Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-07
From the N. Y. Com. Adv.
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM

from an able CORES spOndent III Paris, who un.
derstands perfectly well what he Is writing
about, and who possesses pccua. facilities
for obtaining facts, and forming sound opn-
ions. 1t will be seen by this letter. that the
report from Washington, touching the import
ant fact suppressed in the Presidents mes
sage,-viz: that friendly overture had been
made by the French government during the
last summer, for al amicable adjustment Of
the whole difficulty-is but too true! II is also
known in Paris, that the President through
the Secretary of State, refused to listen to
that friendly proposition, or even to hear it
read! And yet the President, in his message,
was made to deny having received any offic-
ial information AS to the intentions Of the
French government upon this subject! What
will the French say of the veracity Of the
American executive, Oh the arrival Of tho
message under these extraordinary circum-
stances! It's truth can only be sustained by
the unworthy quibble, that the President had
receired no such information, only because he
,could not receive it. Hut we have no room
for extended comment to-day.
CORRESPONDENTS coMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
PARIS, Nov. 90, 1885.
Messrs. Editors,-You will learn from the
journals of this city, that our charge dafarcs,
Mr. Barton, has demanded and received his
passports, and returns home by the next pack
ct or the succeeding. You will also learn
that the French government has recalled their
charge d'affaires at Washington. So the two
.t,,>ta
it regards each other.
| cannot but look back upon the past of
this affair with great sorrow. The king of
France, sincerely desirous of having this
matter alnicably adjusted and the claims of
our government paid, after the failure of the
FIRST bill in the chamber, recalled to the min
istry the duke de Broglic, who had always
shown his friendship for our country, e. who
was heartily in favor of the payment Of the
money. A ministry was formed upon that
principle. The measure was again brought
forward. So powerful was the opposition,
from the Carlists and republicans, that the
duke dc BrOglie became alarmed for the fate
of the BILL lie too hastily accepted of gen.
Valazc's amendment requiring explanations
from the president respecting his message,
believing that this would readily be done in
order to settle the matter. lie expected no
apology, nor any thing like it. And he with
out doubt expected to receive the sincere
thanks of Mr.. Livingston for what he had
done. Instead of this Mr.. l.. went 10 him
much excited. An unpleasant interview took
place. And although n more pleasant one
succeeded just before Mr.. LIS departure, still
the dukes feelings were deeply woundcd.-
Mr.. Livingston returned 10 the United States,
meetings were held for him ut Philadelphia
and New York; cxaspernting toasts were
drunk and published to the world. The
French government in the meanwhile sends
a communication to their charge at Washing
ton, stating what would be satisfactory to
them, and requesting him to show it to the
secretary of state, and give him copy, if he
desired it. The sec retary of state, however,
refuses to receive it, or even to hear it, say
ing that no negotiation can be had on the
subject Of giving explanations of The pres-
dents message. Notice is ut length given
here, through the American charge, that the
American government refuses to give any
explanations, and payment Of the money is
demanded; this, after some negotiation and
one or two interviews, is refused. Mr.. Bar
ton, according to his instructions, demands
his passports and obtains them, and the French
withdraw their charge from the United States.
This is a brief history of this unfortunate af.
fair. The unnecessarily harsh language of
the last message. and the rough and severe
language of Mr. Livingston's correspondence
with the French government, and the unpar-
donabe and stupid publishing Of the cores
pOndence with his own, have brought Us TO
the very verge ofa war;
] am not disposed TO blame our government
for being decided with France. II was time
that it should be so. But this business might
have been better conducted. Nor do blame
the president for not making an apology to
the French government, or even explanations
directly, for it had no right to make such
demand. But think something was due to
the position Of the king and bis ministry, aud
some way could have been devised for get
ting over this difficulty, without farther trou-
BILE, and without compromising the dignity Of
the government.
But what is now to be done? know not.
But see one way in which the whole matter
could be settled, and that is by the president,
in his next message, simply saying 10 con-
gress that he regrets that his last message
has been misunderstood by the French gov
crnment-that he neither intended to pen-
uce the French government nor to impcach
the good faith Of the king. At the same
time he may deny, as he ought, the right Of
any foreign power to demand explanations Of
the message Of our president. This course
would have reason to say so--would set
tie the whole matter. But will lie pursue it?
fear not, though ] try to hope that he will
! But fhe should pursue a very different
course, what then will take place? We must
rely, under God, upon the wisdom Of our con-
grcss: and think that our senate will DO its
duty. Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Calhoun,
Mr.. Southard, and others there will do their
duty, dare say. ] doubt not that they will
20 for prospective suspension ,f trade with