Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-07-09


exercise OF his functions, thinks proper to commu-
nicac TO Congress, or of any course he may advise
them to pursue This rule is not applicable to the
Government OF the United States alone, but, in
common with il, To all those in which the constu-
'ional powers are distributed into the different
branches. No such Nation, DESTROYS of avoiding
foreign influence foreign interference in its coun-
oils no such Nation, possessing a due sense of its
dignity and Independence, can long submit to the
consequences OF other interference. When these
are felt as they will he, all must unite in re-
polling II, and acknowledge that the United States
are concnding IN IA causc common IL them all, and
more important 10 the liberal Governments of Eu-
rope than even to themselves for is too obvious
10 escape the slightest attention. that the monar-
chlcs OF Europe, by which they are surrounded will
have all the advantage OF this supervision of the de
mcSuc councils OF their ncghbors without bcino
subject TO II themselves. II is true, that, in the
Representative Governments of Europe ENccu-
tive communications to Legislative bodies have not
the extension that is given to them i'll the United
States, and thai they are, therefore, less liable 10
attack on that quarter, but they must not ina
gnc themselves sale. la the opening address,
guarded as II commonly is, every proposition made
by the Ministry. every resolution of either Cham
Der, will offer occasions for the Jealous interference
OF national punctilio; for all occupy the same
grounds. No REORGANIZATION of the different
branches OF Government will be safe and even the
courts OF Justice will afford no sanctuary for free
dom OF decision and OF debate, and the suSccpti-
billty OF foreign Powers must he consulted in all
the departments of Govcrnment.. Occasions for
intervention IN the aidrs OF other countries are but
too numerous at present without oprnn" another
door TO cncroaehmcnts; and it is no answer to the
argument 10 shy that complaints will be made
but Tor reasonable cause, and that of tins, the Ma
/ /, -. 4
ensuc. But this argument comedies the rlpht of cN-
aiming the communications in question, which is
denied allow 1t, and YOU will have frivolous as
well as grave complaints to answer, and must not
only heal the wounds of II Just national pride, but
apply remedy 10 those of morbid susceptibility.
10 show that my fear Of the progressive nature of
the cncroachments is not imaginary, pray leave
to call Your cXcellenCys attention the enclosed
| report from the Secretary of State to the Prcs-
dent. 1t is offered for illustration, not for com
plant. ! am instructed to make none. Because
the Government of France has taken exception 10
the Presidents opening message the Charge DAT
fares OF France thinks il his duty to protcs, against
special communication, and to point out the par
tcular passages in "A correspondence Of an Amcr-
can Minister with his own Governments To the pub
LEGATION OF which he objects.
II the principle contest is just, the Charge d.
! u
tul supervisor of the Presidents correspondence.
II the principle is admitted, every diplomatic accn,
at w ashlnaton will do the same and we shall have.
twenty ccnsors of the correspondence of the
Government and OF the public press If the prn-
ciPlc Is correct, every communication which the
President makes, in relation 10 foreign affairs,
either to the Congress to the public, ought in
prudence TO be previously submitted to these min
listers, in order to avoid disputes and troublesome
and humiIiatng explanations If the principle be
submIttr TO, neither dignity independence is left
To the nation. To submit even To discreet cxcr-
clSc of such privilege would be troublesome and
degrading, and the inevitable abuse of it could not
be borne. 1t must, therefore, be resisted at the
Threshold, and lis entrance iorbddennto the sane
toary OF domestic consultations. Bat whatever
may be the principles of other Governments, those
OF the United States are ixcd-he riohi will never
be acknowledged, and any attempt to enforce it
will be repccd by the undivided energy of the ma
ton. pray your ENccllcncy 10 observe, that my
argument does not deny RIGHT to all foreign Pow
crS OF taking proper exceptions 10 the Govern
mental acts and language of another. 1t is to their
interference IN lis consultations, in lis proceedings
while yet IN inchOatc state, that we object
Should the President do an official Executive act
affecting foreign Power, or use exccptionabc
language i'll addressing it through hi, minister or
through theirs should law be passed nuriou, to
the dignity OF another na,lon--n all these and
other similar cases, adcmandt for explanation would
be respectfully received, and answered in man
ncr that Justice and regard to the dignity Of the
complaining nation would require.
After stating these principles, let me add, that
they have not only been Theoretically adopted but
that they have been practically asserted. On two
former occasions exceptions of the same nature
were taken 10 tie Presidents Message bv the
Government of France, and in neither did they
produce any other explanations than that derived
from the nature of our Government, and this seems
on those occasions to have been deemed sullcent
for in both cases the objections were virtually a.
bandoncd. One, when MesSrs. Marshall Gerry
and Pmckney were refused to be received and
again III the negotiation between Prince Po.. mac
and Mr.. Riycs. In the former case, although the
Message Of the President was alleged as the cause
OF the refusal to receive the Ministers, yet without
any such explanation, their successor, were homo
raby accredited. In the latter case, the allusion
IN the message to an apprchcndcd collision, was
excepted to; but the reference made by Mr.. Rives
to the constitutional duties of the President seems
atv' rampssl tn, objr, ton.
Having demonstrated thatthc United States can
not, in any case, permit their Chief Magistrate to
be questioned by any Foreign Government, in re-
latlon to the communications with the coordinate
branches of his own, it is scarcely necessary to con-
slider the case of such an explanation being rcuuir-
ed as the condition which the fulflnent of a
treaty or any pecnniary advantage was to depend