Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-02-16
Relations with France.
THE SUPPRESSED LETTER"
Litter e(Ae dxks de Broght 10 ~ Pageoi.
lCoscLunrp.


Mr. Livingston fully admits in his note of the
27th Of April the right Of foreign governments, To
take proper exception to the acts and language Of
the Government, which he represents.
''Sbouid the President he observes, do an Of
fcsl executive act affecting foreign power, "
use excep,tousble language in addressing Il. tbro
his Minister or thronnb iheirs--shs.is 'sw be
passed injurious to The dignity Of snoher nation, IN
eli these and other similar cases, demand for ex
pana,ion would be respectfully received. and an
swercd in the manner iba, justice and regard TO
the dignity of the complaining nation, would re-
quire."
But he maintains tina, these principles, the wis.
dom al which is evident are moi applicable 10 an
&C, By which the President. sole representative of
the nation towards foreign powers, gives TO Con-
gress an account OF the situation Of foreign rca-
tons.
The utmost freedom" says Mr. Livingston, 'rhe
utmost freedom from all testrnnt in the details into
which he is obliged to enter Of international CON
Germs. and Of the measures in relation to them, is
e..,u,i,l 10 the proper performance Of this all IN
portant part Of his functions. He must exercise
them without having continually before him the
lear Of offending the Susceptibility of the powers
whose conduct lie is obliged to notice
Were any foreign powers" continued Mr. Liy-
ingson, "permtted to scan the communications
Of the executive, their complaints, whether real
affected, would involve the couniry in continual
controversies for the right being admitted, il
would be a duty to execute 1t. by demanding dis
svowsl Of every phrase they might deer offensive
and an explanation of every word 10 which an i'm
proper interpretation could be given. The princi
pie, therefore, has been adopted, that no foreign
poxer has a RICH, to ask for explanations OF any
thing that the President, in the execution Of his
functions thinks proper TO communicate to Congress
or Of any course he may advise them 10 pursue"
We cannot, sir. admit such principle; we can
not admit II, at leas, without condition lin
IT, in an absolute, general and rerempiory sense.
Il does not depend upon a nation from the mere
fact ofits having adopted such or such form of
Government to acquire with regard TO foreign pow
e,s NOR. rights than it would have had, or 10 ar
yopa,e to itsef other rights than those which 1t
would have enjoyed under any other form govern
mept.
Nations are free 10 choose withou. any constrant
the Government they please -preciseiy for this rea
son. aud under this condition, that such choice
concerns them exclusively. and that whatever that
choice NAV be- it cannot affect the rights or njure
the Legitimate interests Of other nations
Now il is the acknowl edged right Of every Gov
eminent, when the legal representative, or when
the official organ Of another Government, expresses
himself publicly in reference to 1t, in language
which is deemed offensive. TO demand an explana-
ton of it. Such IA right the Constitution OF the
United States can neither abolish. modify nor res
triet II is an international right (un drot inter
nationally II suits the people Of the United States
10 divide the power Of III. Union between Presi-
dent and Congress. BE il so. 1t suits them &c
osiice the Presiden, to give publicly to Congress an
sccoup, Of the state Of foreign relations. TheiI
right IL questionable. Bu: that the President o.
the United States the official organ, the legal rep
resentatve Of the Union towards foreign nations
thereby acquires the right TO press himself putfiei.
upon foreign governments in language offensive Il
these governments that he shoold in asserting thu
liberty the freedom necessary for such commun
cations dispense with all reserve in his language
and With oil responsibility towards .he powers
whom tina, language concerns, is what we canno
admit.
Irresponsbili,y, Qinyolabtite) whether !, re
lates TO persons to acts or 10 words irresponsible
Is, when IL is legally established, is pure nation
al Institution purely internal regnlaian, and car
never be used as an argumen, IN the iIereours'
sh,eh GoyereInen,s hold with each other. II
were otherwise. and II we were disposed, alter tn
example oil Mr. Livingston, TO carry The srgumen
"a IL. extreme consequences, il might be maintain
ed that the Presiden, Of the United States has tb
right, provided IL be in a Message to Congress. 4
impute y.LIiely to foreign governments and TO Tor
e,an nations the most odious acts, the most per
verse intentions; to hold them up PUBLICLY to la
snimadversion Of the world without these govern
menis or these nations having the right to mani
fest the saghtes, resentment, since, according L
this very strange doctrine. they would not even b
allowed % take Official notice Of II.
To state such = doctrine, Is TO refute il.
However, SIR, We do no, wish TO exsggsrate an
thing. Mt Livingston is perfectly night when b
saws that the cause which he supports Is, IN gen
.rsl sense. common TO all free countries Tina
all Governments founded on the division oil powe
and oil the pablcity OF debates, have en- interest
repeling, on the part Of foreign powers, aoy ln'e'
ference with the communications which the Pnne
and he M,nistere IN constitutional Aonarehles, an
IN rspabhcs the magistrates entrusted With the "a
ssuiise power, are called upon to make to n
Legislature. Add this is the reason,as Mr. Living
.,oa very jaaicioasly observes tina, in France an
in Enelssd, the language Of the royal speeehe
80 reserved 10 every thing that concerns ioreig
~eisisons. and a. 10 this same motive, a. you vi
obs<~y. Sir 10 the Cabinet OF Washington, TN