Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-04-21
RichnOnd, T'ucsday, April 2I.
THE FRENCU OUESYI0-V

Facts and Documents with which we were f,,n;sls
cd, from t,co different quarters Friday lastThey 20
TO establish not only the justice of CluS France
and the cheering prospect of their early adjustment but
the competency Of the stipulated of 25,C0O 900
flames to pay very nearly the whole of the legitimate
claims of our Fellow Citizens.
The first Document submit is the following brief
but comprehensive argument from American Citizen
addressed to the Leader of the Opposition in the French
Chamber:
Copy Of letter from american geate,aon ,lo,e IN
Paris, 10 Mr. Oddioa BdrrOt, tcadcr If tic Opposition,
IA The Chamber Of Deputies.
''Sirrhe frank declaration of your opinion upon the
treaty of 1881 expressed in the letter which you did
the honor TO address the 9th inst induces me
to avail myself ofthc invitation you pleased to make
me to combat your objections, and present TO your
view every consideration which may tend to resolve the
difficulties you meet with in the investigation in which
you engaged. Although am satisfied you will find
ample proof in the memoir addressed TO the Chamber
that under the catcgories which YOU yourself adj
NIT ndemnites to be due, the amount of25 100 900 is in
ieor that whichs vigorously just lbeg leave remark
that those who contest the amount of the debt bound
an lac TO its that the competent authority
upon which dcvoves the regulation of account av-
ing admitted the qaoe aud engaged the
party whom It represents Ia abide by their decision the
proLcndi falls upon those who dispute its accuracy
aud unless the latter prove by the most rtoroDs Dr.
ropementS 81 tacs, that the allowed is cxaggerat.
ed, they have no right according to the fundamental
'naxns OF law to reverse the decision of the tribunal
charged with the adjustment of the account The pre-
sumption is, that their award is equitable They have
nothing more TO prove. This presumption i'm law is ana
lagous to that which results from the iudpment of r
huna called res addtd and which is considered MS the
truth, unless it be aside by higher authority and
that upon palpabe evidence that is not the truth, In
dePendently of the obligation TO furnish this evil
dcnce, there is manestly provision in the French
Chaerb by whcht the Chamber of Deputies can be cons
tuted into higher tribunal than that of the Power in
which is vested the power ofmakng treaties
Gin ccdng this right the King there no reserve of
supervisory 1T is an unqualified prcrogative; and its
moral bearing is similar to that of power of attorney
granted by individual his legal ADV ser for the MIR
pose of settling contested with a stranger
lie debtor may object TO pay the agreed upon
by las constituted agent, but he would be condemned i'm
] or hFRn of faith lba(
may also reply upon the ratification of treaty True Won
l,sAi the right TO engage the milton towards foreign
Power, and when you had done So il was your duty 10
enforce the execution OF the stpuations imposed upon
the contracting parties, should they have failed to
fulfil them; but we refuse TO furnish the supplies
requisite TO carry into effect the engagements con.
tracted for upon part The moral deLn0nencv
must appear equally fragrant among civilized nations in
the latter case, in that of the private individual i'm So
ciety. 1t would be douby so, applicable to the en-.
gagement with the United States because it was partly
IN consideration of stpulatons consented in favor of
France and which have been duly and scrupuously exc
cuted TO her profit, and with her cORcurrece even be-
fore the examination of the treaty by the Chamber of
Deputies The verdict of the great society of nations
would be, Your constituted agent has pledged the ma
tona faith without any reservation of your RIGHT to re-
wise the merits of the pledge He is the only power
known in international intercourse and as there has
never been any formal and public denial of the va
hdity OF his title as understood by all other govern
ments and, in this case, no protcstation HAVING
been made against il to the opposite party YOU are
bound to acquit the obligation made by him. and settle
! your mutual differences afterwards. Besides although
!
| only with the consent of the King This right then
being co-extensive with yours, partial guarantee is al
| signing the treaty.
sit has been e6ncnded that the peeunar character of
jected to the decision of the Crown But what treaty.
does not comprehend financial provision. The ex.
penscs OF the quadruple alliance at present sustained
ny England IN Keeping up naval force the coasts of
SPAN; but is 1t expected that France will not have TO
contribute also' The amount of the appropriation by
the Crown, made Independently of the Chamber cannot
affect the principle of right.
"But as | understaed you, that your vote will be 20
verned by the conviction you may form of the APP
proXimate amount you substantiae due that of
- millions; ana as you do not admit subject to in
demnity any of the condemned under the Berlin
Milan and Rambouet DEGREES, but add that YOU see in
lheir application an act OF war which authorised
prisals on the part of the United Slates but not prn
cple of indemnity after the lapse of 80 years beg
leave 10 remark, that what Of r6ris0Is at the
date OF those DEGREES is equally present. and that
France refuses to render up property seized under
those decrecs she forces the American Government 70
resort to rer1safs TO obtain it, In doing So she would
establish in principle perfect harmony between your
own admission, that the which autorircd
reprsals and the position taken by the President in his
MESSAGE uat when Iesored to, France will have
right to complain That the American Government
preferred to appeal to the justice of ancient ally and
TO waher convenience for 30 years. instead of avang
herself of the very favorable opportunities she has moI
than once had Of rcdressng herself combination with
the enemies of France offc surely the most signal CON
trast of forbeaancc the one part with resistance m
equitable rcppration the other 1t not too much TO
assert that the great cause of civilization has been emf
violation of the Convention of 1900, sgmatized by the
French Government return to barbarism and bv
yourself, of War-of Convention established
at the nsgaton of Napoleon for the express purpose of
guaranteeing to neuras exemption from every act
III contraventon thereof
Was any fresh evidence necessary prove the law
less Interpretation Of those acts; even by the Emperor
HIMSELF II will he found in the spirit of the secret order
OF the DHc dc nqSsa to the Court of Paris published in
cidentaly in one of the Journals aud copy of which
nave The honor to enclose youO) Ii furnishes ncon-
tesble evidence that the Emperor considered the rbu-
nails which had cognZance OF the under the Der
I'm ana Milan decrees instruments Of his own
arbitrary and illegal awards; and should forever at
rest the preensiOn of the French Governments 10 the
Legality OF the judgments issuing from those tribunals;
for Whatever their action may have been when left to
their control, il is demonstrated by this order that
the Emperor treated them his passive agents and sub
scrhed TO their jurisdiction merely screen against
the just Temonstrancc Of ncutrals.
"ls il to be expected then sir that under these agra
vated consderatons-undc the impulse Of the enl0ht-
ened condemnation which you have willingly passed
upon the character of these acts that summing p the
amount dcpredatons subject to indemnity you make no
allowance Tor the and valuable vessels and car
goes subjected TO the influence of them in all their stages
yernment in its construction of these acts2 The voum
nous diplomatic correspondence between the two govern
mens, viii prove to you that the United States never
admitted the legality Of any judgments in conformity
thereof; and their COMMISSIONS presiding at Wash
ngton impartial tribunal for the liquidation Of the
claims among her citizens has formally decided that
an condcmRqtoHs under the above DEGREES entitled 20
the same rights under the commissions MS those under
The categorcs Which you designate as nconteslible
nations relative thereto which it may be agreeable 10
nd hfptpet