Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-10
TUfsSa0.gY., W.gfs Crs 40, 1885.

Justly charge with a breach of the public faith
should the Houses of Congress afterwards refuse do
the things stipulated in the treaty.
The French constitution did indeed confer upon the
Executive branch of the French Government the power
To make certain class ofreatcsbut il well known
RUE o construction, that when certain powers af
avey and express terms conferred by article Of
organic law all other powers included in the
CORY Out not cxpressed remained with the granting par
" namely, with the People This rule perfectly
wei understood and admitted that when certain powers
were omitted in the constitution either france ofths
country they must be held to bc reserved and ecc
tnally denied as fthcy had been in terms excluded
NOW, what did our own constitution v; lie wished the
House to mark this with 1t contained such linn
eu grant as was made IN that OF France, with respect to
treaeS its language positive and unqualified the
grant OF the treaty -inakng power But what had been
te UNIFORM construction put upon 1T by the party long
denounced as the republican party in this country What
had they declared and again. and put upon
cord as the republican doctrine? Was it this: That
when treaty had been concluded by the Executive lin
te eAScise oil an unrestricted power ON behalf OF the
United States and IL required for its iuimcnt the APP
Precipitation OF money, such treaty, however ratified
however consutionally made was nevertheless in
choate and incomplete until Congress should have
solved 10 comply with its spulatons? Who did know
tiat inns was our own dOctrinc respecting
ties: But, throwing the Constitution aside MIR A contend
cd that the Constitution silent such power must
reside IN Congress III the nature things 1t was inherent
IN that part OF the Government which presented more
immediately the popular action. He challenged con-
lradction, when he asserted that in of popular
Government, the representative body the exponent Of
inc act guaranteed TO the people, had been Invested of
such power.
Suppose, them that situation in respect Franco
had been revcrsed suppose that were called upon
pay an indemnity to the French People. Suppose the
French Government should come to the House, and pre-
sent treaty signed and formally ratified by the Presi-
uent, and the House should determine that the
too great or that nothing due, and should refuse
appropriate the money, would not gentlemen be astonish
ed that, because of such a constitutional act by that
House OF Congress- the French should complain that the
faith of the nation had been violated?
MIR A insisted that had constitutional provision
waevcr SO far respects granting away the Peoples
money, the Executive could not, in a free Govcrnmcn MT
have the exclusive control No. the voice of the People
themselves must into the bargain Humble as he
was, his consent Representative of n portion of the
American People, must first be asked before single dol
lar could be taken out Of the Treasury and To-
reign nation. Was possible that he could be called
upon to vndicate at this late day. doctrine long
tabllshed and often confirmed? Let that doctrine be
denied, let the safeguards which the Constitution had
thrown around tho treasure of the nation be removed
and what would be the consequence? No matter how
the taXlayng branch of the Government might pile up
money eXactcd from the sweat and toll of tI,e PcoDc
the Executive might shovel it OFF fast faster than
they could accumulate it. They, who the People,
representatives, their guardians their trustees, must
stand by with folded hands, and could finger
nor ihleipose demonstrating word TO stop the expendi
ure For one, he had rather that these FIVE millions or
hVe hundred millions, were sacrificed than that such
dogma should once be esiabishcd and submitted to,
part of our system of public admin straton But did
not the assertion, that France had broken faith with us
go, in effect, the whole length OF such doctrine The
Executive branch of the French Cove ment had mani
rested the utne st zeal and anxiety to have the treaty
cuted The only delay the deliberation of
the Chambers. Mr.. A. nstonshed to hear the re-
pro9chful language which lad been hcapcd upon the
EXECUTIVE Organ 9fthat Government by the honorable
geihieinan from Massachusetts, in that House and al
such moment Even had the reproaches been merited
which lac believed them to be, he would no more
nave thought OF resorng at such time to reproaches
than to Tcprisals
MIR. A here said that he had been informed, within
few moments, that advices had Just been received going
to strengthen the belief that in the Chambers
was likely to be favorable If such were the fact did
not go to strengthen the argument for rejecting the first
proposition moved by the gentleman from New York
hon lurty,
amicaDe result ought at the time to assume
menacng attitude Surely not But the resolutions
both OF the gentleman from New York and the gentle
man from Massachusetts, went, the formally and the
other in effect TO declare that there should be no more
negotiation Was this declaration with which meet
the auspices OF friendly settlement of the dispute The
French Ministry recommended to the Chambers the nav.
ment OF the money and what proposed to declare?
why, IN substance, by implication that have no ex
pcctatons from the good faith Of the French nation and
that menace was the only move them TO do JUS
tee. The honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr Adams had spoken something about acting from
fear; at least he SO understood him TO say.
MIR. Adams did--your whole argument is fear1
Yes, resumed MIR. A., tits, own, the fear of covering
The ocean with plumber and with blood; for WHAT For
the sake of two millions Of dours OF else for some
phantom notion OF national honor which has sprun0 ND
IN the brain OF the gentleman from Massachusetts, MY
argument IS earl hope honorable fear of produc-
ing by rash legislation result much bc deprecated
If we were TO prohibit all negotiation suppose the
treaty should be rejected, how any accommodation
evcrto be effected? We declared claims to be Just
and so far from having got than was our due as
had been minated by the gentleman who had concluded
the treaty
There Mr. Cambreeng interposcd and inquired of
Mr Archer what was the nature and amount Of the in
telligepce just received which that gentleman had
referred! lie had himself received none.
Mr. Archer replied, that the project of law for the
payment OF the American claims had been referred by
the Chambers TO the Bureau, Standing Committee Of
that body. Such was the intelligence lac had received
as having just arrived II So il went To show at least
that the Chambers had not determined reject the law
The argument OF the gentleman from Massachusetts was
Tor negotiation; but to what purpose while the same
moment the same gentleman barred the door every
thing like ncgotiauon by declaring that we will be sas
he'd with nothing but the treaty; MIR A. said, that, if
he had been rightly informed and he had not doubt of
much larger anIont and should the treaty again be
opened the strong probability was that citizens in
stcadof getting less, would get much more
There was another resort Suppose tie treaty should
be rejected by the Chambers, might not as the only
mode to prevent final rapture with old friends and
earliest ally accept proposition that the dispute should
be referred II the arbitration Of third Power? And
would not the people Of the United States think it extra
ordinary II Congress should refuse such course for the
sake OF getting our two millions Of dollars Such course
had already been adopted in other Great and i'm
poant and very delicate interests Of this nation had been
submitted 10 the mediation of friendly Powers Had
not a question been submitted, which touched even
ton Of soil soil? Were gentlemen willing 10 sub.
init question like that and would they refuse this petty
question Of two millions Of dollars' Let him not be mis-.
understood lie did not say that ought 10 offer the
French Government further negotiation lie thought
ought not What he insisted upon was that we
ought to wait before acted lie was not for batting
single title Of claims On the contrary he was for
claiming more. The accepting Of FIVE millions was a
compromise. Had not the long list of our claims under
gone, ~ the Climbers system of classification and