Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-01-14
From the Richmond whig.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE FRENCH
z.

THE PRESIDENT AND THE FRENCH
QUESTION.
Let those who have been imposed upon
by representations of the Presidents aux.
iety for peace. and who have failed II per-
cclse the desire FOR war which peers out
through the studied disguise Of bis mes
sage. pe.use the following:
IHg fggtrpEKr s TnE FRrvcH QuEs-
Tios.-1he Washington correspondent Of
tie Journal Of Commerce, furnishes the
following remarkable statement.
A most extraordinary deveiopement has
been made in regard 10 the French q ses.
ton. II is found that the President, with
all his pretenslens 10 lrankness. suppress.
cd an important part Of -ihe correspond.
cncaxRn his <NtAst. ~ADsH appears that
fhmsd.assiy after the passage Of tha In
d~esnnity bill, the Duke dc Broglie. did, in
an official manner. inform this government
that. Notwithstanding The clause 10 the bill
France was ready TO pay The sum appro
pflated as soon as The President would,
by any explanation, afford her an excuse
for so doing. IL further appears, that, Of
this voluntary communication, no notice
was taken ny tia President, AT the time,
nor since! nor even ia the messags.
i iofbeaf, at present any femstks upon
these facts, further than TO say that they
will necessarily have a most important
bearing upon the ultimate settlement Of
The question ; and that they involve the
property and happiness oil the people Of
both countries Concerned Ii there was
any spirit in The House, which coald for 4
moment, soar ahore the party feeling of
the day, the Executive would al onca la
called TO. account for this extraordinary
proceeding.
The Spy in Washington thus confirms
the statement Of the correspondent OF the
Journal Of Commerce:
In June last, The Duke de Broglie, adj
dressed a letter to NJ, Pageoi, the French
Charge, on the subject Of the differences
betwecD Frauce and The United States
lhe letter was moi official, but a private
friendly communication from one function
airy 70 another evidently intended as tlS
hasi, OF an informal conference between
Nj pageot aud the American Secretary OF
State. II was of tie most conciliaIory
character. II expressed the sincere desire
OF the king aud his ministers TO tel minute
existing difficulties, and 10 carry into Ct
feet the treaty or Indemnity. IL required
no apology, but a frank and mauly expla-
nation OF the message Of the 2ad Of lie
cemher 1884. THIS letter was not Iecei
we'd 5y 81. Pogeat until seine ttme ia IA
gust On It's receipt, in pursuance ofin
sirueiioas, the Charge repaired 10 Wash
ing;Dn. Mr.. farstln WIS absent, iH4f
soon returned. An interview was soog,t
aaa obtained. The letter was eaisibI.ad
This pacific overture Was not oulY %fpierf.
ed, OH a point Of imaginary comfy eli.
qneite, bat The reception Of the Glare.
was cold and repulsipe. ii not discourtcous.
Now. mark dates. for they are impaft
ant This eoneilIstory effort was mAas
aud rejected late IN August, or aboat Tic
FIRST al September. What followed?
Within iiyo short weeks ofiis rejection, il
was determined. 10 The language CT the
President, to instruct Air. Barton - 10 ask
Tor tbe iiaal determination Of the French
government, and IN The event Of their re.
ldsal to pay the instalmeGts now due, wilh
out further explanations, 10 return 70 the
United States" Can these measures be
mistaken or misunderstood ? While
France was ilus e~BdeavoriDg, peacefully,
TO arrange these unfortunate difficulties,
vas il RICH, or proper thus hastily 10 close
the door for Iegoeiaiion on both sides Of
the Atlan'icp This question the Amer.
can people and their Representatives must
sooner or later decide. Under the infiu
enee Of reason and reflection, lei ii be done
calmly.