Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-17

""'""NS to"Wus setitu}enf oil them n
made, owing mainly 10 their distracted
state, or TO the pressure Of imperative do
mes'ic questions. Our patience has been,
and Will probably he still further severely
tried; but our fellow citizens whose infa
rests ale involved, may confidc in the 10.
termination oil the Government 10 obtain
Tor them, eventually, ample retribution.
Unfortunately, many of the nations OF
this hemisphere are Still self torsnented by
domestic dissensions. Revolution succeed.
revelation, Injuries are committed unnn
Foreigners engaged in lawful pursuits.
much time elapses befnre a Government
sufficiently stable is erected 10 Justify ex.
peciation OF redress. Ministers are seat
and received, and before The discussions
OF past injuries are fairly begun, fresh
troubles; but o freq1ertly new injuries
are added 10 the old. 10 be discussed 10
gelher, with the existing Government, af.
Ter IFS ability 10 sustain the assaults made
upon II, or with its successor, if overthrown.
lfthis unhappy condition ofthings con,in.
ues much longer, other nations will be
under The painful necessity OF deciding
whether justice to Their citiz sns does not
require a prompt redress Of i~rjlties by
their own power. withou, waiting for the
establishment Of a Government competent
and enduring enough 10 discuss and TO
make satisfaction for them
Since the last session Of Congress. the
validity OF our claims upon France, ss Ii.
qnidated by The treaty of 1881, has been
acknowledged hv both branches Of her
Legislature. and The money has been ap
propfiated for their discharge but the
payment IS, | regret to inform you, still
withheld.
A brief r~ecapitulaiion Of the most i'm
portant incidents in this protracted contro
versy, will show how utterly untenable
are the grounds upon which this course |,
attempted 10 be justified.
On entering upon the duties of my sta.
ton, ! found the United States an unsuc
cessial applicant TO the Justice of France.
Tor the satisfaction Of claims, the validity
oil which was never questionable, and has
now been most solemnly admitted by
France herself. The antiquity of these
claims. their high justice, aud The asgra.
vating circumstances out Of which they
arose, are TOO familiar to the American
People TO require description. II is suili
Gent to say that, for q period of ten wears
and upwards, our commerce was, with Blu,
little interruption. the subject Of constant
aggressIoas on the par. OF Francc-ag.
gressions. The ordinary features Of which
were condemnations Of vessels and car
goes under arbitrary DEGREES, adopted in
contraventi1n, as wei! Of the laws OF m
tons, as OF treaty stipularions burnings
on the high seas; and seizures aud conis.
cations. under special imperial rescripts.
IN the ports OF other nations occupied by
the armies under the control of France
SUCH, 1t Is now conceded, is the character
oil The wrongs we sufsred-wrongs, in
many cases, SO ntgrant, that even their
authors never denied orr rights TO rcnara
ton. On the extent of these ininties
some conception may he formed from the
iact that after the burning Of a large
amount at sea. and the necessary detefio.
ration. IN other cases. by long detenlion.
the American property 80 seized and a,
c'iiiced at forced sales. excluding what
was adjadged 10 privateers, before or with.
out condemnation brought into the French
treasury upwards Of twenty four millions
OF francs, besides large custom house du.
ties.
The subject had already been an affair
OF twenty years. uninterrupted negotiation
except for a short time. when France was
overwhelmed by the military power of
united Europe. Daring this period, whilst
other nations were extoriing from her,
payment oflheir claims at the p0int Of the
haYonei, the United States intermittcd
their demand for justice, out Of respect TO
the oppressed condition OF a gallant PEG
pie, to whom they felt under obligations
for iratcrnal assistance in their own days
OF suffering and Of peril. The bad effects
oil these protrscted and uuayailing discus
sions, as well upon our relations with
France as upon our national character.
were obvious and the line OF duty was TO
my mind equally so. This was. either 10
insist upon the adjustment OF our claims
within a reasonable period, or 10 abandon
them altogether. could not doubt, that
by this course the interests and honor Of
both countries would be hes, consulted. -
Instructions were therefore given 10 this
spirit 10 the Minister who was sent out
once more 10 demand PREPARATION. Upon
the meeting Of Congress, in December,
1879, felt il my duty TO speak pf these
claims, and the delays OF France. IN terms
calculated TO call the serious attention Of
both countries TO the subject. The then
French Ministry took exceptions 10 the
message on the ground OF its containing a
menace, under which il was not sgreea
bic to the French Government to negoti
ate. The American Minister Of his own
accord refuied the CONSTRUCTION which was
attempted TO be put upon the message,
and, at the same time, called TO the reeol
lection Of the French Ministry. that The
Presidents message was a communication
addressed, not 10 foreign Governments,
but 10 the Congress Of the United States,
in which it was cnjoined upon him, by the
constitution, TO lay before that body infor-
nation Of the state OF the Union, compre.
bending its foreign as well as its domestic
relations; and that if, in the discharge Of
This dnty, he felt it incumbent upon him