Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-15

| tnlldT dIlClcS WGlC llISCItCu ia tuC iSatSS 1890
| Britain made with Spain, Prussia and Germany.
| This extraordinary course was justified BY Rus
sia on The principle that no neutrality can take
place with government of rebels. In pursu-
| ance OF this policy, our commerce was The con-
tinual subject OF British depreciation. The spIril
of the nation was aroused and measures oil re-.
sistance we're demanded. An embargo was LAID
on vessels in our ports, and Congress resolved
"lhat measures ought TO be Immediately taken 10
render the force Of The United States more eff
Gent" The President determined to make
last effort for peace, and commissioned MIR. Jay
10 negotiate settlement of all differences. bis
mission was successful, and resulted in the well
known treaty OF 1874.
To counleract the designs OF her enemies,
France passed the decree OF the 9Th OF May,
1893. The preamble justifieS lis provisions, by
declaring that "the flag Of neutral powers is not
respected by the enemies OF France" and, con-
sequcntly, she is "not permitted 10 fulfil towards
all the neutral powers, in general, The vow she
has SO repeatedly manifested, and constantly
makes, tor the full and entire freedom OF COM
MERGE" This decree authorizes the seizure Of
neutral vessels bound 10 enemies ports. BY our
treaty OF amity and commerce, the principle that
free bottoms makes free goods had been adopted
between France and America. The decree OF
| The 9Th OF May was violation OF that treaty.
| Our Minister complained OF this intraction, and
decree was passed on The 23d of May, declar-
ing that vessels of the United States were not 10
be comprehended in The decree OF 9th May. In
communicating this decree, The French Minister
tells Mr.. Morris, that in il he will find IA new
confirmation of the principles from which France
will never depart, with regard 10 their good friends
and allies, the United States OF America" AL
though, amid the distraction OF the times, the de-
cree of the 23d May was occasionally suspended
and enforced yet the temper Of the French coun-
ellis remained friendly until the ratification OF
Jays treaty. On the 10Th Of February, 1895,
President Washington says: at affords me the
highest pleasure 10 inform Congress that perfect
harmony reigns between the Two republics"
! The ratification of that treaty, however, pro-
duced an entire change in The tone of French di-
| plomacy. On The 18th of February, 1876, the
French Minister informed Mr. Monroe that the
Directory had al length determined how 10 act
with respect 10 Mr.. jays treaty; shat it cons-
dered the alliance 6ctaCccn us as ceas,ng 10 exist
from the moment the treaty was ratified" They
| deferred any effective measures, however until
the final action OF The House OF Representatives
on The subject In May, 1896, The House voted
10 carry the treaty into effect. On The 9TH July,
1896, the French Minister informs MIR. Monroe
chat the opinion Of the Directory has never va
RED" He then makes use oil this language
"Atler this, citizen Minister the Executive Direc-
tory thinks selfiounded in regarding the siipula-
tions OF The treaty OF 1918, which concern the neu-
tralty Of The flag, as altered and suspended in their
most essential parts, by lhisact" Upon this avow-
ed supposition, that "lhe alliance had ceased 10
exist" and that the treaty Of l77S "Was altered"
| The French Government broke of Diplomatic in
leIcourse, and passed series OF DEGREES calcula-
ted seriously 10 affect our commerce. On The I'd
July, LIST Of August, and 9th November, 1916,
and on Isl February and ID March, 1877, DEGREES
were passed authorizing severe depredations on
our commerce, in violation OF The treaties. BY
| these measures immense injury was inflicted
upon us,-and it was then that the principal spo-
| lialions commenced. We were in stale OF
| quasi war. The Government did not abandon
It's post-but desiring 10 terminate all diferen.
