Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-10

III.
from the nature of things and the fundamental
MAJ ims of our public law" And, in a subse
ouent part of the same note, the minister further
remarks; "But can assure you that, although
there may be some delay in the acquitai OF the
sums mentioned In the treaty, yet that delay,
which circumstances render unavoidable, WIZ
not be greater than necessity requires" He
adds, Your Government, sir, will appreciate
duly the parliamentary considerations, and the
constitutional principles, on which they are
founded; and doubt not that the affair VIII enc
by inspiring them with the greater conhdenceln
the Kings Government"
There can be no doubt that the ailusion OF the
French Minister 10 the circumstances over which
the Kings Government had no control, and to
parliamentary considerations which would De
duly apprectated at Washington, referred 10 tne
opposition to the treaty In the Chamber OF De-
puties This superstition is confirmed ny pas
sage in a note from Mr. Harris, the successor OF
Mr. Niles, as American charge d'aHalres, al
dressed to the French Minister on the Isl July,
1899 in which, referring to repeated interviews
between them, he says: "He was then assured
that there was some opposition in the Cham
bers with regard TO the treaty, but that greathope
was entertained of its being surHounted. The
undersigned therefore employed himself on the
one hand, agreeably to the invitation that he
would do so, in visiting the most Influential
members, and setting the principles OF the trea-
ty before them in their true light, so as to make
them comprehend the whole importance OF the
question; and on the other, OF transmitting 10
the Cabinet. at Washington, accounts of all that
took place here, as well as the promises and as
surances given him by the French Ministry
The case must have been an extraordinary one
i'm which foreign minister could have invoked,
or representative of the American Govern
ment would have yielded 10, such an irregular
interpretation.
In his answer to this note, the French Minister,
afer expressing his opinion that it was unneces-
sary. the Minister of France, at Washington,
ha wing been charged 10 make suitable represen-
tatons. proceeds 10 say: Thus, his Majesty's
Government in demanding from the Chamber
of Deputies, during the first session, the appro-
priation Indispensable for discharging the en-
gagements of the treaty, proceeded agreeably
to rule; but it evidently did not depend upon the
Government to have such appropriation voted
IN that session; and, certainly, it is not TO Mr..
Harris that the undersigned could think himself
obliged to urge such consideration.
AS TO the session which begun on the 25h OF
April its shortness is sufficient, alone, to explain
how the vote which was rejected i'm the prece-
ding one should have been again deferred; and
upon this point, likewise, the Kings Government
is fully authorized to consider itself clear Of all
mputation.
'sNo doubt, as Mr.. Harris observes, the Cabi-
net at Washington, had right to rely upon the
exact fnlfiment OF engagements subscribed IN
the name of France; and ii is to be hoped that In
this its confidence has not been diminished; but
It is too enlightened, and understands too well
the duties imposed by representative institutions.
as well us by the parliamentary system not to
have jud ged that the Kings Government would
necessarily have, above all things, to pursue the
proper line Of conduct with regard to the Cham
beers. In fact while the charter recognizes in the
King the right of concluding and ratifying trea-
ties, it, at the same time, renders the sanction OF
thp legislati, body indispensable for the execl,
ton Of those parts Of their st'pnlatons. the ex-
animation oil which is among their special attri-
hur s."
TIE Gi;Ficulties. of which our repre- e tat We
at Paris was apprized, in passing through the
Chambers the dill of appropriation. were COM
nunicated to the American Government ny the
French minister here. In note from him to
he Secretary State, under date the 10Th May,
1888 he says: With regard to the explana-
uunS requested by the Secretary OF State, as Ia
he delay Of the French legislature in giving its
sanction to the financial clauses of the convrn-
ton the Duke de- BrOglie observes 10 the under
signed, that il must be well known at Washing
ron how much circumspectinn management is
necessary in representative government. and
how many parliamentary difficulties are 10 be
met with, especially when treaty is in question.
,whl ch on account of the obligations which il
imposes ON the country, has against it strong
preudicps in the Chambers, and public opinion
without. The minister OF foreign affairs adds,
that this delay has been entirely unavoidable
(independent de Sc rolante;) that he will in few
DAYS submit To the Chambers "a bill on the sub
ject and that he will do all that could be expect
ed from the known loyalty of the Kings Go
vernment to effect its passage as speedily as pos
sible, and to abrdge delay which he has been
able only TO regret"
Again, on the 3lst August, 1888, the French
minister at Washington, by the express order of
his government, addressed a note to the Secre-
tary Of State, from which the following extract
is taken; at is easy to conceive that Congress
should not hesitate to sanction convention so
advanta geous to the citizens Of the United
States and that the Federal Government should
be eager to require its approval. But in France
the case is different; prejudices, doubtless I'M
reasonable, yet, from, their nature, likely to ex-
ercise disagreeable influence upon the minds
of men, have been openly manifested against
the validity Of the American claims; and the
Kings government, under the conviction that
Justice absolutely required the admission of
part of them; yet was far from expecting unan
mnus assent to its opinion. 1t was the more
necessary to take these prejudices into account |
as they had found their way into the Chambers, |
where il was matter of notOrety that the con- |