Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-12
ys.qTURD.gI. DEGE.YssEks E2. 1885

OF It. The long and unbroken a.nty between tho two
governments gives every reason for surprising the article
VIII DC renewed: II stronger motives do exist pre-
vent than, with view Of the subject be aci-
patrd here.
as. your attention to the message Of my prcdcces-
soF u! tie opening Of the second session Of the nine
ecEIn congress, relative 10 commercial intercourse
WAN Holland anu to Tie documents connected with that
SUBJECT communicated to the House Of Representative
on The iGlh OF January, 1925, and 18th January f27
S"ncldng IN the opinion of my predecessor, that Iu
aha is not, under the regulations Of her present SYSTEM
entitled 10 have her vessels and their cargocs received
into the United States the footing OF American
ses ana caryoes, as regards duties Of tonnage and m
post respect for his reference of it to the Legislature,
mas alone prevented me from acting The subject.
snou!a still have waited, without comment for tic action
OF Congress- but recently claim has been made by Bel
gan subjects 10 admission into ports for their ships
and cargocs, the footing American, with the
allegation could dispute that vessels received
IN their ports the identical treatment shown to them in the
ports Of Holland upon whose vessels discrimination is
made in the ports OF the United States. Giving the
privileges, the Belgans, expected the benefits
benefits that were in fact enjoyed when Belgium and
Holland were united under one Government Satisfied
with the justice Of their pretcnsions TO be placed the
same footing with Holland, | could not nevertheless,
without disregard the principle of our laws admit
their claim 10 be treated at Americans; and al the
time respect for Congress, 10 whom the subject had
long since been referred, has prevented from pro-
ducng just equality, by taking from the vessels OF o
land privileges condtionaly granted By o! Congress-
although the condition upon which the grant made,
has; in my judgment, failed since 1922. | recommend,
therefore, review of the net Of 1924 and such mod
cation Of will produce equality, such terms
Congress shall think best COMFORTS with settled
policy. and the obligations of justice to two friendly
Powers.
With the Sublime Porte, and all the Governments
the of }arbary relations continue to be friend
w. The proper steps have been taken to renew our
treaty with Morocco.
The Argentine Republic has again promised TO send,
within the current year, Minister to the United States
A Convention with Mexico for extending the time for
the appointment of Commissioners to run the boundary
ne has been concluded and will be submitted the
Senate. Recent events ,.t country have awakened
the liveicst solictude in the United States Aware of
the strong temptations existing, and powerful induce
ments held cut TO the citizens of the United States to
ming: in the discussions Of our immediate nclghbprs
instructions have been given to the District Attorneys
of the United States where indications warranted it, to
prosecute without respect to persons all who might at
tempt to violate the obligations Of our neutrality; while
at the same time il has been thought necessary to apprze
the Government Of Mexico that should require the
integrity OF territory to be scrupulousy respected by
both parties
From or diplomatic agents in Brazil, Chill. Frru,
Central America, Venezuela, and New Granada, con-
slant received ofthc continued good ui-
dcrstanding with the Governments to which they
vcra!ly accredited With those Governments upon
which citizens have valid and accommodating Claims
scarcely advance towards settlement OF them Is
made owing mainly to their distracted state or to the
pressure Of imperative domestic questions. Our patience
has been, and will probably be- still further severely
trrd but fellow citizens, whose interests nv1T.
ed may confde in the determination Of the Government
to obtain for them, eventually, ample rctribution
Unfortunately, many of the nations Of this hemisphere
are still ftornrntcd by domestic dssenso ReyOu
ton succeeds revolution, in urcs committed upon
foreigners engaged in lawful pursuits, much time clap
before Government sufficiently stable is erected to
justify expectation of redrcss-MInisters are sent and
received, and before the discussions Of past injuries
fairly begun fresh troubles arlse but too frequently
inirics are added the DID, be dscu togr,irr
with the existing Government after it has proved its
ability 10 sustain the assaults made upon it, with its
successor if ovcrtrown. If this unhappy condition
of things continues much longer. other nations will be
under the painful necessity Of deciding whether justice
to their suffering citizens does not require prompt
dress of injuries by their own power without waiting Tor
the establishment of Government competent and en-
during enough 10 discuss and 10 make satisfaction or
them.
Since the last scsso of Congress, the validity Of
claims upon France qudated by the treaty of 1881
has been acknowed ged by both branches of her Legls
lature aud the money has been appropriated for their
DISCHARGE but the payment is, regret 10 inlorm you
still withheld.
brief rccapilulaon of the most important incidents
in this proraclcd controversy, will show how utterly un
enablc the grounds upon which This course IS AT
tempted to he justified
On entering upon the duties Of my station found the
United States unsuccessful applicant to the justice OF
France for the satisfaction of claims, the validity Of
which was questionable, and has now been most
solemnly admitted by France herself The antiquity Of
these claims their high justice, and the agyravatng cir
cumstances out Of which they arose. are too familiar to
the American People to require description. 1t Is suth
Gent to say that for period Of ten gears and upwards
our commerce was, with but little interruption, the SUBJ
rct of constant aggcssons the part Of France-ag
rrcssons the ordinary features Of which were cnnrm
nations Of vessels and cargocs under arbitrary dccrccs
adoptcd in cnntravcnon, well OF the laws OF nlllOns
as of treaty stpnatons burnings the high seas and
seizures and coniscatons. under special imperial re-
scripts in the ports of other nations occupied by the at
mics or under the control OF France Such: IL IS now
CONGO ded is the character of the wrongs We suffered
wronrs in many cases. fragrant, that even their au-
hors new denied ght to reparatnn Ot The cX,
tent of these INJURIES conception may be formed
from the fact that after the burning OF large amount at
sea and the necessary deterioration, in other cases. by
onr detention, the American property so scIzed and
sacrificed at forced sales, excluding what was ad-
udrcd to privaterrs, before or without condemnation,
broHuht into the French Treasury upwards of twenty
four millions of francs besides large custo.housc duties
The subject had already been affair of twenty years
uninterrupted negotiation. except Tor short time when
France was overwhelmed by the military power OF united
Europe During this PERIOD whilst other nations were
extnrng from her payment OF their claims at tie point
of the bayonc the United States interniticd their de-
mand for Justice out Of respect to the oppressed cond
ton ola gallant people, to whom they felt under obga-
tons traternal assistance in their own days OF srier
ing and of peril The bad effects OF these protraced and
unayailnp discussions, we'll upon our relations with
France as upon our national character obvious and
the line Of duty to my mind equally So ms was,
either TO insist upon the ad ustment OF our claims within
reasonable PERIOD to abandon them altogether l
could not doubt that by this course, the interests and
honor of countries would be best consulted lnstruc-
tons therefore given in this spirit to the Minister
who was sent out, once mole to demand leparallol.
Upon the meeting of Congress, in December, 1899,
felt it my duty to speak Of these claims and the
delays Of France. in terms calculated to call the
serious attention Of both countries to the subject The
then French Ministry took exception to the message, on
the ground of its containing menace, under which 1t
was not agreeable the French Government TO ncgotl.
ate The American minister, Of his own accord reluted
the construction which attempted to be put upoa the
message and at the time, called to the recollection
Of the French Ministry, that tine Presidents message was
communication addressed, not TO Foreign Governments
IL, ,ofI, which