Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-26

exception 10 The acts and language of The Goyernn,ent
which he represents:
"Shoud the President" he observes edo an official
executive act affecting foreign Power, cxccp-
onable Language im addressing it, through his minister
orihroush timirs should law &c passed injurious to
th dignity o another nation all these, and other ST.
hiiar cases, demand for explanation would be respect
iuiiy received aud answered in the that Justice
ana regard 10 the dignity of the complaining nation
would require
But he maintains that these principles the wisdom Of
which is evident, applicable to an act by which
tue Presldent sole representative of the nation towards
foreign Powers, gives Congress an account of the
situation of foreign relations
The utmost iieeion says Mr.. Livingston, 'ihc
most freedom from all restraint in The details into which
he as Obliged 10 of international concerns OF
The measures in relation 10 them is essential To- pro-
per performance of this important pnrt of his functions
lie must exercise teo without having continually be-
fore him the fear OF offending the susceptibility IL the
Powers whose conduct he is Obliged 10 notice"
+" Were any foreign Powers, continues Mr. Livinrs-
tom pcrmited 10 the COMMUNICATIONS of the Tx.
ecutve their complaints whether real or affected would
involve the country in continual for the
right being admitted 1t would be n duty TO exercise H.
by demanding disavowal of every phrase they might
deen offensive, and an explanation of every word To
which an improper Interpretation could be- given The
principle, therefore, been adopted thai no foreirn
uowet mas right 10 ASK Tor explanations of any thing
mat The PRESIDENT IN the exercise OF his functions thinks
properto communicate TO Congress- of any course ne
may advise them To pursue"
We cannot, sir admit such principle; ad-
mt ~ at least without condition limit i'm an absolute
general, and peremplory sense.
II does not depend upon nation from the mere fact
oil It's having adopted such such form Of government
TO acquires with regard TO foreign Powers more rights
than would have had, arrogate itself other
rights than those which 1t would lave cnioycd under
any other form of government.
Nations free TO choose, without any CONSTANT Tho
government they pease--precisey for this reason and
under this condition, that such choice concerns them
exclusively and that whatever that choice may be- il
cannot affect the rights njure legitimate interests
of other nations
Now, it is the acknowledged right of every Govern
mcnt, when the legal representative when the official
organ OF another Government expresses himself y16iicig
tO in rl,t
TO demand ancxplnnation OF it, Such a right the Con
siution OF the United States neither abolish modify
nor restrict IL is international right Gun drit inter-
nationally II suits the People OF the United States to
divide the power Of tho Union between President
Congress. De IT So 1t suits them to obge the pres-
dent 10 give Pa6cly 10 Congress The state
oil foreign relations. Their right is unqucstiouabe But
that The President OF the United States the official organ
the legal representative Of the Uniun towards lei
nations thereby acquires the right press himself pub
feIy upon foreign Governments in oit nsve TO
10 those Governments; that he should in asserting the
dispense with all reserve in his language and with all re-
sponsbility towards the Powers whom that langua,r
concerns, is what we cannot admit.
responsibility, Qiuyoiabc) whether it relates TO
persons, TO acts, or TO when il is
legally established, is purely national institution a
purely internal regulations and be used as an
argument IN the Intercourse which Governments hold
with each other Ii il otherwise and il we were
disposed after the example of MI LIVINGSTON to carry
The argument TO its extreme consequences il MIGHT he
maintained that the President of the United States has
The right provided be in message Congress to i'm
tons the most odous acts the perverse Intentions
to hold them up publicly the animal VI rsons OF the
woro without THESE governments or these nations huv-
ing the right to maulles! the slightest resentment since
according TO this very strange doctrine they would not
even DO allowed to take Official notice oft
o state such n doctrine is 10 rciu.e il.
However, sir do not wish to exagreratc any thng
Nit Livingston is perfectly right when nc says That tie
cause whie ne supports u.s. IN general sense,
10 all Tree countresthat all Governments founded ON
te DIVISION oil power, and the publicity oil debates
pave an interest IN rePelng, on the part of foreign
POWERS, any interference with the COMMUNICATIONS which
he frince and his minister in constitutional nonarces
and in Republics tho magistrates entrusted with The
executive power are called upon mike to the
Legislature And this is the reason, as Mr. Living.
ston very udicously Observes that in France and IN
England the language OF The royal speeches is SO re-
served in every thing that concerns forcrn relations.
ana IT is tins same move you will observe sir to The
Cabinet OF Washington, that has directed the conduct
oil France IN relation To The message President Jack
SON III the expressions contained in that message had
oec inserted IN proclamation or any other act Of the
executive power nt the Union, we would at once have
caed ior an explanation Out Of respect for the very
nutuie OF the act the French Government deemed it
duty to manifest the sentiments il felt on al occae;on
by instantly recalling its Minister stating in com
iunication the motives for that recall but it dtd 1ofosk
for explanation; it concnicd TO expcct them iron,
The justice of the Government Of hc United STATES and
from Tie ancient friendship of the American nation no,
doubling That the Government Of tile United States
would appreciate the difference in such cases between
answering an interpretations and preventing by spon
aneOus determination, by EXPLANATIONS readily ogeysd
misunderstanding always to bc regretted
The amendment of the Chamber Of Deputies is con.
celFed IN the sumo spiiit of and cOncation IL
does not make II the duty of Tie French Government
ceiyc them. 49, -
We were not mistaken, sir in believing that the Go.
ycrninent oil the United States would appreciate that
difference, since Mr. Livingston be himself observes
hastened, as early us the 2 of January last wen Abe
message Of President Jackson had been only known
lew days. 10 offer us explanations at great LENGTH Of
every passage Of that message which treated of she re-
letions between the United States aud France; aud
since, that step and the explanations contained in his
note OF the 9th Of January have received hc informs
by his note Of The 18th of April the entire apursls
ton Of the President
Mr. Livingston asonisllcd that those NJ nm
tons, as long they presented only upon bis per
sonnl responsibility, Gid net produce uon US e eGiethe
tnfcndtd; but he supposcs that being clothed with
the appreciation of the President they must satisfy all
mat n'eet sense cfHafiOnai honor could dssire.
lie therefore makes II poinf in his note of the 25tb
to repeat and to develop ihcn in the hope that the French
GoSeromeni, BY cSanlning them anew ender the iln-
preston HAT they dd become the expression Of the sem
tiuents Of the President, would deem them sufficient
lie IS 50 much the anxious TO mpart his own
conviction on tins subject be deems il impossible for
The Government Of the United States 90 any further
Tie even seems tp be- apmchrnsIve that future events
winch he nccd not sptc)y designating thereby no doubt
ties by the other branches Of the Government nay
hereafter Trndcf improper any aHasOn to explanations
prcseniC under tie influence OF different circunis anccs
We sincerely wish, sir, 10 add 10 tie difficulties Of
The situation IN which the two countries respectively
placed. The question of date TO which Mr. Livingston
seems, ia t1.s casc 20 attach importance which IA be-
longs not TO VS. 60 appreciate does not in any way alc
scrbed &c satisfaction bad really been avcn to he
just susceptibility OF c French nation early as The
18th Of January (e date If Nr. Livingston first noie
aud therefore previous 10 The adoption Of the AMEND.