State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-02


Nations are free to choose without any
constraini, the Government they please
precisely for this reason, and under this
condition, that such choice concerns them
exclusively, aud that whatever that choice
may be. it cannot affect the rights or iniure
the legitimate interests of other nations.
! Now it is the acknowledged right of ev-
cry Government, when the legal represent
alive, or when the official organ OF another
Government, expresses himself publicly in
reference to it, in language which is deem
ed offensive, to demand an explanation of
lii. Such "A right the Constitution OF the
| United States can neither abolish, modify
nor restrict. 1t is an international right
| Gun droil internationally 1t suits tie peo-
! pe Of the United States TO divide the pow
| err Of the Union between President and a
! Congress. BE it so. II suits them To o.
! blge the President TO give publicly TO Con-
gress an account Of the Stale of foreign re-
| laions. Their right is unquestionablc.
! But that the President oithe United States,
/ the official organ, the legal representative
| Of the Union towards foreign nations, there
| by acquires the right 10 press himself pub
itciy upon foreign governments in language
offensive to those governments; that he
should, in asserting the liberty, the freedom,
necessary for such communications, dis
pcnse with all reserve in his language, and
with all responsibility towards the powers
whom that language concerns, is what we
cannot admit.
lrrcsponsibiity, O'invoabilile) whether
/ il relates TO persons, TO acts, or TO words,
responsibility, when it is legally establish
] ,1 T., ot,nn,I inctitn,ior ,,,,r,1,,
( internal regulation, and can never be used
as an argument in the intercourse which
| Governments hold with each other. If il
were otherwise, and if we were disposed,
after the example of Mr.. Livingston, TO
carry the argument 10 lis extreme cOnse-
quences, it might be maintained that the
President Of the United States has the right,
provided it he in Message 10 Congress, to
impute publicly TO foreign governments
and 10 foreign nations the most odiOus acts,
the most perverse intentions; TO hold them
up publicly TO tie animadversion OF the
world, without these governments or these
nations having the right to manifest the
slightest resentment, since, according 10
Ibis very strange doctrine. they would not
even be allowed to take official notice Of it.
10 state such doctrine, is to relue il.
However, sir, we Do not wish TO exag-
geralc any thing, MIR Livingston is per-
lccty ight when he says that the cause
which lie supports is, in a general sense,
common TO all free countries THAT all
Governments founded on the division OF
power, and all the publicity ofdebates, have
an interest in rcpeing, on the part Of for
cign powers, any interference with the COM
municalions which the Prince and his Min
islers in constitutional Monarchies, and in
republics tie magistrates entrusted with the
executive power, arc called upon 10 make
10 ;he Legislature. And this is Tie reason,
as Mr. Livings ton very judiciously observes,
that in France and in England, tie language
Of the royal speeches is 50 reserved in eve
ry thing that concerns foreign relations
and it is this same motive, as you will OBJ
serve, Sir, to the Cabinet of Washington,
that has directed the conduct Of France in
relation 70 the Message Of President Jack
son. II tie expression contained III that
Message had been inserted in proclama-
ton, or any other act OF the executive pow
err Che Union, we would at once have
ca lied for an explanation. Out of respect
for the very nature of The act, the French
government deemed it duty TO manifest
the sentiments it felt on that occasion, by
instantly recalling It's Minister, S'stating in
a communica ion the motives for HAT re-
call but it did not ask for eXpIanat lions
il was contentcd 10 expect them from the
Justice Of the Government Of the United
States, and from the ancient friendship of
the American nation, not doubling that the
Government of the United States would
appreciate the difference in such cases, be-
n N Naturalization n n 4 mr.
venting by spontaneous determination, by
explanations readily offered, a misunder-
standing ALWAYS TO be regretted.
The amendment of the Chamber OF Dep
uiies is conceived in the same spirit of re-
serve and Cancellation. II does not make il
the duty Of the French government 10 ask
for explanations; il merely supposes they
will receive them.
We were not mistaken, Sir, in believing
that the government Of the United States
would appreciate that difference, since Mr.
Livingston, as he himself observes, hasten
ed us early as the ooh of January last,
when the Message of President jackson
had been only known few days, 10 offer
us explanations at great length, OF every
passage Of that Message which treated of
the relations between the United States and
France; and since, that step and the eX-
plantations contained in lis note Of the Goth
Of January have received, as he informs us
by his note of the 25th Of April, the entire
appreciation Of the President.
Mr. Livingston was not aslonshed that
those explanations, as long as they were
presented only upon his personal RESPONSE
bility, did not produce upon us lie effect he
intended but he supposes that being now
clothed with the appreciation Of the Pres-
dent, they must satisfy all that the incest
sense OF national honor could desire.
He therefore makes il point 10 his note
nf .hp 0hfh IN ronraI q nd in 1pVC lana tl,nn,