Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-09

it is with profound regret that the committee
find that lis earnest endeavors have hitherto
been unsuccessful
The President Justly remarks that the idea OF
acQuiescing. in tie refusal OF the executio9s o.,
the treaty, wifi not for moment be entertainea
BY any branch of:the. American Govefnment.
The United States can never abandon the pnr.
suit Of cIsifns founded on the most aggravated
wrongs And it, contrary to ali just expecta-
lions, France should persist in the non fuhIment
of the treaty. when negotiation shall De conl-
pletely exhausted, it will then become the boun-
den and painful duty of the United States TO con-
slider what measures are called for. on the oc-
casion by their honor, their interests ana the
Justice due to their injured citizens.
The period, in the opinion of the President,
has already arrived for entertaining the consi-
deration of this momentous question. 1t IS ms
conviction "that the United States ought to IN
sist ON a prompt execution Of the treaty, and, IN
case il be refused or longer Delayed take reoress
i'm their own hands," Add he accordingly re
commends that law be passed authorizing
reprisas upon French property, in case Prov
sion shall not be made for the payment OF the
debt at the approaching session of the French
Chambers" These reprisals would not III Inc
opirion of the President, give TO France any
inst cause for war; but if she should continue 10
refuse an act OF acknowledged justice, and, IN
violation Of the law Of nations, make reprisa'S
onour nj, the occasi IN ofhos ilite> a!fi ISL ne
u. S., she would but add violence to injustice,
and could not fail to expose herself to the just
censure Of civilized nations, and to the retripu-
tive judgments of heaven"
The President does not present this course OF
reprisals as the only one for the consideration OF
Congress He SAYS, eft it shall he the plea
sure Of Congress to await the further action OF
the French Chambers, no further consideration
Of the subject will, at this session, probably be
required at your hands," And, in conclusion 10
this part of his message, he repeats, that 1t be-
longs to Congresst to decide whether, after what
has taken place. it will still await the further ac-
ton of the French Chambers or now adopt
such provisional measures as it may deem ne
cessary, and best adapted to protect the rights
and maintain the honor of the country. What
ever that decision may be, it will be faithfully
enforced by the executive, as far as ne Is au
thorized so to do"
Thus the President states, for the considera-
ton of Congress, two measures, one contemplat-
ing further ferbeaTance, and the continuance OF
friendly negotiation and peace, and the other,
although provisional and contingent, involving
the possible hazard ofwar.
The committee are happy to agree fully with
the President "that our institutions are essentl'
ally pacific. Peace and friendly intercourse
with all nations are as much the desire of our
Government. as they are the interest OF our PEG
pie" But, if it be the true policy OF the Unlted
States to- practice the greatest moderation and
forbearance towards all nations, and tn consider
war as calamity never to be restored to but in
extreme cases, what additional force do these
sentiments acquire when applied to France, our
ancient ally and friend for whom the people OF
the United States cherish the most greatiul
and honorable recoliections associated with
our struggle for independence" =.
Entertaining these views, the committee
have considered il to he their first duty atten
tve,y to examine the pacific branch of the
alternative presented by the President TO
discover whether there was any rational hope
that, by the exercise Of further patience, the ha-
yards, of war might be prevented. :, They nave
in consequence, carefully perused the whole
correspondence submitted by the President to
the Senate, between the two Governments, to
find out fthey could, the causes OF the extraor-
binary delay which has occurred in the execu-
ton OF, the treaty, and whether there was any
prospect Of their ultimate removal. They have
done more; they felt il to be their duty to exam
inc the correspondence as far as 1t was accessl
BILE to them, which proceeded as well as that
which followed the conclusion OF the treaty. to
see if thdse causes were altogether unforeseen
and unexpected.
II appears from despatch Of Mr.. Rives to
rhe Secretarv Of State. under date the 18th Sep
teniher 1880. Mt hi first interview with the
French Secretary Of Foreign Affairs, after the
France IN the throne, that this French minister
said that he thought that the principal OF nden :
nifty would be admitted. but that The amount of
the claims was very complex question. de-
pending on great variety of considerations
and requiring minute and detailed examination;
"that he believed our claims would encounter
much less opposition with the Government
meaning the king and his minister's than with
the Chambers; that he had thought of the or
'ganization of commission To examine the SUBJ
iect. consisting of members Of both Chambers,
as the best means Of preparing those bodies for
an ultimate decision; and that he should submit
the proposition, at an early day. TO the council"
In a subsequent despatch of Mr.. Rives Of the
9Th November, 1880. he says "the disposition OF
the king, as we'll with regard to this subject 1.-THE
American claims as to the general relation be-
tween the two countries, are every thing we
could desire. The difficulty exists in the ex-
IRENE reluctance ofthe nation to pay any more
indemnities, and the necessity whichthe Govern
ment feels itself.under of consulting the repre-
sentatives ofthe nation, and of securing their ap
probation to any arrangement which may be ul'
timately concluded. The commission. Of the
formation of which, have already apprizedyo
has grown entirely out of this feeling"
On the occasion of an audience with the King,
Mr. Rives, in his despatch of the 18th January,