Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-01-30

other. to subject this portion of hi:
acts to public scrutiny, and, if occa
sion should require it, to constitution
,al animadversion. 1t was the more
necessary to adhere to these princi
pies in the instance in question, mas
much as, in addition to other import
ant interests, it very intimately con-
cerned the national hOnor-a matter
in my Judgment, much too sacred to
be made the subject of private and I'M
official negotiation.
1t will be perceived that this letter
of the French Minister of Foreign At
fairs was read to the Secretary of
State on the l 18th of September last.
This was the first authentic indica-
ton Of the specific views of the French
Government received by the Govern
ment of the United States after the
passage of the bill of indemnification.
lnasmuch as the letter had been writ
ten before the official notice of nv
Of Mr. Livington's last ex-
PLANTATION and remonstrance could
have reached Paris, just ground of hope
was left, as has been before stated,
that the French Government, on re-
celving that information in the same
manner the alleged offensive message
had reached them, would desist from
their extraordinary demand, and pay
the money at once. To give them
an opportunity to do so,& at all events
to elicit their. final determination, and
the ground they intended to occupy,
the instructions were given to our
Charge dAffairs which were advert
ed to at the commencement of the
present session of Congress. The
result as you have seen, is demand
of an official written expression of
regrets, and a direct explanation ad-
dressed to France, with a distinct in
timation that this is a SINE QUA NON.
MIR. Barton having, in pursuance 20 bis
returned to the United States,
and the Charge d'Affairs Of France having
been recalled, all diplomatic intercourse
between the two countries is suspended
a state Of things originating in an unreal
sonable susceptibility on the part of the
French Government, and rendered neces-
sary on our part by their refusal to per-
form engagements contained IN q treaty !,
from the faithful performance of which, by
us, they are to this day enjoying many I'M
portant commercial advantages.
1t is time that this unequal position Of az
fairs should cease, and that legislative &C
ton should be brought to sustain executive
exertiOn IN such measures as the case re-
quires. While France persists in her re-
fusal to comply with the terms of a treaty,
the object of which was, by removing all
causes of mutual complaint, TO renew an
Gent feelings of friendship, and to
unite the two nations in the bonds OF
anity and of mutually beneficial com
nerce, she cannot justly complain if we
adopt such peaceful remedies as the Law
of Nations and the circumstances Of the
case may authorize and demand. OF the
nature Of these remedies have heretofore
had occasion to speak, and. in reference
to particular contingency, TO express my
conviction that reprisals would be bes,
adapted to the emergency then contem-
plated.
Since that period, France, by all the
Departments of her Government, has sc
knowledged the validity Of our claims, ane
the Obligations of the treaty, and has ap
propriated the moneys which are necessar,
to It's execution: and, though payment i:
withheld on grounds vitality important t,
our existence as an independent Nation
it $ not TO be believed that she can hav,
determined. permanently to rete in a posi-
to-, so utterly indie fensib'e. In the alter
ed state of the questions in controversy
and under all existing circumstances,
appears to me that, until such determI
nation shall hive become evident. ii will
be proper and sufficient TO retaliate he
present refusal I" comply with her engage
menfs, by prohibiting the Introduction Q
French products and the entry Of vessel
into our pots. Between this and the in
terdictlon ii I'll commercial intercourse O
other rene dies, you, as the repres en.ative
fthe People, must determine. recon-
mend f.se former. IN the presen, posture
OF our affairs. as being the least inluriou
il our commerce, and as attended with ,h'
least difficulty of returning to the usua
state Of friendly intercourse, if the Govern
ment of France shall render us the justic,
that is due, and, also, as a proper prelimi
nary step to strong measures, snol Id thei
adoption be deemed necessary by subse
OUT ereuts.
The return of our Charge d Atfane
is attended with public notices Of ma
val preparations on the part of Franc
destined for our seas. Of the caus