Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-10
RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.
In SENATE OF TIE UNITED SfArss.
REPORT OF TIE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
lcoNrINuEp. |


lions of francs Mr. Rives demanded forty
The French minister advanced to twenty, to
twenty-four, and finally, with extreme reiuc-
tance; u twenty FIVE At the point OF twenty
four, Mr. Rives came down TO thirty-two as the
mediu n between the two proposals. AT that Oh
TWENTY-FIVE the French ministers announced II
"a their ultimitum: and IN despatch OF Mr..
Rives ofthe l4th June. 1881 he reports thetrench
minister To have said, "that II was the opinion
of the most enlightened and influential men,
members Of both Chambers. that the otfer OIL
twenty four millions, heretofore made, was
greatly too much; that -. -, -, and
other leading members of the one Chamber or
the other whom he mentioned. had already ex-
pressed that opinion 10 him. and enphaucaty
warned him of the serious difficulties TO which
this affair would expose min listers"
Thus il appe irs tn 1t thron shJut this whole
negotiations the King IN IN tested the most friend
ly feelings towards the Unire States; that he
took a decided interest and exerted an unusual
agency in the conduct of the negotiation; that
the principle of indemnify having been ack-
nowledged, the difficulty lay in the adjustment
ofits amount but, that by far the greatest diff
Guilty arose from the Apprehension that the
Chambers, in Consequence of the repusnance
of the nation to the payment of any more indem
mites would not make the necesS iry approprla-
tons to carry the treaty into effect that Mr..
Rives was reminded again aud again, by more
than one French minister of this anticipated oh,
stacle; that he WAS TOLL nv the President OF the
Council that he apprehended the oppOSitlnn
from the Chambers might be such ds seriously
to eulbroil the relations between the two coun-
tries by refusing to carry into execution any
engagement which should he made; and that IA
proposition to adjourn the gotaton for two
months until the Chambers should meet, when
the ministers could have an opportunity OF con-
shifting some of the lea ling members OF ;he Two
Houses was successfully resisted by Mr.. Rives.
The committee have not adverted to the nego-
tiation, which terminated IN the treaty OF lndem-
nity, for the purpose of wing from il any Ju,
tific alton for tine failure OF the Government OF
France h.therto To fulfil the solemn stipniationS
of Tn At treaty. II aford> no such Justification.
If ANTICIPATED d III cntieS, ia the Chambers have
really occurred, they ought 10 have been weigh
ed AMI We're probably weiged by the French
Government, pr,ur To the signature, or prior to
the rattle tuol nf the treaty. They were, no
doubt deemed 10 he of Il nature not lnSupera-
Bile All eve Z, they are the affairs oil the
French government, not ours. But the com
mittee d. think that in candor aud f'rneS>
.hrsa difi cul'eS. which were known To both par
ties of which We were "i;-; ~ ..sa "n1. J"
incu,cate upon the American Government,
spirit of the utmost indulgence aud fbrbearance,
consistent with ultimate justice of our injured
citizens. II, after the appreh"n'led opposition
presented itsefin the Oh IN the French Mi =
istry, with sincerity ana goud iaih has LARRY
exerted its power TO weaken and snodue IL; u
20 accomplish that en- !, h ,wever pah I'll p e.
Law may be, il would out only he unjust, as 10 the
French Government but unwSe, "a II respects
the interests ofthe United States and the Ameri
can claimants themselves that we should Inter
nose any obstacle tn final success rash and
preciptate measure, Oh our part, would not on
ly tend to confirm pre)osseSsons already ex-
istiny against the treaty, but would probably
convert some of the warm friends into indig-
pant opponents to its execution.
This brings us to the consideration OF what
has TRANSFERRED, since the exchange OF the ratIt-
cations Of the treaty, tor the purpose OF eXecu-
ting it, The committee have deliberately ex-
amned all the evidences submitted Ia them tn
satisfy themselves whether the Government ni
the King OF France has sincerely ana ialtniuliy
endeavored to obtain the appropriations neces-
sary To execute the stipulatlons oil the treaty
The statement contained in the message of the
President, respecting the periods of the meeting,
and the termination of the sessions OF the French
Chambers the presentation Ofthe Dill oilndem-
nity and the disposition made oil 1t, is belevef 10
be substantially correct. with the exception that
n appears that the treaty Was referred TO CON-
mittee for examination, on the 10th June, 1881
and il was deemed necessary tn correct all the
documents calculated TO throw light upon the
question, which requiring time, prevented re-
port at that session. Standing alone, without ex-
PLANTATION, the delay would imply indlffer-
ence, ifnot cupable neglect, in procuring from
I'll national engagement. But the apprehen-
sions entertained and expressed by the French
minister's in the progress OF the negotiation, Us
TO the fate ofthe treaty before the Chambers, APP
pear to have been constantly felt by them and
to have influenced all their proceedings. Thew
profess to have been DESTROYS 10 remove all diff
ficulties, by suitable explanations, and by per-
suasion and Cancellation, and have thought
that the support of the Chambers was more
likely to be secured by these means and by
time, than by urging an immediate decsion.-
The committee beg leave to call the atten-
ton Of the Senate to certain parts Of the cor
yespondence, which are calculated to snIigh
tan il in respect TO the conduct and motives of
the French King and his ministers. In reply tn
q note Of Mr.. Niles, the American Charge d.
Affairs complaining of the protest of the draft, |
and the non execution OF the treaty. the French
Minister ofForeign Affairs, in note, under date
the 26th March, 1888, says. /" it was well known
In Washington, that according to constitution
Al principle, which is also vigorously observed
i'm the United States, the treaty Of July 4, 1881,
couId not take efectfn France, until il had re-
ceivsd the assent Of the legislature to all its Fl