Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-19


The aspect of relations with France docs not
materially changed, though il is certain that the French
Ministry have at length in,iinaed that il next Mes
sage approved of MIR Livingston letter the indemnity
would be paid. OF this we have long been con vinced
ana IN October wrote what deemed would TO then,
satisfactory paragraph Of the then forthcoming
sage ny way oil illustrating our opinion that the
ment Of this important question rested upon a mere
Transmission to Congress of MIR. LIS letter with his APP
To us therefore, the fact that simple approval in the
Message of MIR. Livingston letter. would cause the mo-
hey 10 be paid, is nothing new and does influence
our opinion upon the prospects of pacific
any further than its official ntiinaton indicates that the
ministers are preparing TO find Justification for them
selves in Withholding indemnity and perni,ting MIR
barton TO return TO the United States without an adjust
ment of the question.
II Gen jackson had simply approved Of MIR. Living
stoh letter, there could have been Of the
ment o. the money have before said and as il il
apparent from the article in tho onteur because then
France could and probably would have boasted of hay
rug wiupg rom our Government an apology, and de-
TERED the Executive from recapuatng the trickcry and
disingenuous course she had pursued.
AS the whole question then hangs upon the sim pie
TACT whether the approval of Mr.. Livngstons letter is
such as will insure the payment of the money-we think
we cannot perform more acceptable service to
mercia community than by briefly placing before them
the form oil that approval and the circumstances CON
nec,ed with 1t Of offensive conciiatory character
200 knows that we depIecae much as any ind-
Sduai among us can, and comparatively should suf
Ter as much as any from rupture with France We
speak not therefore, from feeling, but from firm con-
Vcuon tat II IS our duty, and which we dare dis.
charge fearlesslyto caution our merchants how they
send Their commerce to distant parts of the world whilst
there danger of tcar and when by short delay they
may become possessed of the true state of affairs
AT most, they can suffer but little from delay of
,ee or four weeks, whilst every thing may be lost by
acung rashy We content ourselves by recalling facts
10 Their ecollection-with showing them the precise
state CT The question-and then leave their udg.
ment 10 determine whether or are not in
Ministry.
The approval of Mr. Livingston's letter in the Int
Message. is in the following words:
When inns latter communication, 10 which cspecial.
~ invite the attention OF Congress- was laid before me
entertained the hope that the means was
intended to afford of an honorable and speedv adjust
nent of the difficulties between the two nations woul
have been accepted and therefore did NOT hesitate ~,
give At my sanction and full approJalon
Ihe French government hduing reoeced all the fxpL
nations oh,ea honor and principle permitted and ,eieh
could IA reason be asked it hoped would no LONGER
hesitate TO pay the insalments due"
Paris papers OF Wednesday the l6th publish the ac
count which appeared in late number of the Augsburg
SSze.te oil the proposition made by the United States
Tor treaty of commerce with tho German Commercial
oon IL creates considerable sensation and the Mont
teut du Commerce thinks the treaty very probable
LIVERPOOL, Dec. 1S.-The Liverpool Mercury. sneak
ing OF the dispute between the u States and France
says we still hope 1t may be settled without an appeal
20 arms Both parties have undoubtedly been to blame
but 1t appears to that France is most in fault HAVING
acknowledged the justice of the debt it is hardly honor
able 10 delay payment, much less refuse it altooethe
merely because the President of the United States has
made use of expressions which she deems dsrespectu
Az all events, II she be OF such mighty touchy dspos
uoh she should IN order to avoid the shadow of
suspcion pay the money FIRST and demand satisfaction
or explanation afterwards National honor is no donb
very fine thing, but do not see how il is comn,tla
with national dishonesty The debt has been acknow
eaged TO be justly due and ought be honestly paid
before any thing is said about honor and dignity.
The present attitude of the French Government nm
the American question reminds strongly of the
OF Sir John Fasah, when required give reason for
ms conduct; What! exclaimed the fat and facetous
knight, upon compulson No; were | at the strap
pado, or all the racks in the world, would not tell
you on compulsion. Give you reason on conpuls;on
II reasons were as plenty blackberries would give
no man reason upon compulsion." The French or at
least their rulers TO have the same objection n,
upon compusion, the worthy KNIGHT had To give re
sons on comp1lson but we hope they will think better
OF IT, and act honestly, notwithstanding Brother Iona
thans spenetic effusion The adoption of a course of
mutual concession and apology would be infinitely moro
credtabe to both PARTIES and rebound more to their adj
vantage as well as honor, than senseess appeal TO
arms, on question absolutely not worth fighting about
nmicable settlement
(itGm Tie eeening EDITION eflO ~ y Jor Of Commerec)
IMPoRrANT--We have had access to letters from
France written by persons holding such political sta
tons eniitle them to all the ration of official
organs. They say that the French Ministry will M,
enter INTO their measures towards the United States
and VIII DO nothing except for the promotion of the bes.
interests OF France. That CONTRARY what has been
so often snid) they will not commence hoslities on ac
count of any measure the part of the United States
which, short OF actual aggression
course ana VIII under no circumstances strike the first
blop Farther that even though Gen. Jackson should
use insulting language or recommend hostile measures
no nouce VIII be taken oil 1t By the Government of
France That the indemnity money will be paid ON re-
cept ct any communication which can, upon the most
liberal interpretations be construed compliance with
the provso Of the bill OF appropriation; and should
no explanation be received during the administration of
Gen Jackson, the money will be RENTED this coun
try immediately his successors coming into office
1t, ON the other hand, the United States Should COM
mcnce war; France will into the with all her
resources. The writer's of these letters evidently anti
cpaed warike message from the President al the
opening oil Congress; so much than they will
ind 1t TO be, that the most intelligent French gentle
men here feel doubt that the message will be feceiv
cd as satisfactory"
LONDON, Dec. S.We have received the lfonitear and
The Journal dc Paris together with the rest OF the Paris
Journals OF Sunday The following paragraph in an
swer to some assertions OF the Carst papers, appears
Ill the TWO former -
" II is false that the communication made bv order of
the French Government that of the United States had
Tor It's object TO obtain the insertion of such and such
phrases IN the next Message of the President Tile
french government did no more than make known Off
cay the existence and the of the law of June ~
1888, as well as the duties imposed il by this law
ana the nature OF the explanations which had right
TO expect.
u " iaise that the communication made bv order Of
the French Government remained without an answer
This was verbal as had been the communication
"Of the kind were those which took place nj
Paris between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
Charge Afares of the United States The Documents
relative TO these conferences will be laid on the tables
othe two Chambers If has been impossible To come
to an understanding, nothing passed least of ma
ture To render grave the differences between the
two countries.
Nevertheless, the recall Of the American CHARGE
Atares coming after the measures proposed by the
President last year to Congress- hostile French proper
ty, has rendered precautions necessary IL was
fha ufv nf la Eronr