The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-01-27


seat on Monday last, recommending a
prohibition Of french goods into our Coun-
try, and the entry Of all French ressels
into our Poris
CONGRESS,--MoNDAy, JAN. is.
The following Message was received
from the President ofthe United States /:
10 the Senate and House of Representa-
tires
GENTLEMEN In my message at the
opening of your session, | informed you
that our Charge d'Atlaircs at Paris had
been instructed TO ask Tor the final deter
mination of the French Government, in
relation 10 the payment OF the Indemnif-
cation secured by the treaty of the Ith of
July, 1881, and that when adyices of the
result should be received, IL would be made
the subject of a special communication.
lnexecution of this design, | now trans
init 10 you the papers numbered from l TO
l3, Inclusive, continuing, among other
things, the correspondence on this subject
between our Charge d. Atlaires aud the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs. from
which it will be seen that France requires,
as n condition precedent TO the execution
OF a treaty uncond,ionally ratified and
TO tho payment ola debt acknowledged by
all the branches of her Government to be
due, that certain explanations shall be
made, of which she dictates the terms.
These terms are such as that Government
has already been officially informed can
not be complied with and fperssied in,
they must be considered rs a deliberate
refusal on the part ofFrance TO fulfil en-.
gagements binding by the laws of nations,
aud held sacred by the whole civilized
world. The nature Of the act which
France requires from this Government is
clearly set forth in the letter of the French
Minister. marked No. 4. We will pay
the money, says he, when The Gorcrn-
mem Of The United States is ready on KS
part 70 declare TO us, by addressing ais
claim TO us officially in drifting, that 1t re-
grets The misunderstanding uhichhas aris-
.ss ssei srsr,.the two countries Matthis mis-.
understanding rs founded on a mistake;
that II nerer entered into is intention 10 call
in question die good faith Of the French
Government, nor 10 take a menacing 0Hi.
tude tonGds France y and he adds" If
The Government Of The United States does
not gre this dSSuronce,we shall be Obliged
10 hink that this Misunderstanding is not
the result Of an error"
In the letter marked No. 9, the FreEch
Minister also remarks that The Gorern-
mem Of The United States knouS Hiat upon
itself depends hence forrard the escchaion,
Of Hte Treaty. Of July A, 1881"
Obliged, by the precise language thus
used by the French Minister, to view it
as a peremptory refusal TO execute the
Treaty, except on terms Incompatible
with the honor aud independence Of the
United States, and persuaded that, Oh con-
sidering the correspondence now sub
mitted 10 you, you can regard 1t IN no
other light,t becomes my duty TO call your
attention to such measures as the exi-
gency Of the case dem nds, if the claim
oflnteriering in the communications be-
tween the different branches of our Co
yernment shall be persisted in. THIS pre-.
tension is rendered the more unrcasoua-
bic by the fact that the substance of the
required explanation has been repeatedly
and voluntarily given before It was lLsis-
ted on as c0ndtlon--a condition the
more humiiatng because it is demanded
as the equivalent ofa pecunlary considera-
ton. Docs France desire oJly dcclara-
ton that we had no intention 10 obtain
our rights by an address TO her fears
rather than TO her justicel She has al
ready had ii, frankly and explicitly given
By our Minister accredited to her Govern
ment, his act ratified by me, and my n
firmation of ii officially communicated by
him, in his letter 20 the French Minister
Of Foreign Affairs Of the 18th Of April,
1885, and repeated By my published ap-
proyal of that letter after the passage Of
the bill of indemniicntion. Does France
want degrading, scrvilc repetition Of
this act m terms which she shall dictate,
and which will involve an acknowledge
ment Of her assumed right 20 interfere IN
our domestic councils She will never
obtain it. The spirit Of the American
People, the dignity Of the Legislature,
and the firm resolve Of their Executive
Government, forbid it.
As the answer Of the French Minister
to our Charge dAiiaires At Paris contains
an allusion TO letter addressed by him
to the Representative Of France at this
place,it now becomes proper TO lay before
you the correspondence had between that
functionary and the Secretary Of State
relative to the letter, and to accompany
the same with such explanations as will
enable you to understand the course of
the Executive in regard to it. Recurr-
ing 10 the historical statement made a.
the commencement Of yo1r session, of the
origin and progress Of our difficulties with
Ersnco !, a. m he reeollected that on the