South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-01-17
Our Relations with France.
From the Nat. Int. of the 9th Instant.

From the Nat. Int. of the 9th Instant.
The SENATE REpoRr.--Weh have trac-
ed the course OF reasoning Of the Report
ofthe Committee Of Foreign Relations
to the conclusion that the PACIFIC course,
suggested as an alternative in the Presi-
dents Message, is the course which the
present state of the case between the u
ni,ed States and France calls for. We
resume our account Of the Report at the
point where we left off.
The commi,tee agree 10 opinion with
the President, that We cannot now 60
behind the Treaty, that the question
Of the fact Of wrong and the amount Of
indemnity must be considered as closed
by it. But, for all other purposes,
the committee say, the door is still OPP.
en- to negotiation. The misapprehen.
sions on the subject Of this treaty and
the claims of the United States, which
appear to have existed in the French
Chambers, and prevented their legisla-
tive action on the Treaty, may be re-.
moved by explanations, &c. (which the
United States should be ready and will
ing to make. We might indeed proud
Iy and coldly hold up the treaty in cur
hands, and say to France, for our only
argument, here is your bond But it
is due 10 the dignity and the character
Of this nation to satisfy France and the
world that, though she has given her
obligation to pay the money, we would
scorn to accep, it if it could be shewn
that it was not accorded in conformity
to the principles ofimmutable justice.
Many cases have occurred in our his.
tory in which we have received from
other nations injuries which. if SO mind
ed, the United States nigh. have son.
sidered just cause Of war, which might
have been prosecuted at the expense Of
thousands of lives and millions Of mo.
ney. Other and better counsels, how.
ever, had prevailed, and peace been
preserved with ultimate advantage TO
the country. Even in the case Of
France, our claims, resisted for more
than twenty years, have been at length
acknowledged, as they ought to have
been at first. We have the act Of the
treaty making power for liquidating
then; and, sooner or later, says the
Report, the provisions Of the Treaty
must be fulfilled by the other branches
of that Government.
Here, the Report goes on to say, the
committee might stop, having expressed
their opinion in favor Of the aIterna-
tive discussed. But they feel bound
to say something on the other branch
Of the Presidents suggestion, that we
ought to take redress into our own
hands without further delay, should
the appropriation for the treaty not be
forthwith made by the French Cham.
bers. In regard to Reprisals, recon.
mended by the Message as pacific
measure, the report says they are in
deed not war, but they may lead to war.
Il is Uncomfortable that 4 powerful and
chivalrous nation like France would
quietly submit to the seizure Of the
property Of its unoffending citizens
pursuing a-Iawful commerce. In our
own Constitution the power to grant
letters Of Reprisal is specifically class.
ed, among the powers Of Congress,
with the power to declare var; and
the Committee are not satisfied that
Congress can constitutionally delee pate
the power to make Reprisals. The
committee cannot conceive, the Report
says, any reason why an appropriation
should not be made by the French
Chambers to carry the Treaty into eff.
feet but, even supposiag it possible
that their just expectation in this res
pect should be disappointed, the Com.
mittee, without entertaining an unrea.
sonabIe distrust Of the Executive, ex.
presses the opinion that Congress ought
to retain to itself the right Of judging
at what time, and upon what state o.
things, reprisals ought TO be resoried TO-
For the present the Committee are o.
opinion that Congress should refrair
from any action which would evince 9
doubt of the sincerity of the French
Government. The President has, in
deed, in his recommendation of Repri.
sails, sought to guard it from the impu'
tation of being menace. But, il fol-
lowed up by an act of Congress, tina
act nigh. be liable to be viewed as q
measure Of intimidation. The French
Government and People will look tc
our acts and not to our professions
| u-l "a ......tl Al.