Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-13
POLITICAL.
~ The Committee Of the French Chambers, the 4neri-
oan CidimS.-fCoxrIHUED.1


Jackson had been made President and his election had
been promoted by The promise made in his name that the
negotiation with France should BE brought TO termina
ton. Meetings hud been held at New York. probably
with the sanction of the President for the purpose of in
sisng upon extraordinary mission to France, in be-
hsii OF the American claimants Letters from the act
ing Consul IF france at ~ T. to ne Minister Of Foreign
HyduS, dated .9prd 22 1899; and from The Consul Gene
raj Of France 10 Me Minister Of Foreign ?Sars Of 9Prh
=; le2, and October 81 1921 AZ these meetings, the
claims were defended with degree of force which had
somewhat The appearance of menace. The President
llusei IN is message Of December g. 1922 spoke with
much bitterness TO Congress the subject and while
uterng some conciIatory words respecting the Govern
inen then existing in France, lac the time spoke
o these unjust delays us being likely 10 produce col
lision between the powers
Mr. Riyes had been France on an extrsoydna-
ry mission and had to treat with NJ de Polignac lie
began ON the 18th of January $780, by requesting the
French Minister to fix positively the limits of the repn
ration which he was disposed 10 offer. In second let
ter of February I7h $780, he reminded NJ d. Polgnac
mat They were already in accordance with respect the
vessels and cargoes not denitvely condemned, de-
sroycd sea- he promised 10 Sc nd him project for
an arrangement by which the views manifested by him.
sell might be reconced with the just rights of Amer
can SUBJECTS. This project was communicated 10 NJ. de
Pclgnac in March, icSO
It's first article ensured citizens of the United
States compensation for all losses sustained either from
captures OF sequesratons, in all cases in which there
had been dehntve condemnation by the Council of
Prizes or from the illegal destruction of vessels and
goes at
The second article stipulated that indemnifcaton
should be made IN the following cases. where coSdem
nation had been pronounced.
1900;
2 Where not condemned by regular Prize Council
B. Where the proceedings had not been conducted
cording to the forms prescribed by law for obtaining
just decision. by hearing both parties
a. Where the sentences of condemnation gave re-
troactive effect TO the decrecs i'll virtue of which they
had been given
DEGREES, had been pronounced after their repeal;
d. Finally, in all eases in which the cnndemnations
tor any reason whatever, would give for inenn
hcatnn, IN the opinion OF mixed commission the com
position of which, well its powers mode Of pro.
cceding, specified in the project
This project submitted o a Commission which
reported the 3ls of May 1880. After stating and ad
hitting that the principle OF the Kings Government
not being responsible for the acts of preceding Govern
ments was an objection common TO all the cla,us The
commission entered into the examination of the Glasses
presented by Mr. Rives; OF which but three seemed
be admissible, viz
/ That of vessels and cargoes dcfnidvey con-
dcmncd;
2 OF vessels and cargocs destroyed at sea;
OF vessels and cargoes seized and conhscascd after
the repeal Of the DEGREES of blockade.
The Commission then indicated, as n possible means
OF compensation the surrender Of The claims of France
of Louisiana
But NJ dc Polgnac in the negotiation which he him.
sell was carrying on with MIR. Rves, made the Louis
claim, shall see, a separate question and the
subject of special compensation TO France 1t is i'm
pmiaht to follow the progress of this negotiation In
acknowledging the receipt of the project of the treaty.
March l9h 1880, NJ. dc Polgnac says le was not
prepared to express opinion lis provisions; but
Judging from the disposition of the American Govern
nent, expressed by MIR Rivcs, Justice TO the
the 9th article of the Treaty OF Cession of Louisiana he
could not but hope for speedy and happy determination
Of this long Gcitated question:
On the next day, Mr.. Rives thanked NJ dc Polignac
for tic speedy and happy determination, which he had
thus announced and requested personal conference in
order That he might explain himself length with
gard to the Louisiana question. NJ dc Pognae on the
23d March 1890 insisted that the Slh article the Lou
isana treaty could longer be subject of doubt that
the admission Of the French interpretation was indsoen
sable, as preliminary to the negotiations and that all
that remained was, 10 determine the method and the
Inflnu mn foot frpf
titled. Mr. Rves in his reply, Goth and 9th March re.
PEELED this Pretenson, which he considered now FIRST
urged, and would go farther in concessions than to
opinion of his Government was steadily fixed
30 formal dissent on point so important, rendered
oil further negotiation impossible, unless the Opposing
PFetensons could be reconced by reciprocal
compromise was then attemped but in order that the
principles sustained by each party should not be placed
IN jeopardy IN this should be effected the Off
cIa correspondence was continued on tho grounds
while confidential correspondence indicated tie cond
tons Of an amicabe arrangement
Mr. ltiges made the first overtures in private letter
Of May -, 1880: he proposed substituting the reduction
OF the duties the entry of French wines into all ports
of The Union, for the privileges which France claimed in
the ports OF Louisiana only. NJ. dc Pognac in his re-
ply of May 3st, before he admitted the proposed eCuiva
eht wished to know whether the reduction would be
perpetual and irrcvOcabe, whether il might be repeul-
cd at any moment, without the participation of France;
Vt being only IN the hrs case that he could adutit the pos
sibiy %! exauinng the intrinsic value of the proposition
Mr. Rves replied, the ID of June that the reduc-
ton would be obligatory during the period for which its
duration should be agreed on; but the peFpeny of
any given rate of duties would be incompatible with the
liberty Of making its commcIcia ARRANGEMENTS
which each nation reserved TO itself M. de Poliennc
on tic 10th Of June, appeared satisfied with this cypla
naiion and declared that il enabled him TO examine the
proposition to which related, in all it's bearings Every
inng was tius tending towards speedy termination
when The revolution Of July took place.
IT'S proper tn see, to whai point the had
conducted tie negotiation, the period when the Go.
yernment Of the Revolution of July had 10 take uv
The restoration had contested the legitimacy of
the American cl1Ius; urging in objection them only
ITS sPunsibity, and that too rather mems Of
lcssening the demand than Of rcpeng it, II deferred
or cyadcd settlement but formally refused one
and in The examination resumed at several periods
mited without difficulty the three most important cate
gorcs Of the four which had been admitted by the Fan
prc In urging with perseverance the injury sustained
by France, from tlc noncxecuiion of the Louisiana
treaty did not pretend 10 place the claims founded on
it, cOunterposc to those If e American; and while
it Insisted That they should both be provided for in
tho treaty. they kept apart both in the process
Of examination and in arranging the mode Of conpensa.
ton IN word, the principle Transmitted from the Elm
pre- to Tie Restoration, was, 10 reduce the American
claims 10 classes for which decentralization could be
made and 10 determine upon fixed sum as the amount
Of that decentralization. The praeipe transmitted from
The Restoration to the Government Of the Revolution Of
July was to obtain compensation by commercial adyan-
/ tagCs for the violation Of commercial convention
On the 25ih Of September l.sO. Mr. Rives requested
Count Mole, then Minister Of Foreign Affairs resume
tie negotiation which had been Interrupted by The re-.
! yolUtion oi Jolly. The new Government could not
avoid taking on Itself the responsibility for he acts of the
Imperial Government, without ioricitina its honor and
It's claims Of origin. Count Mole convinced that the
the compensation offered for the infracton Of tie treaty
! of vac IN fln -,