance anu no action the subject had occurred in the
p "ose OF representatives. These facts were known in
rams PRIOR to the 23t of March, 1895 when the commit.
zee 70 whom the bill Of decentralization had been REFERRED
ro Iu IL 10 the Chamber of Deputies Tina, committee
Substantially re-cchocd the sentiments Of the Ministry de-
That Congress had aside the PROPOSITION of tho
resident and recommended the passage Of the bill with
Jut any other restriction than that sinally proposed
mus was 1t known TO the French Ministry and Cham.
pers, that if the position assumed by them. and which
au been so frequently and soennly announced as the
only one compatible with the honor of France was
maintained and the bill passed originally proposed
te money would he paid and there would be an end Of
THIS unfortunate CONTROVERSY
nul ths cheering prospect was destroyed by an
aehueht introduced into the bill at the moment of its
i'll the french Government had received ap s Rag q
plantations Of the Presidents ssagc, Of the I'd Dec,
1884; and what is still more extraordinary the President
of the Council o.! Ministers adopted this amendment and
consented TO its Incorporation in the bill In regard TO
supposed insult which had Leen formally resented by
the recall of their Minister and the offer OF passports 10
nations. Sentiments and propositions, which they had
declared could not justly be imputed to the Government
People Of the United States, set up obstacles to
the performance Of of conceded justice 10 that
Government and People. They had declared that the
honor Of France required the !nent OF the engage
mcn into which the King had entered, unless Congress
adopted the recommendations OF the message lhey as
ccrtaincd that Congress did not adopt them, ana yettat
iuilment is refused, unless they first obtain from the
President explanations OF opinion characterised ny
themselves personal and imperative.
The conception that twas my intention to menace or
insult the Government Of France is as untounded as inc
attempt cXtor from the fears OF that nation what her
sense o. .'ira may deny, would DC VAN and Tiuen"
But the Constitution Of the United States imposes OK
TIE Prcstrt the duty of laying before congress .ie
condition of the country. in its foreign ana ooesto
ations and of recommending. such measures as may, III
his opinion be required by its Interests rom lie P
Torrance Of this duty he canno> be deferred ny te M -
woundng the scnslbiIities OF the pc. Die OF J The
OF whom it may become necessary It. spc"h' -,
American People incapable OF subin. t!i's W 49,
reference, by any Government Oh earth, Ia ,;r H.,
erFul, with tbs flee performance Of Tie Dc Wtsts
ties which the Constitution has imposed on W. r L
lie functionaries The discussions which nlcr' civ Io
tween the several departments OF our Government -
long to ourselves; and, for any thing SAID IN thch'
public only responsible 10 their own COZ
stitucnts and 10 each other IT, the course OF tel
constitutions facts crroneously stated, or UNJUST .e
ducons made they require no oer inducenent t.
correct thcm however informed of hnr csrOr than their
love of justice. and what is due to their character;
but they submit TO be incrrogatcd upon the
subject, matter Of right, by foreign Power. When,
discussions terminate in acts responsibility TO TO-
reign Powers commences not individuals, but
Ion The irncip which. calls in question the Pres!-'
dent the language of his message, would equally JUS
tfy toreigy Power III demanding explanation of the
language used in the report Of committee, or by men,
Der in debate.
This is not the first tu.c that the Government of
France has taken exception to the messages of American
Presidents President Washington, ard the first Prcs
dent Adams in the performance OF their duties to the
American People, fell under the animadverslos of the
French Directory The objection taken by the Ministry
OF Charles y, and removed by the explanations made by
Minister upon the spot has already been adycrtcd
to- When it was understood that the Ministry Of the
present King took exception to my message OF last year.
putting construction upon it which was dislvowcd on
its face, late Minister at Paris, III answer TO the
uotc which first announced dissatisfaction with the
language used in tho message, made communication 10
the French Government under date oftlIc 9th ofJanua
~, iS:,J, calculated to all Impressions which
unreasonable susceptibility had created lie repeat
ed and called the attention Of the French Government
to- the dSavowa contained in the message itself, of any
intention TO iulnl;datc by ncnace--he truly declared
that it continued and intended TO contain charge
of faith against the King OF the French and properly
distinguished between the right TO complain in uncxccp
lona5!r terms I'll the omission to execute an agreement,
ai; an accusation of bad motives in Withholding such
cxecuon-Gud dcmunstratcd that the necessary use Of
that tight ought not TO he considered offensive inn
pu,at0n. Although this communication was made with
out instructions, and entirely the Minister'S re-
sponsiby, yet il afterwards made the act OF this
Government by my fall appreciation, and that approba-
ton officially made known on the 18th Of April,
1885 to the French Government. IT, however, failed to
have any effect The law, after this friendly explanation,
passed with the obnoxious amendment supported by the
Kings Minister'S and finally approved by the King.
The people Of the United States justly attached to
pacific system in their intercourse with foreign Ma
tons 1t is proper, therefore, that they should know
whether their Government has adhered to 1t. In the
present instance it has been carried 10 the utmost
tent that was consistent with becoming selt-rcspcct.
no he of % which
alluded, was not the only which our Minister took
upon himself the responsibility OF presenting on the sane
subject and in the same spirit Finding that was III
tended make the payment OF just debt dependent on
The ncrr,rnance of condition which he knew could
Yer be complied with, he thought 1t aduty to make ano-
tbcr ATTEMPT to convince the French Government, that
whilst scI:respect and regard TO the dignity Of
other nations would always prevent Us from using any
language that ought to give offence, yet we could never
admit a right in any foreign Government to ask expana-
tons Of interfere in any manner IN, the conmu
n;cutons which branch of our public councils
made with another that in the present case no such Ian
parc had been used, and that this had in former note
been fully and voluntarily stated before 1t was content
plated 10 make the explanation condition and that
there might be nsapprchcnslon ne stated the terms
used in note, and he officially informed them that 1t
had been approved by the PRESIDENT and that therefore
every explanation which could reasonably be asked ho
morally niycn had been already made-hat the contem
plated measure had been anticipated by voluntary and
friendly declaration, and therefore not only useless,
but might De deemed offensive, and certainly would not
| be complied with, if annexed as condition.
Whe,, this latter communication, to which specially
invite the attention Of Congress, laid before me-
entertained the hope that the means il was obviously in
tended to afford, OF honorable and speedy adjustment
of the difficulties between the two nations would hare
been accepted and therefore did net hesitate to gave
my sanction and full appreciation: ibis was due to The
Minister who had made himself responsible for ine act
and il was published to the People OF the Un'ea s'ates,
and is now laid before their representatives. to show no"
far their Executive has gone in its endeaVoFs TO restore
,-3od understanding bet"ccn the two countries IL
7 oJ hovc been ut any ,me communicated to the Co.
+ ,'. r. France had il been officially requested
The French GovernHien; having received al !he exPia