State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-02

Minister states the American Government
now know that it depended on itself wheth-
Ell the treaty would be fulfilled or not. All
doubts OH the subject, were removed; and
the course of the United States was now as
plain as a sunbeam. Unless an apology, on
the terms prescribed, were offered, the trea-
ty was not to be fulfilled Such an apology,
lie believed the America people would
never sanction; and he hoped, and believed
when this message reached France, it would
induce her TO change her determination.
He expressed his full and perfect conf
dence in the honesty and fidelity of the
: President. lie knew him to be peculiarly
sensitive to all the wrongs afflicted on this
country, and TO be eager to redress them !;
and he had anticipated message couched
in still stronger terms than that which had
been received. He was glad, however to
see the mild and calm tone of the message,
recommending nothing like intercourse
but merely prohibition of French pro-
ducts, and of the entry of French vessels
into our poarts. Heretofore French wines
and silks had been admitted on the most
friendly footing, and nothing could be more
gentle or more mild than to exclude France
from the benifits of treaty which she had
never fulfilled, and TO close our ports against
her vessels.
Mr. Calhoun replied that he had been
concerned to hear the Message read. lie
had heard il with very different feelings
from Mr.. Buchanan He himself had never
heard any Message with more profound
regret, except one which, instead of attack
ing France was aimed against the sovereign
States of the Union. He had come to this
city, convinced that there was no possibility
Of war, not that he had been blind to the
various circumstances of an anxious char
acter that existed, but because he had
deemed the cause itself too frivilous 10
plung into war two great nations, both lvss
ing under popular governments aud actua-
ted by feelings, in great degree congenial
to each other. Under these impressions he
had not, for moment, believed that the
peace ofthese countries could be disturbed,
and least of all that we should enter into ac-
tual war with our ancient ally. The Mes
sage received to-day had dispelled this illu-
sion, and the speech of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania had led him to apprehend
the worst consequences. He would not
say that war was intended by the President,
but he would say the language of the Pres
ident evinced ,as far as his capacity reached,
n disposition to war. He would 90 still
further, and as he was bound in cander to
say, declare that from the beginning of this
controversy, the only course which could
have plunged us in war, was the very
course pursued by the administration. His
love of country, his regard for all interests,
his attachment to justice, all compelled him
to say, that if war should ensue, ,oe are the
authors Off and that we shall incur all this
responsibility.
After the present King of France came
to the throne, from the very beginning of
his reign, the utmost good will was man.
Tested to this country. He came to the
throne on popular principles, and General
Lafayette acted the part ola mutual friend
between us and his government. But, even
at that time, when we pressed our claim
we were warned that the French Chambers
might not acquiesce, and that the payment
must depend on their sanction. Even when
MIR. Rivers urged our claim, he was told by
the King that he was prepared to recon-
mend the payment, but he feared that the
Chambers would not vote the appropriation.
How wonderfully prophetic was the Ian
guage used at that time. Our minister
was told, that five urged our calm at that
moment, France, instead ofbeng on more
friendly footing with lis might be made to
stand in more unfriendly position. Still
our minister urged the claim. But he (Mr.
Calhoun) put it TO any man of honorable
feeling II this did not in itself constitute
restriction on the treaty, and make it
conditional act on the part of the French
Ministers. Such was the implied obligation
on the part Of France. What was the OBJ /
legation on our part? 1t was that we
should throw no impeachment in the way of
the treaty. And what had been our con-
duct In the first place, our minister wrote
home f1a,terng description of his own
diplomatic skill. That was not indeed
fit subject for censure. The conduct was
natural. But what did our Executive do?
He published the letter of Mr. Rives to the /,
world, and the consequence was, that
high degree of irritation was produced,
against us in the French Chambers. This I
was the first impediment thrown in the way
of the execution of the treaty. What was
the next Before the French Chambers .
had time TO act on the subject our Sec
rotary of the Treasury drew bill Tor the .
amount of the first instalment, the result of
which was u protest the bill. This was
the next impeachment.
Yet Notwithstanding these impediments /
the bill was lost in the Chambers by only |
eight votes. And who was responsible for |
the loss of these eight votes /? We had
thrown the impediments in the way and !
this was the view of it taken by the French
Ministers. We were bound therefore to
receive the subsequent course of France
with great mildness, and to have viewed
the rejection of the treaty with calmness
instead of anger. What was the next step
OH our part? On the opening of the next
session of Congress, that unfortunate, that
fatal Message ofthe President was sent in,
which led to all the subsequent difficulties,
recommending course very little short of
actual war, in order TO compel France to