Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-21
GosssFess--Rst sess.


:E'senty-zoustla Cosssaess--Rst sess.
27' e gsS zsrs41g Isl
file foli"=ang Mcssase wss received from the Preo-
dent Of The uuited ss:es by Mr. Doueson, his Score.
To The Senate and House Of Representatives: -,
%GESTLEMEN: In my Message at the opening Ct your
session, informed you that our Charge e'Afates ct
Paris had been instructed to ask for the ,nai determna
ton of the French Government, ia relation to the pay
nent Of the ndemncaon securedby the treaty OF the
4th Of July, 1884, and that when advices OF The result
should be received, it would be made the subject OF
special communication.
Ia execution of this design, now transmit to You
the papers numbered from TO l3, inclusive, contai;
ing, among other things the correspondence this sub
icct between Charge dAfarcs and the French Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, from which it will be seen
that France requires, as condition preccdeEt to Tie
execution of treaty Internationally ratified, and TO
the payment Of debt acknowledged by all the branch
es Of her Government 10 be due, that certain expla
nations shall be made, of which she dictates the terms
These Terms such as that Government has area-
dy been officially informed cannot be complied with
and if persisted in, they must be considered de-
iberatc refusal the part of France to fulfil engage
,nents binding by the laws Of nations, and held sacred
By the whole civilized world The nature OF the acl
which France requires from this Government is clearly
forth in the letter of the French Minister marked
No. We will pny the money, says nc, when " me
Government of tie United States ready its part to
declare TO as, by addressing its claim to us otfcauy IN
2cTttlRg, Mdf II regrets Lhe MISUNDERSTANDING "H~-
arisen Let,ocen t,co countries that this isundsrstHnd
ing Is founded on mistake; that ncccr entered INTO
ITS intention TO Gull IN question the good J"h q .He
Frcach Government TO take nlehGctAg dhisuae TO-
,cards FJance and he adds, "f The Gorernmeat q me
United States does not guc this ace shall DC
obliged to nh that tbs misunderstanding IS mol inc &c
szit Of error. ,
I'm the letter marked No G, the French Mnistcr also
remarks that The Government Of the United ctes no'cs
Ms, upon Itself depends heaefor'eard Tie e1ee''on q
The 1reafyef July d, 1851.
Obliged, BY the precise language thus used by the
French Minister to view it peremptory retusai 10
execute the Treaty, except terms incompatible with
the honor and independence Of the United States: anu
persuaded that considering the ccrresPondeaee now
submitted 10 you you regard 1t IN no other iigh II
becomes my duty call your attention to such measures
rs the exrenry of the Demands if the claim OF in
terferng in the communications between the different
branches Of our Government shall be persisted in 1hs
preension is rendered the more unreasonable by the
fact that the substance of the required explanation has
been repeatedly and voluntarily given before it was IN
sisted on as condition. condition the more humlla-
ting because it demanded equivalent of pecun
ary considerations Does France desire only declaration
that had intention TO obtain our rights BY an
address her fears rather than to her Justice She has
already had it, frankly and explicitly given by our Mi
mister accredited 10 her Government his act ratified ~
me, and my confirmation of it officially communicated by
him. in his letter to the French Minister of Foreign At
fairs of the 25h Of April 1885, and repeated by my pub.
Ished approval CT that letter after the passage OF the bill
of ndemnifcation. Does France want degrading, ser
and which will involve acknow dgment OF her as
suncd right to interfere in domestic councils: She
will never obtain it. The spirit oil the American People,
the dignity of the Legislature and the firm resolve Of
their Executive Government forbid It,
As the of the French Minister 10 our Charge
dAaires at Paris contains auson TO letter address
ed by him the Representative of France at this place,
it now becomes proper lay before you the correspond
ence had between that iunconary and the Secretary OF
State relative to that letter, aud to accompany the same
with such explanations will enable you to understand
the Of the Executive in regard to it. Recurring
the historical statement made at the commencement,
of your session, of the origin and progress of diff
cultes with France, it will be recoeccd that, the
turn Of Minister to the United States caused my
official approval Of the explanations he had given to the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs TO be made public
As the French Government had noticed the message
without its being officially communicated, it was not
doubted that, if they were disposed to pay the money
due 10 u.s. they would notice any public explanation OF
the Government Of the United States in the way.
But, contrary 70 these weounded expectations, the
French Ministry did take this fair opportunity TO
lievc themselves from their unfortunate position, and 10
do Justice to the United States.
Whilst however, the Government Of the United States
awasog the movements Of the French Government,
in perfect confidence that The difficulty at end
the Secretary Of State received call from the French
Charge Ahres in Washington who desired to read to
him letter he had received from the French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. He asked whether lie was instruct
ed or directed to make any Official communication and
replied that he only authorized TO read the letter
and furnish copy, if requested. The substance OF It's
contents, It'll presumed may be gathered from Nos
and &, herewith transmitted 1t was attempt to make
known the Government of the United States, private
ly, in what it could make explanations, appa
rently voluntary but really dictated by France, sccepta
bic to her. and thus obtain payment Of the tweRty five
millions Of francs No exception taken to this mode
of communication. which is often used to prepare the
way for official intercourse: but the suggestions made in
it in their substance wholly nadnissble. Not be-
ing in the shape Of official communication to this
Government, it did not admit of reply official notice
nor could il safely he made the basis of any action by
the Executive the Legislature; and the Secretary OF
State did think proper to ask copy, because he could
have for it,
Copies Of papers marked Numbers 9, 10, and II
show attempt the part Of the French Churgc
d'Affares, many weeks afterwards, to place copy
of this letter among The archives Of this Government
which, fer obvious reasons, was not allowed TO De
done; but the assurance before given repeated
that any official communication which lie mig be
hoIzed to make in The accustomed form, would receive
prompt and just consideration. The indiscrction oil
his attempt was made manifest by the subsequent
avowal of the French Charge dAiares that the object
to bring this letter before Congress and the Ancrl-
People If foreign agents, subject OF disagree
ment between their Government and this wish to prefer
an appeal TO the American People, they will hereafter 1t
hoped better appreciate the. rights and the
pect due to Others than 10 atempto use the Executive
as the passive organ Of heir communications,
1t is due to the character Of our institutions, that The
diplomatic intercourse Of this Government should be
conducted with he utes directness and simplicity; and
that in all cases Of importance, the Communications
ceiyed or made by the Executive should assume the
customed official FORM II is only by insisting on this
FORM that foreign powers can he held to full responsible
ty that their communications be officially replied TO-
or that the advice interference Of the Legislature can
with proprety be invited by the President This course
is also best calculated the one hand, TO shield that
officer from unjust uspcions, and the other, to SUBJ
iect this portion of his acts ,opublc scrutiny and
casion shall require it, 10 constitutional aumadvers'on
1t was the necessary 10 adhere to these principles
in the instance in question: nasrnuc as in addition to
other important interests, 1t very intimately concerned
the national honor-a matter, in my Judgment, much
too sacred to be made the subject Of private and uno