Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-17

this refusal had time before been received by the
President Ii would have been his duty hadnothng else
expected and injurious TO the interest of the country
One circumstance prevented the performance of this du
ty, and justified the OMISSION the notice Of the rcec
ton accompanied by information that the minister
of France instructed 10 make explanations and
gagcmcnts on the subject and that ship of would
be despatched with his instructions The President
had waited month for the arrival of this ship
ally long session of Congress still afforded opportuni-
y Tor making the communication afscr her arrival
If made il would undoubtedly have produce
the nature of which may be imagined by considering
the events that have since occurred II necessary
then TO prevent interruption othe friendly relations be-
tween the two countries that this communication should
be postponed until the subsequent session of Congress
longer than that, it well known that could be
deferred. This clearly and explicitly stated in a
conference between Mr. Scrruricr and the Secretary of
State of the States, in which the former gave the pro-
mise in question But the President desired have the
engagement written and official form, (and Mr.
Scruer expresses il in his letter. pour dcs causes
prscs dams les necessities de votrc Government What
governmental necessity does he alludc TO Clearly
that which obliged the President communicate these
engagements to Congress at the next session.
Here then we have stipulation, made under special
orders sent out by ship despatched for that express
purpose communicated first verbally i'm an official con-
ference afterwards reduced to writing and delivered to
the proper officers for the double purpose of iustfyng
the President for not making immediate coinmunica-
ton at their then scssionand also TO pledge
which he might exhibit, If unrcdeemcd, at their next
These objects well stated by Mr.. Scnrrier be-
" That the Government of the Republic may avoid with
providentia socitudc, m his unsettled state Of things
all that may become of irritation between
the two countries, cndanger treaty and raise obsa
clcs that may become insurmountabe TO the views of
Cancellation and harmony which animate the counsels of
the King. II was then to avoid communication to
Congress which Mr. Scrrurier would cndanoer the
peace of tho two countries that this engagement was
made. Surely then every word of stipulation made
under such circumstances and for such Important pur-
poscs must have been duly considered and its import
properly weighed first by the cabinet who directed af
forwards by the minister who delivered, and the 60
vernmcnt which received it.
What then this engagement First that the Go.
vernment OF the King will use every legal and
shtntona effort which ITS perseverng persuasion ofthe
justice and advantages ofhe treaty authorize United
States to expect from it, Son intention est q quote
literaly cnontre at is besides using those edeavors
abovcmentionedD SIDE faire tout que notre constitution
permit pour rapproche autant que possible epooue de
la presentation nouvcllc dc Ia lo cicttee Your Ex-
cccncy fail to have observed two distinct nors
IN this engagement relating to the Cndeavors the
ministry promised To make in induce the Cham
oers TO pass the law for the of which they could
not answer another relating TO the time of presentation
ct the law, matter which depended them aonere
strictcd only by constitutional forms
The promise on this point them precise, and could
not be misunderstood Whatever the Constitution Of
France permitted the Government of France promised
to do IN order TO hasten the presentation of the law
What the of this desire TO bring the business
before the Chambers at early day No can doubt
1t who knows the situation of the countries still
less any one who has read the correspondence 1t was
to enable the President TO make those statements to the
next Congress- which, relying the engagements of the
French Minister, ne had omitted to make to this.
II was clear, therefore, that required than
the expression OF desire the part of his Macsty's
Ministers TO execute the treaty. desire, the sincerity
Chambers. For the Presidents satisfaction and for his
Jusheaton TOO an engagement was Offered and accept
ed Tor the performance ot am act which depended on his
Majestys Government alone this engagement was
couehed IN the unequivocal terms have literally quoted
This, sir, Is not all. That there might be no misun-
Outstanding on the subject this promise with the sense
i'm which 1t was understood; the important object for
which given and the serious consequences tbot
might attend failure to comply with it, were urged i'm
conversation and repeated in my official letters p5rtcu
ar those OF the goth and 2Jh of July, and Sd 9Th
IA last. NH, -,
pressed.
The these letters left no hope that the oue
ton would be submitted to the Chambers in time to have
the result known before the adjournment of Congress;
and by the refusal to hasten the ofthe Cham
bers before the last of December, showed uncquivoca
mat so lar from taking all measures permitted by the
Constitution to hasten the period of presenting the law
"a was to be eft 10 the most remote periodic the rdinar
This decision OF his Majesty Government contained
IN your Exceiency note 10 Inc of the 9TH August was
duly transmitted to the President and il natuTally nro
duced upon his mind the impressions which 1 anti
cpaed i'll my letters to your Excellency that it would
produce. He saw, with the deepest regret that
positive assurance for convening the Chambers as
soon the Constitution would permit was con.
strued TO mean only disposition 10 do So and that
this disposition had yielded to objections which he could
not thnk OF sufficient force TO justify delay even if
there had Intervened promise; especially as the
serious consequences of that delay had been earnestly
and repeatedly brought TO the consideration of His Ma
Jestys Government In fact, sir what were those oh
jections ] do not speak OF those which were made
to presenting the law in the session of JuIv laet. Ca
although constitutional impeachment offered itself
yet strongly insisted on because an early session
In the autumn would have had the same effect and be
PRESIDENT Or the reason, that il miol have
been overlooked tan early call the Chamber had been
made They the objections this call then which inn
mcdialeIy demand our attention. What, in fact were
hey None derived from the constitutional charter have
been or could have been asserted What then were
they? Your Excellcncys letter, of the Sd of August
to contains but this Mis- Maicsty's Govern
mcni finds 1t impossible make any positive cngage-
mcnt on that point. In that of the 9TH of August
there arc two reasons assigned first the general inconve
nlencc TO the members This the President could sure
~ not think OF alleging to Congress u sufficient rea
son Tor emitting TO lay the matter before them The
next, confess, has it'll. weict and mi bt hnv.f
excused delays If the given by Mr. Serruricr
had been as your Excellency it, merely of
dsp0So7 TO hasten the presentation of the law If the
engagement had amounted to than this and
HIS Majesty Ministers thought that early call would
endanger the passage of the law it might possibly JUS
uiy them in not making it, But the President who re-
lied on the promise he had received who
OF IT. had deferred the performance of an important duty
the President, who had given timely and Official notice
that this duty must be performed at the opening of the
next Congress- the President who could see no greater
prospect Of the passage of the law in winter than in an
auiumnal session; how he TO Justify himself and re-
deem the pledge he had made LIS country He did il
Ia the way he always does, by strict performance
From tins detail, your Excelcncy will / hope see
that the Presidents causes Of complaint cannot as YOU
suppose be confined within the limit yon have
assigned to them. The failure to present the law in the
session Of July not the only nor even the PRINCIPAL
point IN which he thought the engagement of Mr. Ser
runer uncomped with for although he saw no reason
ioF me omission that could be called constitutional one
yet ne expressly says that might have been overlooked
lie always Ct cannot too often be rcpeao looked 90 the
promise OF Mr Serrnrer as It was given at Washington