The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-01-29

the United States, | caused my official ap.
prevail Vi the explanations he had gwen TO
the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs to
be made public. As the French Govern.
ment had noticed the message without It's
being officially communicated, IT was not
doubted that, If they were disposed 10 pay
The money due TO US, they would notice any
public explanation of the Government OF the
United States IN the saline way. But, con.
trary TO these well.iounded expectations,
the French Ministry did not take this fair
opportunity 10 relieve themselves from their
unfortunate position, and TO do justice 10 the
United States.
Whilst, however, the Government Of the
United States was awaiting the movements
OF the French Government, in perfect con.
iidence that the difficulty was at an end, the
Secretary of State received call from the
French Charge dAflalres in Washington,
who desired 10 read to him letter he had
received from the French Minister of For.
elgn Affairs. He was asked whether he
was instructed or directed TO make any Off.
cIal communication, and replied, that he
was only authorized TO read the letter, and
furnish copy II requested. The substance
OF us contents, It is presumed, may be gath.
cred from Nos. and d, herewith transmit.
ted. II was an attempt to make known 10
the Government of the United States, PR
,ately, IN what manner 1t could make ex.
plantations, apparently voluntary, but reaIl,
dictated by France, acceptable TO her, aud
thus obtain payment OF the twenty five mil.
hons Of francs. No exception was taken
10 thus mode OF communication, which is of.
ten used 10 prepare the way for official IN.
tercourse; but the suggestions made 10 1t
were m their substance wholly nadmissl.
bic. Not being IN the shape ol an official
communication 10 this Government, II did
not admit of reply or official notice, nor
could It safely be made the basis OF any &C.
ton by the Executive or Legislature and
the Secretary OF State did not ihluk proper
to ask copy, because he could have no use
for It.
Copies OF papers marked Nos. 9, 10, and
IL, show an attempt, on the part OF the
French Charge d Atialres 10 place copy
OF thus letter among the archives Of thus
Government, which, Tor obvious reasons,
was not allowed 10 be done but the assur
an2e before gwen was repeated, that any
official communication which he might b.
authorized TO make, IN the accustomed form,
would receive prompt and just consldera.
ton. he lndIscretiou of this ATTEMPT was
made more manlies, By the subsequent ayow.
al Of the French Charge Failures. that the
object was to bring this letter before Con.
gress and the American People. Itiorerrn
agents, on subject OF disagreement between
their Government and this, wish 10 prefer
an appeal 10 the American People, they will
hereafter, II is hoped, better appreciate their
own rights and the respect due TO others.
than to attempt to use the Executive as the
passive organ OF their communications.
1t IS due 10 the character of our lns,ltu.
tons, that the diplomatic intercourse of this
Government should he conducted with the
utmost dlrectness and simplicity and that,
IN oil cases Of Importance, the communlca.
tons received or made by the Executive
should assume The accustomed official form.
II Is only by insisting on this form, that 10.
reign Powers eau be held TO iu response.
bilIty, that their communications can be- Of
hcially replied 10, or tina, the advice or IN.
reference OF the Legislature can with pro.
Puety be invited by the President, Tins
course Is also best calculated, on the one
hand, to shield that officer from unjust sus.
pIcions, and, on the other, to subject tins
portion OF his acts to public scrutiny, and,
1t occasion shall require It, to constitution.
al anImadsersIon. 1t was the more neces.
sary to adhere TO these principles IN the IN.
slance IN question, lnasmIch as, m addition
to other Important interests, 1t very lnIl.
ma,ely concerned the national honor.-a
matter, IN my Judgment much too sacred
to he made the subject OF private and unol.
hclai negotiation.
1t will be perceived tina, this letter of the
French Minister Of Foreign Arairs was
read 10 the Secretary Of State on the 18th
OF September last. This vas the first an.
thenilc indication Of the specific views Of
the French Government received hv the
Government OF the United States after the
passage Of the bill of decentralization. In.
asmuch as the letter had been written he.
tore the official notice Of my approval of Mr.. F..
Lvlngston's last explanation and remon.
STRANGE cou!dha reached Paris, JUS, ground
OF hope was left, as has been before stated.
that the French Government, on receiving
that Information IN the same manner the al. .
legged offensive message had reached them,