Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-09
RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.
In SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
-. FOREIGN RELATIONS.


lattons. made the following Report
The COMMITTEES of Foreign Relations have, &C. :.
cording to order, hadunder consideration that
i part of. the Message Of the President of the
United States which referstothe present State
Of our, relations with France; and having at
tentively examined the correspondence which
has passed between the two Governments,
communicated 10 Congress, and deberated
oh the whole subject with an earnestness con-
mensurate with the high respect due TO the
-views-o fthe Chief Magistrate. and demanded
BY the delicacy ofthe questions, and The mag
nitode of the interests involved, beg leave
now to submit the following Report:
The committee must in the first place, ex-
press their entire concurrence with the Presi-
dent as to the Justice of the cla!s OF the citizens
of the United States for which indemnity is stipu
lated BY the treaty of the 4th Of July, 1881
They hadtheir origin in series OF measures OF
the French Government which Frustrated the
clearest principles OF public law, and violated
the most solemn engagements consecrated Dy
pledges of national faith. The ven, by which
their enormity was attempted to be covered, OF
prior a gyressions authorized or inflicted upon
the neutral commerce of the United States, by
the enemy Of France, was too thin to create the
slightest deception. Nothing, in the conduct Of
one begerent, can justify the preparation OF
an injury upon an innocent third party out,
even if an overriding necessity OF selfpreserva.
u
such an injury, nothing could excuse 1t but am.
pie and immediate reparation. AT the period
when these aggressions were committed, the
United States would have stood fully JuStihed,
in the face of the whole world, if they had APP
pealed to arms to avenge their wrongs and vim
dictate their rights. And it is known 10 those
who are conversant with the history OF the times,
that resort to hostile measures against France
was seriously considered and actually proposed
i'm the councils of the United States 1t was
deemed expedient not 10 adopt them, but to de-
clare war against the other belligerent. This Sc
lection oftheir enemy, by the Government ofthe
United States did not proceed from any insen-
sibility to the injuries ofFrance, but was prompt
ed by a conviction that war with France, in
the actual condition of things, would be unat-
tended with any practical consequences, whilst
Great Britain, it was believed, might be made to
feel the effects Of her more violent and unjust
measures.
Whilst, however, the Government of the Uni
ted States felt itself constrained, by prudential
considerations to abstain from an appeal to arms
at that period against France it resolved never
TO acquiesce in the injustice which citizens ofthe
United States had experienced at the hands Of
France but unremittingly to persevere in de-
handing the indemnity, 10 which they were just
ly entitled. 1t was due to ancient relations with
France, 10 the interests Of the two countries,
and to the nature of the case, since the injuries
were not resented when they were fresh, that re-
dress should be first sought by friendly negotia-
ton. As early as 1912, distinguished citizen
OF the United States was deputed to France,
when the power ofthe Emperor was at its great
est height, To demand satisfaction: His sudden
and unexpected death probably prevented the
accomplishment Of the object Of his mission
| From that period, down to the signature Of the
treaty under consideration, every American ad
ministraton and every American minister al
Paris, with the exception OF short period OF
iIorbearance. dictated by delicacy and friendly
| feelings towards France, have earnestly pressed
| for the indemnity to which We are entitled
From the multitude and the nature of the ag-
gressions committed by France, it is difficult to
ascertain, at this day, their precise amount; and
| il never probably. can be exactly verified even
| by judicial investigation, owing TO the loss oil
evidence aud other causes. But the committee
concur perfectly, with the President, in the opin
| ion he has expressed in his message. that il is
| g. absolutely certain that the indemnity falls
short OF the actual amount of our just claims.
| independently of damages and interest tor the
detention" During the progress of the negoti-
alton; and at the moment Of signing the treaty.
the American minister. who concluded IT, had
i'm his possession, authentic documentary evil
dence demonstrating that the measure CT in
demnity was far below The measure OF wrong.
The President is therefore fully justified in say
ing 4" that the settlement involved a sacrifice. in
this respect, as was we'll known at the time" Al
though the commission wnlCn mas Deen createO
to decide on the claims, has not yet closed its
labors, enough has been already disclosed to es
tablish that this sacrifice is even greater than
that which the American minister ought to have,
known at the signature of the treaty.
Nevertheless, intelligence of the conclusion of
the treaty was received in the United States by
the people and their councils, with general salts
faction Time blunts the force Of injuries; the
aggrrssor and his victim alike fall beneath the
unsparing scythe; and the people Of the United
States saw in the treaty at least partial though
tardy, justice rendered to those injured citizens,
who yet linger behind, and to the descendants
of those who died unredressed. Above all, the
people of the United States saw in the treaty,
the removal of the only obstacle to the restora-
ton Of that perfect harmony with France,
which has ever been near their hearts.
Never, on this side of the ocean, could the
people Of the United States believe that treaty
which at least, upon its face, after its mutual
tification, bore all the solemnities Of perfect
obligation of both parties, was to be violated on
the other side. So confident was Congress of
its faithful execution, that it FASTENED to pass the
laws necessary to give France the full advantage
of the stipulations inserted for her benefit and
20 ho SIMS Eliminated m hp maid IN the