Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-03
FRENCH TREATY.

From the mass OF documents laid before Con-
gress in relation to the French Treaty. from all
of which, indeed, as far as we have seen, moth
ing new or important can be gleaned-we ex-
tract the following letter, written by Mr.. Nc
Lane, then Sec. Of State, to Mr.. Livingston
Mr.. .McLane TO Mr.. Livingston.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, June, 81, 1894.
Sir:-Since my despatch to you of the 18th in
slant ycar dispatches Nos. 80 and 80 have been
received. The communication which you were
informed NJ. Ssrur,er would be instructed TO
make to this Government, has also been receiv-
!, ed; aud copy, with my answer Is now en-
closed for your Information. You will see that
a!thou RI NJ explanation is afforded of the caus-
O., which led IN the rejection of the bill by
the Chamber, Yet the assurances oil the Kings
adherence IL the treaty, and Of the dctermlna-
ton OF the King and hts Government to use all
constitutional means in their power. both to In
duce the Chamber Ia cirryit nto effect and to
hasten the time when II may be acted upon
by the ChamDer, are strong, that, without
imputng the groSSeSt bad faith, IL is impossible
altogether to reject them lt was, moreover,
evident, from the discussion in the Chamber,
that the assurances which had been made 10 you
Of the sincerity of the ministers were, in a great
degree mt least, we'll fpunded: indeed, the speech
es OF the Due de Broglie. in which the obliga-
tons Of France on the subject were urged with
an ability and frankness that reflect the highest
honor on that eminent minister, were perhaps
sufficient tn remove all doubt on that point.
The President t,erefore, upon the cousidera-
tons stated in the note &, NJ SeIurler, decided
to afford an opportunity for further action on the
part the Chamber, and To rely upon the efforts
Of the Kings Government To obtain an early
and favorable result. In coming TO this conclu-
sion however you are to understand and cause
il TO be distinctly announced to the French Go
fb.afth prN. has rod tn
assembling OF the new Chambers, as soon aher
the new elections as the King according 10 the
charter, has the power to cnnvoke them. The
letter Of Nj Serurier is understood to convey
this assurance by the direction of his Govern
ment. IL is moreover, due To the national no
nor of the United States, "a indeed II is 10 that
of France that no time should he lost in making
the appeal which the Kings Government has
promised. from the decision Of the old to the new
Chamber; and have, therefore, TO repeat, that
an early convocation OF the Chambers Is con-
sidered as within the declared Intention oil the
Kings Government 10 use all the powers conhded
10 them TO hasten the decision by the Chambers
That measure, moreover, IS not only due TO
the United States but is necessary with view to
the adoption OF such measures as the decision
may require at the next session of Congress
That session, as you are aware, VIII terminate
on the 81 of March next Ii the meeting ol the
Chambers should be postponed TO The ordinary
at Washington in time 10 be acted upon before
adjournment. The President cannot, and 'will
nOtundcr the circumstances, permit the next SeS-
sion Ct Congress TO terminate Without asking for
their dehnitive and energetic action upon
the subject. Indeed. il is his intention, resting
upon the assurances of the French Government,
given by M. Serurer, TO bring the subject be-
fore Congress for this purpose at the opening OF
their next session. of which the French Govern
ment should be Immediately informed. 1t is ex-
pected therefore, that the Chambers will be con-
voked in time 10 allow him TO be informed other
decision before the opening of the next session
OF Congress.
As great error seems to prevail in France
TO the true amount of the spoiations committed
on the commerce of the United States. | send
YOU a report made by the Commissioners
appointed under the law TO carry the treaty in
10 effect showing the amount of the claims which
have already been filed before them. This re-
port was made in pursuance OF resolution OF
The Senate, and is entitled TO the highest conf
dsnce Though the amount claimed is, in each
case that set forth by the claimant, and may
therefore be exaggerated; yet it is stated by him
on oath, and has consequently all the sanction
that can, in the present stage OF the business be
given il. The amount il is true. includes part
OF the property (for all the claims have not yet
been presenIed) which was condemned under
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES while asserted by
the French Government 10 have benin force.
but dttnOuS1 EiehSl uCSOliu'pio So"eSht w
exclude claims founded on those concentrations,
the United States have never acquesced in the
validity ofthnsr decrees;& though those condem-
nations may have been made more accordingto
the forms of law, they have nothing else to
distinguish them from all other unjust sPolia-
tons committed on our commerce IL Is fair
too, in estimating the injury done to our CT
tizens To add The interest on the property TAX
en- away from our citizens, that being as much
loss as the principal.
transmitted 10 you with my last despatch,
the evidence which you requested, 10 show that
no indemniication has been received for the
vessels seized at st. Sebastian, and sold at Bay
onne. These papers are sent tn you only to be
used Informally, and at your discretion in yonr
conversations with the ministry and others; and
the foregoing remarks on our claims are made
for the same purpose, and not with view to any
new negotiation, or any modification of the trea-
w. Upon this point the Presidents's determine
tion is fixed, and is not to be changed by any
circumstances whatever. In giving his consent
10 the convention, he yielded all that he could
yield, consistently with the rights and interests