Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-28
WHOLE NO. 3O4.

II fcturl OF our Minister To the United States
! caused my official approval of the ex-
planatons he had gwen to the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs to be made
public. As the ffenth Government had
! noticed the message wiholt its being
ofliciall, cOnmu icatcd, il was not doubt.
ed that, it they were disposed to pay the
h money due to us, they would notice any
public explanation OF the Government OF
the United States in The same way. But
contrary to these well-ioundod expecta-
tions, the French Ministry did not take
this fair opportunity to relieve themselves
from their unfortunate position, and to do
justice to the United States.
/ Whilst, however, the Government of
the United States was awaiting the move.
ments ofthe French Government, in per.
feet confidence that the difficulty was at
an end, the Secretary of Slate received
call from the French Charge dAfaires
in Washington, who desired to read to
hima letter he had received from the
! French Minister of Foreign Affaires.-
4 He was asked whether he was instructed
or directed to make any official commune
cation, and replied, that he was only autho-
lrized to read the letter, and furnish a copy
if required. The substance of its con-
tents, it is presumed, may be gathered
from Nos. and q, herewith transmitted.
1t was an attempt to make known TO the
Government of the United States, private.
lily, in what manner it could make explana.
tons, apparently voluntary, but really die
tated by France, acceptable to her, and
IL, .,f hn txrn
millions of francs. No exception was
taken to this mode OF communication,
which is often used to prepare the way
for official intercourse +; but the sugges-
tons made in it were in their substance
wholly inadmissble. Not being in the
shape cf an official communication to this
Government, it did not admit Of reply or
official notice. nor could it safely be made
5 the basis of any acton by the Executive
s or the Legislature and the Secretary of
: State did not think proper to ask copy,
: because he could have no use for it.
: Copies of papers marked Nos. 8, TO-,
/; and II, show an attempt, on the part Of
the French Charge d'Affairs, to place a
copy of this letter among the archives Of
this Government, which, for obvious rea-
sons, was not allowed to be done; but the
assurance before given wasrepeated, that
any official communication which he
might be authorized to make, in the ac-
customed form, would receive prompt
and Just consideration. The indiscretion
Of this attempt was made more manifest
by the subsequent avowal OF the French
Charge d'Af1airs, that the object was to
n lottos Lac,.a Canura,S md fhA
American people. If foreign agents on
a subject of disagreement between their
Government and this, wish to prefer an
appeal to the American People, they
will hereafter, it is hoped, better oppre-
ciate their own rights and the respect due
to others, than to attempt 10 use the Ex-
ecutive as the passive organ Of their
commune atoms.
Il 1t is due to the character Of our institu-
tions, that the diplomatic intercourse Of
this Government should be conducted
with the utmost directness and simplicity,
and that, in all cases of importance, the
G. commune ations received or made by the
Executive should assume the accustomed
official form. 1t is only by insisting OFT
this form, that foreign Powers can be
held to full responsibility that their COM
munic ations can be officially replied to,
or that the advice or Interference Of the
I Legislature can with propriety be invited
| by the President. This course is also
| best calculated, on the one hand, to shield
that officer from uni ust suspicious, and,
on the other, to subject this portion OF his
acts to public scrutiny, and, if occasion
shall require it, TO constitutional anmad-
version. 1t was the more necessary to
adhere to these principles in the instance
! in question, inasrnuch as, IN addition to
I other important interests, it very intimate
:. w concerned tho national honor-a mat
I ter, in my judgment, much too sacred to
be made the object, Of private and unot-
fetal negotiation.
i Ii will be perceived that this letter OF
1.-the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs
was read to the Secretary Of State on the
II nth of September last. This was the
first authentic indication Of the specific
! views Of the French Government reeeiv-
cd by the Government Of the United
States after the passage Of the bill of IN
y Idemnifcation. Inasmuch as the letter
had been written before the official no.
tice of my approval Of MIR. Iiv'ngston's
last explanation and remonstrance couid
have reached Paris, just ground OF hops
4 was left, as has been before stated, thai
n the French Government, on receiving
: that information in the same manner inc
nllered offensive message had reached
/ Them. would desis; from thcu extraordin-
ary demand, and pay the money Mt once.