Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-06-04
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.

The PROvIso.-'rhe snbjoined letter from
Paris, which appears in the Baltimore Chron-
icle, explains the circumstances which in
duced the French Minister to insert the pro-
vlso in the Indemnity law, requiring certain
eXplanalions Of the language of The presi-
dents Message, respecting the conduct of
Frame, before the uioiiey viii be paid This
L. u point upon which We have not Ihonght II
necessary to nnke any special remark, since
II cannot be regarded as a matter OF any con-
siderable Importance. The language Of the
Message was exceedingly indlScrect, and we
have never been surprised That the French
Government should have been offended
thercut. Still, it was never sanctioned by
either House Of Congress, and the Senate in
effect dlscamed it. The consequence has
been the passage of the bill. To the wis
dom and forecast of the Senate, therefore, is
due the ultimate success of the appropra-
tion-despte OF Executive rashness, and d.
plolnatc bnngling. The explanation re-
qulred, we regard as n mere begatelle-a
civil diplomatic note may end the whole con-
troversy =
"PARIs, April 80, 1885.
After close discussion OF nine days, the
law for paying the 25 millions as amended by
the commission and approved by Ministers,
has passed the Chumber Of Deputies, with an
amendment TO this effect, viz that the mo-
ney is not to be paid, "unti the French
Government has received satisfactory en-
plantations Of the Presidents Message" AS
this amendment is very differently comment
ed upon here, and may be liable to great mis-
apprehension in America, hasten to state to
you in few words, the motive which led to
its adoption, and the character in which, in
nv opinion, il should be viewed.
/ NJ Inisters defended this law for eight days,
with ability and zeal, aud on the 9th, the
chances appeared evidently in their favor; (;
bnt the spirit at party, was equally tenacious
of its object, and finding all excrtlons TO em-
barrass the law with real difficulties unavail-
ing, they determined the effect of an illusive
one, in hopes that Ministers would fall into
that snare, and IN combating it, lose the vote
Of the House but rs the ground was eX-
tremely delicate, and the issue uncertain, it
was instantly decided by NJ. dc Brogle, to
acquiesce in the amendment, and thereby in
sure large majority in favor OF the law
This, it is true, was at the expense of their
consistency but it appeared TO Ministers,
the only mode of guarding their places, and
securing the passage Of the law by them
selves.
+ When it is considered then, that the mo-
tive of the authors of the amendment (the
Dapin party was chiefly to embarrass and
weaken, it not to upset Ministers and that
the latter subjected themselves to this cor
rection, rather than run the risk of having
the execution of the treaty transferred from
them to its enemies, and those Of the system
Of Government under which it was negotin-
ted, you will agree with me, think, that the
character Of the amendment is more matter
of form than one of serious difficulty
say it is ilusive, because it is notorious to
the opposition in the Chamber and to the pub
lie, that Ministers have already expressed
themselves satisfied with the explanation of
the message in the able despatch of Mr..
.l.vngston to the Count de Rigny of the @th
January last and that in presenting the law
(at II previous date to that of the dcspatc!)
untctered for call for explanation, as well
as by their constant diplomatic intercourse
with Mr.. Livingston up to this date, they
have given ample evidence that they were
reconclled with the Presidents Message
and therefore that they can have nothing
more of consequence to demand. Thus IS 1t
my impression that Ministers attach no other
Importance to the obligation imposed on them
by the spirit of party in the Chamber, than
that of going through the usual diplomatic
ceremonies on similar occasions. At all
events, no action upon the law can be had
until it has passed the Chamber of Peers,
when the responsibility Of the explanations
with which they may be satisfied, miH rest tn
iireiy ioiM Ministers. My hope is, that they
will see the expedlcncy Of settling the affair
with Mr.. Livingston, whose able and patriotic
conduct through the whole of this unpleas-
ant and complicated negotiation, affords am
pie guarantee that whatever settlement may
t,kc place, will rebound to the honor Of ouI
country and government"
Since the preceding article was in type
we have seen an article in the Washington
(, Globe, of not Il very concilating character
and which looks as though the American Ex'
ecutivc might yet interpose difficulties in the
way Of a speedy adjustment OF the affair
The conduct of the President has through
out been inexplicable in this matter, upon
J any other supposltlon than that of a desire tc
defeat the execution ofihe treaty, with view
to hostlilics-in the hope that by raising q
tempest, he might be able to secure an cleo
ton for Il third term. But since 1t Is now toe
late for such result, he will probably be IN
duccd to allow the adjustment to take place
[From the Wheeling Gazette. (Extra.)
! a