Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-07-16
Mr.. LIVINCSTON's CORRESPONDENTS
DEPARrMENT or STATE,
LIZ. IL y

; l-hr Licisston 10 the Due dc Brogiie,I
LEGATION OF TIE UNITED srArps.
Paris, dpril 25th, 1885. (
HIS ETcellenc5, THE Due DE BRootm. e.
Or About TO return 10 my native country.
am unwilling TO leave this, without adding one
lnVie enolt 70 lhe many have already made, "a
restore 70 both that mutual coed understandings
whieh their best interests REQUIRE ana ,vbirS,
probable events may interrupt and perhaps per.
manently destroy f'PS Pc
! From the correspondence and acts Of his Ma.
Jesty Government, since the Message ~ ~,
| President Of the United States WAS lnon, ' :.
Paris, II IS evident that an idea is entertained ~
making the iulhiment of the treaty OF 1891 de-
pendent on explanations TO be given of terms
used IN the Message, aud ofwtholding paymen,
:, an acknowledged debt until satisfaction be gi-
ven Tor supposed ndecofum in dcmanaino il p
Inc bare possibility that this position might be
entertained aud acted upon by his Maiesty's no.
fernment, renders II incumbent on me 10 state
explicitly what understand to be The sentimenfs
Of mine on this subject.
Erroneous impressions arisnr for, a.. ,v,n,
OF proper attention 10 the structure forr O.. :
eminent, 10 the duties Of lis Chief Magis,rate
70 the principles II has adopted and its strict Al
herehce 10 them, IN similar cases, might raise
expectations which could never be realized and
lead TO measures destructive Of all barn,onv h.,
tween the parties. This communication i ,naas
IN tuil confidence that il is the wish of his Mn
Jesiv > Government, as il is most sincerely that
OF me President, to avoid all measures OF that
description, and II IS hoped therefore. that IL
i VIII DC received IN the spirit by which il is die
/ tated-that Of Cancellation and peace.
The form Of our government, and the functions
u uhe PRESIDENT, as component part of it, have
IN their relation TO this subject been sufficiently
explained IN my previous correspondence, espe-
cially in my letters TO the Comic de pienv ~
| the 18th ofJanuary last have. theref5ro III.
lie TO add to that part ofmy representation which
IS drawn from The forms of our government. and
the duties OF The President in administering H.
/ ! these are iuiiy understood, the principles Of
action derived from them cannot be mistaken.
| The President, as the chief executive power.
must nave a free aud entirely unfettered commu-
hlcation with the co ordinate powers of the gov.
ernment AS the organ of intercourse with 9TH
| or nations, he is the only source from which
hhoWieose OF cur relations with them can be
conveyed TO The legislative branches. /, results
| from this that the utmost freedom from all res
traint IN the details into which he is OBLIGED 10
enter Of international concerns, and of the meas
ures IN relation TO them, is essential 10 the pro.
per performances OF this important part Of his
iunciiosn. He must exrcise them without baying
continually before him the fear Of offending The
Susceptibility OF the powers whose conduct he is
obliged TO notice. In the performance Of this du.
~ he IS subject TO public opinion, and his own
sense OF pfopriety for an indiscreet, TO his con-
siltuents for dangerous, and 10 his constitution
al Judges Tor an illegal, exercise Of the power;
Dut 10 no Other censnre, foreign or domestic
were any foreign powers permitted 10 sean the
communications Of the Executive, their com
plants. whether real or affected, would involve
the country in continual controversies. for the
right being acknowledged, il would be a div TO
exercise II by demanding disavowal Of eyery
phrase they might deem offensive and an ex-
PLANTATION OF every word 10 which an iipproncr
| Interpretation could be given. The principle,
therefore, has been adopted, that no fore ign poy-
er has right to ask for explanations of any
| thing that the President in the exercise Of his
functions, thinks proper 10 communicate TO Con
gress, or Of any course he may advise them TO
pursue This rule is not applicable 20 the gov
ernment Of the United States alone but in com
mon with il TO all those in which the constitu
tional powers are distributed into the different
branches NO such nation, DESTROYS Of avoiding
foreign influence or foreign Interference in its
councils; no such nation, possessing due sense
Oh IT'S dignity and independence, can long submit
70 the consequences of such interference.
when these are felt, as they soon will be, all
must unite IN rcpelling il and acknowledge that
The United States are contendng in a cause com
mon TO them all, and more important 10 the Iibo-
raj governments of Europe than even 10 them
selves; for is too obvious to escape the slight
est attention, that the monarchies Of Europe, by
which they are surrounded, will have the adyan-
tage of this supervision Of the domestic councils
OF their neighhors, without being subject to il
Themselves. 1t is true, that, in the representa-
tive governments Of Europe, Executive eommu-
nications 70 Legislative bodies have not the ex-
tension that is given TO them in the United States
and that they are, therefore, less liable to attack
On that quarter, but they must not consider them.
selves safe. in the opening address guarded as
II commonly is, every proposition made by the
Ministry, every resolution of either Chamber,
will offer occasions for the Jealous interference Of
national punctillio for all occupy the same
grounds. No intercommunication of the differ
ent branches Of Government will be safe and
even the courts Of justice will afford no sanctuary
for freedom OF decision and Of debate, and the
I susceptibility of foreign powers must be consult
! cd in all the departments Of government Occa-
sions Tor intervention in the affairs Of other coun-
| tries are but too numerous at present without
opening another door TO entertainments and IL
is no answer TO the argument TO say that no com
| plants will be made but for a reasonable cause
| and that Of this, the nation complained of be-
ing the Judge, no evil can eEsue. Bat this areu-
ment comedies the right Of examining the com
TnunIcations IN question: which is denied allow
IT, and you will have frivolous as well as grave
complaints TO answer, aud must not only heal
the wounds Of Just national pride, but amply
remedy TO those of morbid susceptibility. To
show that my fear for the progre ssive nature of
| the cncroachments is not imaginary pray leave
TO call your eXeellency's attention 10 the enclo-
| sed report from the Secretary Of State 20 the
| President 1t is offered for Illustration, not for
| complaint. ana instructed TO make none. Be.
| cause the Government of France has taken ex-
| ccptons 10 the Presidents opening message, the
Charge d'Afiaires Of France thinks it his duty 70
| protest against such special communication,
and to point ont the particular passages in cor
respondence Of an American Minister with his
! own Government, 10 the publication Of which he
| objects.
| II the principle contest is just, the Charge d.
Afiaires is right he has done his duty faithful
supervisor Of the Presidents correspondence -
II the principle is admitted, every diplomatic
agent at Washington will do the same, and we
shall have twenty censofs Of the correspond ence
I he
pie is correct, every communication which is
made, in relation TO our foreign affairs, either to
Congress or TO the public, ought in prudence TO
be submitted to these ministers, in order TO avoid
disputes and troublesome and humiliating expla-
nations. IT the principle be submitted 10, nei-
Their dignity or independence is left 10 the nation.
To submit even 10 discreet exercise Of such a
nriyilege would be troublesome and degrading.