Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-01-28

M whetner sucli vote COuIu Oe ODtulned.-
These declarations were not made once, or
twice; they were repeated again and again,
throughout every stage ofthe negotiation, and
never more emphatically than in the very last,
Just before the conclusion of the trenty.
The President of the Council, M Perier. in
n conversation with Mr. Rives. at that late
period, stated that there would be no difficult
~ in arranging the question, were il not that
he feared opposition on the part of the Cham
bers, which might place the relation between
the two countries IN n more dangerous state,
by refusing TO make the appropriation. How
prophetic! as if he had forseen what has since
come TO pass. ] do not profess to give his
words; did not anticipate the discussion, and
have not come prepared with documents; but
what ] state is tentally what he said.-
With this apprehension, he asked our Minis
ter 10 wait the short period of two months, for
the meeting ofthe Chambers, that they might
be consulted before the conclusion of the trea-
~, in order 10 avoid the possibility of the en-
barrassincnt, which has since occurred, and
which has so dangerously embroilcd the rela-
tions of the two countries. Mr. Rives OBJ
jected, and the treaty was concluded.
4 Now, submit (said Mr. Cl to every man Of
integrity and honor, whether we, in accepting
the treaty after these repeated declarations
did not accept it, subject to the condition
which they implied; that is, whether, in point
of fact, the stipulation Of the French Execm-
tive ought not to be fairly construed, with
these declarations made at the formation of
the treaty, to amount Simply to an engage
ment to use his best endeavors to obtain the
assen. of the Chambers to the appropriation.
Such would certainly be the understanding,
in n similar case, between honorable and con-
scientious individuals; and such, apprehend,
uill be the opinion hereafter, when passions
shall have subsidized, of every impartial inqui-
rer after truth.
The question (sad Mr. CT is now presented,
has the French Executive complied with his
promise? Has he honorably, faithfully, and
earnestly endeavored to obtain the assent of
the Chambers TO these questions shall
not reply. leave the answer to our Execu-
tive and to our Ministers. They have ex-
plicitly and honorably acquitted the French
Executive on this important point.
But (said Mr. C) let us turn to the conduct
Of our own Executive in relation to this i'm
portant part ofthe controversy Ifthe implied
obligation on the part of the French Execu-
tive was such as | suppose, there was cor
responding one, on the part of ours, to inter-
pose no obstacle in obtaining the assent of
Rives, in communicating to our Executive
the result Of the negotiation, boasted of his
skill, and the advantage which he had ac-
quired over the French negotiators. I pass
him by. II was, perhaps, natural for him to
boast. What does the Executive do? With
n full knowledge Of all the facts, forewarned
Of the difficulty which tho French ministry
would have to encounter in the Chambers, he
publishes to the world this boastful communi-
cation, which produced sensation in France,
such as might have been expected, which in
creased in the same proportion the difficulty
OF obtaining the assent of the Chambers to
the appropriation. The next step increased
the difficulty. Knowing, as he did, that the
depended vpon the Chamber,
the then Secretary Of the Treasury, without
waiting for its action, drew a bill for the
of the first instalment, before the
appropriation was made, and before, of course,
it could possibly be paid. A protest necess-
arly followed, accompanied with much irrita-
ton on both sides.
With these obstacles created by our own
acts, the treaty was submitted to the Cham
hers. Every effort was ..made to obtain the
appropriation, The ministry displayed un-
common zeal and abilities in defence Of the |
treaty, but in vain, under these multiplied diff. ,
ticullies. The bill was rejected by MAORI
ty OF eight votes; II number so small, in so
large body, that it may be fairly presumed,
without any violence, that, had not Mr. Rives's
letter been published, and the draft drawn
before the appropriation was made, the ma
Jorlty would have been on the other side, and
all the unhappy train of consequences which
have since followed would have been prevent
ed. So earnest was the French Ministry in |
their efforts to carry the bill, that their defeat
dissolved the administration.
With these facts before us, who can doubt
where the responsibility rests? We had
thrown the impedlmcnts in the way-we,
who had been 30 urgent to obtain the treaty,
and we who were to profit by its execution.
1t matters not, in the view in which am con-
sIderlns the question, to what motives the
acts of our executive may be attributed
whether to design or thoughtlessness, it can
not shift the responsibility.
Let us now (said Mr. CT proceed to the next
stage OF this most unfortunate affair."
pass over the intervening period; come
to the opening Of the next session of Con-
gress. In what manner does the president.
IN his message at the opening Of the session,
notice the failure of the French chambers to
make the appropriation? Knowing as he
must how much the acts TO which have re-
ferred had contributed to the defeat of the
bill, and that his administration was RESPONSE
Bile for those acts, it was natural TO expect
that he would have noticed the fate of the
bill in the calmest and most gentle manner;
that he wond have done full. justice to the
zeal and fidelity of the French executive in
its endeavor to obtain its passage, and would
have thrown himself with confidence on the
Justice and the honor of the French nation
Tor the fu6lment of the treaty. In a word,
that he would have done all in his power to
strengthen the executive government in
France in their future efforts 10 obtain the
appropriation. and ca rpfullv avoid overv ,I,;,o