Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-02-04


been embraced 70 place again before the
Chambers the project Of law. relative to
the treaty Of the 4th OF July. Il was easy
TO make them understand that in acting
with that precipItancy, we would not only
have departed from all established usages,
but compromised. instead Of securing the
passage Of the law.
The same considerations were very ns.
turaly opposed 10 the request made at a
subsequent period. by Mr. Livingston. for
special session in The fall. That minis.
ter must. no doubt. have urged them with
his Government. since the latter showed
itself entirely convinced Of their validity
and business.
The new Secretary OF State. Mr. For
syth. said in the month Of October, TO Nj.
Serrurier 4" The President readily under.
stands why this business has not been la
ken up at the opening Of the session in
August, he can even account Tor the fact
that the demand made by Mr. Livingston
Of special session in the fall. was declin.
ed" Mr. Forsyth added. IL is true, that
:. the President could not understand why
/ the convocatioa of the Chambers bad been
/ delayed unlil the last days OF December.
+ instead Of the beginning Of that month.
But that observation falls before the fact
that, by concurrence OF particular err
cumstances, on which ii would be useless
TO dwell. the meeting of the Chambers did
in reality, take place OH the ist Of Deeem.
Der.
/ Nothing. consequently, could prepare
the French government for the language
of the message OF the President sent 60
Congress We were aware that that mes.
sage would contain statement of The
transactions connected with the treaty Of
the 4th Of July. Mr. Forsyth had. on the
18th of November. given notice OF Il 10
Nj Serrurier. Bot Mr Forsyth had. al The
same time, Informed that minister that the
President would simply advise Congress
to wait for the decision Of the Chambers.
What must not then have been our as
tonishment when the message reached this
side Of the Atlantic And would Il be ex
pected tina, the French government. after
having fulfilled the double duty Of satisfy
ing lis own dignity by recalling its minis.
ter from Washington, and Of redeeming
/ the faith of treaties by obtaining from the
Chambers the appropriation necessary TO
the completion OF the convention OF the
! 4lh July. after having rendered 10 the Nj
nlste. Of the United States his passports,
could II be expected, repsai. that the
| French government would not wait, before
it resumed any commuDtca alton on the sub
iect with the government OF the Union,
and before it renewed with it uninterrupt-
ed relations, that the latter would come
forward aud express itself in terms ealeu-
lated to dispel the unfortunate interpreta-
tons to which the message had given
rise.
such is. in fact and in substance, the
course which the amendment introduced
! by the Chamber Of Deputies has pointed
out to the Government such is the course
which the Government intended 10 have
pursued now ii the law had not made il a
duty.
Nevertheless, il is against this course. so
/ simple and so reasonable, that .ur Liv-
ingston seems 10 wish TO protest before.
hand.
Mr.. Livingston fully admits. in his note
of the eth Of April, tire right OF foreign
governments 10 take exceptions to The acts
and language OF the government which he
:" Should the President" he obs erres,
+" do an official or executive act affecting
a foreign power, or use exceptionable lam
guage in addressing il through his minis
ter, or through theirs, or should a law he
passed injurious 10 the dignity of another
nation, ia all those and other similar cases
demand for explanations would be res
pectfuiiy received and answered in the
manner that justice and regard for the
dignity OF the complaining country would
require"
But he maintains that those principles.
The wisdom of which IS evident. are not
applicable TO an act by which the Pres-
dent, sole representative Of the nation to-
wards foreign powers. gives to Congress
an account of the situation OF foreign re
lations.
1.-The utmost freedom" says Mr., Liv.
ingston, " from all restraint in the details
in which be ia obliged TO enIer, OF inierna.
| tional concerns aud Of the measures IN re.
latIon to them, is essential to the proper
performance OF this important part OF his
functions. He must exercise them With
out having continually before him the fear
OF offending the susceptibility Of the pow
ers whose conduct he is obliged to notice.
Were any foreign power" continues
.Mr Livingston, permitted TO scan the
communications Of the Executive, their
complaints, whether real or affected, would
involve the country in continual coniro-
versies, for tie right being admitted. il
would be duty TO exercise it, by deman.
ding disayowal Of every phrase they
might deem offensive, and an explanation
of every word to which an improper in
depreciation would be given. The prin
ciple, therefore, has been adopted, that no
foreign power has right TO ask for ex-
plantations Of anything that the President
in the exercise Of his functions thinks pro
per to communicate TO Congress, or of a.
ny course he may advise them TO pursue ;