South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-01-30

to its passage. But surely, in the midst
of the difficulties which it has caused we
ought not to forget that the acts of our
own Executive were the cause of its in
sertion.
This said Mr.. c. brings US to the
present stage of this unhappy controver-
sy. shall not offer an opinion on the
message and documents which have lust
been read, till have had time to read
them at leisure, and more fully compre.
bend their character and bearing. The
Senator from Pennsylvania has probably
had the advantage of me in knowing
their contents. Here Mr.. BucHANAN
signiied his dissent. I will not fsaid
Mr.. CO. make the remarks that inteu.
ded, but am not satisfied with much
that have heard in the reading of the
message and the documents. / am. in
particular, very far from being salts.
fled with the reasons assigned by
the Secretary of State why he did not
accept the copy of the letter from the
Duke de Broglle to the French Charge
dAffares here, which the latter offered
to put in his possession, l regret ex-
ceedingly that we have not that docu-
ment. 1t might have shed much light
on the present state of this unhappy con.
troversy. Much mystery hangs over the
subjsct
There is another point (said Mr.. C.)
which requires explanation. There is
certainly some hope that the message at
the opening Of the session may be favor
ably received in France. The President
has init expressly adopted the explana.
ton offered by Mr.. Livingston, which at
fords some hope, at least, that it may
prove to be satisfactory to the French
Government. Why, then, send this mes
| sage at this timer Why recommend
/ preparations and non-intercourse till we
have heard how the message has been
received in France! Suppose its recep-.
ton should be favorable, 10 the absence
oft representative, of our Government
at the French court, nothing could be
done till the message which we have just
| received shall have passed the Atlantic
| and reached Paris. How unfortunate
would be the consequence What new
| entanglements and difficulties would be
caused in the relations of the two coun-
! tries ! Why all this Who can ex-
plain. Will any friend Of the Admins
tration rise in bis place and tell US what
| ia intendeds !;
| l might ask (said Mr.. C. for like ex-
| PLANTATION, why our Charge was recalled
from Paris at the time he was. Why
not wait Till the annual message was re-
( ceived! Whom have we there to re.
! present US on its reception, to explain a.
Ry difficulty which might remiln to be
| explaineds ALI these things may have
satisfactory explanation. lcanaot, how
ever, perceive it. There may be some
deep mystery in the whole atf'lir, which
those only who are initiated can UNDER
4 stand.
fear. (said Mr.. C.) that with the
message which we have this day recev.
ed. the last hope Of preserving the peace
Of the country has vanished. This com
pels me to look forward. The first thing
that strikes me, in casting my eyes to
the future, is the utter impossibilily that
war. should there unfortunately be one,
can have an honorable Termination.
We shall 60 into war to exactthe pay
menl of five millions of dollars. The
first cannen discharged on our part
would be a, receipt in full for the whole
amount. To expect to obtain pay
ment by a treaty Of peace would be
worse than idle. If our honor would
be involved 10 such a termination OF
the contest. the honor of France would
be equally involved in the opposite.
The struggle then would be, who
should hold out longes, in this unng O..
f,able. and. were it no, for the ssr;,us.
ness Of the occasion, ridiculous. con-
test. To determine this point. we
must inquire which can infiict on the
other the greater injury, aud 10 which
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