The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-01-29
The ESPECIAL MESSAGE,
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS
Monday, January II, 1886.

To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
GENTLEMEN: la my message al the open.
ing OF your session, informed you that our
Charge d 'Atialres at Paris had been instruct.
ed TO ask for the final determination of the
French Government IN relation 10 the pay
menl OF the decentralization secured by the
treaty OF the 4th OF July, 1881, and that,
when advlces OF the result should be recely
ed, It would be made the subject Of u spe.
clal communication.
In execution Of TINS design, now trans.
NIT 10 You the papers numbered from 10
l3incluslve, containing, among other things,
the correspondence on tins subject between
our Charge d'Alhlres aud the French MIN.
lster OF Foreign Ailalres, from which II will
be seen that France requires, as condition
precedent TO the execution Of treaty un.
condlilonally ratified, and to the payment OF
a debt acknowledged by all the branches OF
her Government 10 be due, that certain ex.
plantations shall be made, OF which she die.
tates the terms. These terms are such as
that Government has already been official.
y informed cannot be complied with and,
Il persisted IN, they must be considered as
deliberate refusal on The par, Of France to
fulfil engagements binding by the laws of
nations, and held sacred by the whole civ.
llzed world. The nature Of the act winch
France requires from this Government i
clearly sci forth IN the letter Of the French
Minister, marked No. 4. We will pay the
money, says be, when " Tie Goreramerf Of
me United Nafes IS ready On rs part 10
@ecfdre 10 us, By addressing IT. ciaIm 10 us
ct'cidtiy IN trrlting, that i! regrets the mis
understanding rhlch kas arisen beireeH the
tico countries that Hits Misunderstanding
IS founded on mistake HCt Il nerer en-.
tered INTO ITS intention 10 call IN question The
good tdth OF The French Government, nor 10
take mendclag attitude iorardy France =
and he adds, "vhe Government ofahe I'M.
ted States does mol gre this assurance, IRE
shall be obliged 10 think that hls rl,.7.a.
deradndtng is not the result Of an error. .
In the letter marked No. 6, the French
Minister also remarks tina, "he Gorera.
msm Of the United States knous that upon
ttJet depends hence orrard the erecat,oa Of
the Treaty Of July /, 1881"
Obliged, by the precise language thus
used by the French Minister, TO view it as
Peremptory refusal to execute the Treaty,
except on terms incompatible with the hon.
or aud independence Of the United Suites,
and persuaded that, on Considering the cor.
respondehce now submitted to you you can
regard It IN no other hight, 1t becomes nv
duty TO call your attention 10 such measures
as the eNlgency OF the case demands, # the
clam of interfering in the communications
between the different branches of our Gov.
eminent shall be persisted IN. This pre-.
tension Is rendered the more unreasonable
by the fact that the substance Of the reouir.
ed explanation has been repeatedly and vol.
unfairly given before It was INSISTED on as
condItion-a condition the more humIl,a.
tlng because It IS demanded as the ecuIva.
tent OF pecunlary consideration. Does
france desire only declaration that We
had no Intention 10 obtain our rights by an
address to her fears rather than to her ms.
tIce ! She has already had it, frankly and
explicitly given by our Minister accredited
to her Government, his act ratified By me.
and my confirmation oft officially communl.
Gated by hun, IN his letter to the French
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of the 25th Of
April, 1885, and repeated by my published
approval Of that letter after the passage of
the bill OF decentralization. Does France
want degrading, servle repetition of this
act IN terms which she shall dictate, and
which will involve an acknowledgment of
her assumed right 10 interfere in our dornes.
TIC councllsl She will never obtainit The
spirit OF the American People, the dignity
oil the Legislature, and the firm resolve Of
Their Executive Government, forbid it.
As the answer Of the French Minister to
our Charge d'Atfaires at Paris contains an
alluslon to letter addressed by him TO the
Representative Of France at this place, il
no" becomes proper to lay before you the
correspondence had between that function.
airy and the Secretary of State relative to
that letter, and to accompany the same with
such explanations as will enable you to I'm.
dersland the course Of the Executive in re-.
gard tot. Recurring TO the historical state.
ment made at the commencement of vour
session. OF the origin and progress of our
difficulties with France, it will be recoIlect.
cd that on the return Of our Minister to