State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-02
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
OF THE, UNITED STATES.
TO The Senate and House of Representative.

EIIDOhOII Il INONl
OF THE, UNITED STATES.
TO The Senate and House of Representatives
Gentlemen: In my message at the open.
ing of your session, informed you that
our Charge IL Affaires at Paris had beer
instructed to ask for the final determination
of the French Government, in relation to
the payment of the Naturalization, secured
by the treaty of the 18th of July, 1881, and
that when advices on the result should be
received, it would be made the subject of O
special communication.
In execution of this design, now transmit
TO you the papers numbered to 10, inclu-
sive, containing, among other things, the
correspondence on this subject between
our Charge d Affaires and the French
Minister of Foreign Aflares from which il
will be seen, that France requires, as a
condition precedent to the execution of Il
payment of debt acknowledged by all the
branches other 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 cannot he complied
with, and, il persisted in, they must be con-
sidered as deliberate refusal on the part
Of France to fulfill engagements binding by
the laws of nations, and held sacred by the
whole civilized world. The nature of the
act which France requires from this Gov
eminent, is clearly set forth in the letter of
the French Minister marked No. 4. We
will pay the money, suys he, when "the
Government ofthe United States is ready, on
its part, to declare to as, by addressing lis
claim to US officially, in writing, that she re-
gretS the misunderstanding which has arisen
bet0een the ttco countries; that this misuuder-
standing is founded on mistake; that it
nerer entered into its intention 10 call in CUES
tion the good. faith fine French Governments
norto take a menacing attitude to,cards
Fance;" and he adds, 'Yhe Government Of
the United States does mol glue this assurance
tre shall be obliged to think that his rnisur.
Outstanding is not the result Of ercr." In
the letter markedNo, 6, the French Minister
also remarks, tia the Government. of The u.
States knotcs, that upon itself depends hence
for.0ard the erecutioa ofMe treaty of July a,
1872
Obliged by the precise language thus
used by the French Minister, to view it as
u peremptory refusal to execute the treaty,
except on terms incompatible With the
honor and independence of the United
States, and persuaded, that, on considering
the correspondence now submitted to you,
you can regard it in no other light, it be-
comes my duty to call your attention to
such measures as the eXigency of the case
demands, if the claim of Interfering in the
communications between the different
branches of our Government shall be per-
sisted in. This pretenson is rendered the
more unreasonable by the fact that the
substance of the requiredseXplanato had
been repeatedly and voluntarily given be-
lore it was insisted on as a conditional
condition the more hulniliating because it
Is demanded as an equivalent of pecuni-
airy consideration. Does France desire
only declaration that we had no intention
10 obtain our rights by an address to her
fears rather than to her Justice? She has
already had it frankly aud explicitly given
by our Minister accredited to her Govern
ment, his act ratified by me, and nv letter
10 the French Minister of Foreign Affairs,
of the 25th of April, 1885, and repeated by
my published approval of that letter after
the passage of the bill of indemnfication.
Does France want degrading, seryile re-
petition of this act, in terms which she
shall dictate, and in terms which shall in
volve an acknowledgement OF her assumed
right to interfere in our domestic councils
She will never obtain it. The shirt of the
American people, the dignity ofthe Leeis-
lature, and the firm resolve of their Execu-
tive Government, forbid it.
As the answer of the French Minister 10
our Charge d'Affaires, at Paris, contains
all allusion 10 letter addressed by him TO
the representative of France at this place
II now becomes proper to lay before YOU
the correspondence had between that
functionary, and the Secretary of State
relative to the latter, and to accompany the
same with such explanations as will enable
you 10 understand the course of the Exec
nVe IN regard TO it. Recurring to the his
torical statement made at the commence
mellt OF your session, of the origin and pro-
gress OF our difficulties with France. il will
be recollected that on the return of our
minister to the United States, / cansed INV
oificlal approval of the explanations he had
gwen 10 the French Minister of FOREIGN
Aralrs, to he made public. As the French
government had noticed the message with
out It's being officially communicated, il
was not doubted that, if they were dsposed
10 pay the money due to us, they would
notice any public explanation of The Gov
eminent OF the United States in the same
way. But, contrary TO these well founded
expectations, the French Ministry did not
take this fair opportunity to relieve them.
seivs from their unfortunate position, and
70 do justice 10 the United States.