Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-09

Element Of TIE difficulties and disputes between VIC
States and G5oa; B.,laa. You have hech oii ca. q"
with no duties connected "ih the settlement 81 's
ouesous or IN any relating - them beyond the ce''!
mnncation to the french Government oi ,he Ifes''
dents appreciation o your letter tihe > OF
without previous instructions from tins department.
This Government is not informed OF any other act OF
r,oceed;p, NJ your. connected with any part OF the
subject nor does know that your Official conduct ano
character have become in any other way connected
with the question OF the Right OF Saarch aho 'a' el
ter having been approved, and the riehca Ho'ei
having been informed, the President IS aitoeei -
n loss TO understand how you can regard youfSei as
olaced in false position ii the character or conouc'
of any one was 10 be affected, could only be the cnar-
acter and conduct of ;he Presidents; himself Inc 20
rernmen, has done nothing iaosi assu!edy, 10 place
Won in false position. Representing your country at
\ FOREIGN Court YOU snw transaction about TO take
place between the Government TO when you were &c
credited and another power w"ich you i"odsh' h'e"s
have pfeiudcial effect on the interest oil t'nf om'
country. Thinking, as II IS 10 be p'esut't" '"'' "
case was too pressing wait for Instructions you pre-
scented protest agans, that TRANSACTION, ana your 90
vernment approved your proceeding ih's Is so ,r
only official connection with the whole suo)ect. ~
after this, the President had sanctioned the
of a Treaty. and the Senate had ratified II, containing
provsions IN the igcs degree objectionable, however
the Government might be discrediled your exemption
from all blame and censure would nave neeii
HAVING delivered your letter oil the Ism o! feo'uaFv
to the French Government, and having received 'he
Presidents appreciation o that proceeding II IS most
manifest that YOU could be degree responsible Tor
what should be done aiterward, and done by Diners
The President therefore, cannot conceive what parl
cuar or personal interest of yours was affected by the
subsequent negotiation here, or how the treaty. 'he re-
suit OF that negotlaon should put an end TO your use
FL ness as public minister ct the court oil France, or
any way affect your official character or conduct
Ii is impossible not to see that such proceeding US
you have seen 1T to adopt might produce much NEON
venence and serious prejudice TO the Puoiic IN
concluded and formally ratified; and to support 'ha
opinion while vet in the service OF the doVefhheh
YOU put construction on IT'S provisions such as your
own Government does not put upon them-snfh as
YOU must b. aware, the enlightened public o l.nrope
does not put upon them, and such as E"gan" heFsei
has not pa, upon Ii IN ye', SO lar as W. knoW
IL NAV become necessary hereafter 10 publish your
letter in connection with otaer correspondence 81
the mission; aad although !, IS nos 10 he presumed
that YOU locked 10 suc,, publications. because snch
presumption would npu,e To ven clam to pa' i''tn
your private opinions upon the conduct oil Inc resi-
dent and Senate, in transaction hnlshed ana con
cluded, through the imposing form OF puoi'c "e
spatch-yet, If published il cannot be toreseen no"
far ENGLAND might hereafter rely on your authority
for construction favorable to her own pretensions
and inconsistent with The interest and honor o the u
States Ii certain that you would most seouiocsF
desire to avoid any such attitude. You would be SLOW
10 express opinions IN solemn and oiical form, IA
vorable 10 another Government, and on the authority
of which opinions that other Government migEt here
after found new CLAIMS set up new pretenSions II
is for this reason we'll Others, that the President
feels much regret 81 vour desire OF placing Hchr
construction of the provisions o The treaty. and ynr
objections 10 those provisions according To your con-
struction, upon the records of the Government.
Before examining the several objections suggested
by you may be proper to take notice OF what you say
upon the of he negotiation. In regard TO TINS
having observed that the national dignity OF the u ..
had not been compromised down to the tune OF Tue
Presidents message the last session of Congress,
YOU proceed to say: "But England then urged the T.
s. to into conventional arrangement by when
we might be pledged TO concur with her IN measures
for the suppression of the slave trade Till then We
had executed laws IN our o"n way. but
Welding this application and departing from our or
mer principle of avoiding European combinations upon
subjects American, stimulated IN solemn tiea't
that would carry into effect our own laws, ana nSea
the minimum force would employ Tor that purpose.
The President cannot conceive how you should nave
been led to adventure upon such statement as this
II is but a tissue Of mistakes. England da not urge
the u. S TO into tins conventional arrangement
The U. S. yielded TO no application from England
The proposition for aboshns the Save trade, as !,
stands IN the treaty, American proposition Il
originated with the executive Government o! the u
s., which cheerfully assumes all lis responsibility ii
stands upon it Us its mode Of fulfilling IT'S duties
and accomplishing liz objects Nc: have the / States
departed, this treaty IN the slightest degree from
their former principles nj avoiding European coah'na
tons upon subjects not American; because the aboiI-
ton of the African slave trade American shoJec,
as emphatically II is European subject ana IN
deed more 50, iuasnuch as the Government OF tie I
S. took the first great steps declaring that trade u!
lawful and in attempting extinction. The abolition
Of this traffic object of the hghe,. interest TO the
American people and the American Government; and
you seem strangely 10 have overlooked altogether, the
fact, that, nearly thirty years ago, ny tie
Treaty of Client, the U. S bound themselves, by So
lemn compact with England TO continue "heir efforts
to promote entire abo!ton; both parties pledging
themselves by that treaty 10 their best cndeavors TO
accomplish SO desirable an object.
Again, you speak Of an important concession made
10 the renewed application o. England. Blu. the trea
ty, let it be repeated, makes no concession TO England
whatever. II complies wi,h no demand. grants no ap
plicalion, conforms 10 request. All these STATE
ments thus by YOU made. aGd which axe so exceed
ingly erroneous, seem calculated hold up the idea
that this treaty your Government has been acting
subordinate, or even a complying part ;,
The Presden; is not littic startled that yon should
make such totally groundess assumptions Of fact, and
then leave a dscredable inference be drawn from
them. He directs not only TO repe this inference
it ought 10 be repelled but also TO bring 10 your Sc
rous consideration and reflection The proprety OF sucb
an assumed narration of facts your despatch in this
respect puts forth
Having informed the Department that copy OF the
letter OF the 24;h of August, addressed by me TO you,
had been delivered 10 Mr. Guizot you proceed 10 say
In executing this duty felt too well what "as cue i"
my Government and coun,ry, 10 intimate my regret 10
foreign power that declaration had not piecrur
the treaty. or some stipulation accompanied ~ 10y which
the extraordinary preteasicn of Great Britain to search
our SHIPS at all and in all places, first put iort'
the world by Lord PaIners!on on Tie 27!h August
ISL and the 18th October following again perenP
torily claimed az right by Lord Aberdeen would have
been abrogated equally incompatible with the laws
of nations and with the independence of The u States
l confined myself, therefore, TO Il simple communca-
ton of your letter.
1t may be true that the British prstension leads ne
cessary consequences broad and general as your
statement. But it than fair 10 state that pre-
tension in the words Of the British Goyernmen. itself;
and then il becomes matter of consideration aud agn
ment how bread and extensive II really ii. The last
statement of THIS pretension claim hy the British
Governments is c0nlr4.ed IA Lord Abe,dce"'s note 20
Mr.. Stevenson OF October 10, ic:: 1t IS IN these
words "The undersigned readily admits tha' % visit
and search American vessels, time OF peace, a!'cu
that right OF search granted by treaty, would 5e
nrac,ion Of public law and violation Of national
dignity and independence. But such right is as
We sincer.lY d. slra TO the vCsse!a OF