ce>, and 10 restore harmony and good understand
| ing, and commercial and friendly intercourse"
| The President nominated Messrs. Pinckney, Mar
shall and Gerry as ENJOYS, for the purpose OF ac
| comprising those great objects. This mission,
| as is well known, failed. The ENJOYS were not
received BY France in their official character,
and even while they were yet al Paris new
! aggressive measure was adopted BY the French
| Government In the spring OF l79S, those gen.
tlemen withdrew from France. Negotiation
was now exhausted. Redress was 10 be relin-
| quished or resort must be had 10 coercive mea-
sures. ln this crisis the Government was not de-
relict 10 lis duties. Neither The state -four finan
ces nor the genius OF our people would warrant
| an offensive wal Other means OF redress were
| al our command, and OF these we availed our
selves with wise and prompt policy By
ACT OF Congress, 29ih May, 1893, the commanders
of our public armed vessels were directed 10 cap
| lure French armed vessels, which had committed,
or were lowering upon the coast Tor the
| purpose OF committing Expectations on yes
sells belonging 10 citizens Of The U. States. By
| act of Oh OF July OF The same year, public arm
| ed vessels were authorised 10 capture French arm
ed vessels within the Jurisdictional limits Of the
United States, or elsewhere on the high seas
And the President was authorised TO issue COM
missions TO private armed vessels for The same
purpose. In consequence oil these measures seve
raj hostile actions occurred between the armed
vessels of the Two nations, and captures were
made, both by our private and public armed YES
sells, which were condemned and sold as prizes
But very important step was taken on the
7th July, 1898, when Congress passed the follow
ing act, which, as shall have occasion 10 refer
| 10 il again, will here insert in full:
"Whereas, the treaties concluded between
| the United States and France have been repeated
| eddy violated on the part of the French Govern
| ment, and The just claims OF the United States for
| reparalion OF the injuries 50 committed have
| been refused, and their attempts 10 negotiate an
amcable adjustment Of all complaints between
The Two nations have been repelled with indignity:
| And whereas, under authority Of the French Go
vernment, there is yet pursued against The United
States, a system OF predatory violence, inlracting
the said treaties, and hostile TO The rights Of free
| aud independent nation:
"Be il enacted By The Senate and House of Re-
presentatipes of the United STATES of America, in
| Congress assembled, That the Uniled States are
| of right freed and exonerated from The slipua
ions Of the treaties. and Of The consular conyen
ton heretofore concluded between the u. States
and France; and that The same shall not hence
forth be regarded as legally obligatory on the Co
yernmenl or citizens of the U. States"
By this measure the treaties mentioned were ef.
eclually abolished.
These measures were not without their desired
effect. France soon evnced willingness TO re-
open negotiations, and on The 18th OF February
1899, three commissioners were nominated 10 SET
lie all differences
In the instructions 10 our commissioners, these,
amongst others, were laid down as Ultimate
"First, that provision be made Tor the satisfaction
OF the claims Of our citizens; and second, that the
treaties and consular convention, declared 10 be
no longer obligatory BY act of Congress, be
not in whole or in part revived but that
all the engagements 10 which the United States
are to become parties, be specified in the new
treaty" When the negotiation was opened, the
| French commissioners IcluStu d. HISt W CONCUR
| in the tact that The treaties were annulled by an
act OF Congress OF 7th July, 1898. But they
quickly yielded this point, 50 we'll determined by
the principles Of national law. But they say
"that they cannot conceal from themselves that
the acl OF the United Staes BY which their abro-
| cation was declared, has been an uDequiyocal
provocalion 10 war; that The hostile acts by which
this provocaion has been followed increasing in
number and publicity, even after France had re-
moved every just cause Of complaint, were no.
thing less than war. The rights oil war &C
knowledge no obligation TO repair its rsvages."-
They accordingly repudiate all liability for in
demnily. Subsequently in conference, they open
ly avowed "Liat their real object ras 10 aro,d, bv
erery means any engagement 10 pay indemattjes"
| The President Of the French Commission Joseph
Bonaparte) declared, that "f the question could
be determined by any Indifferent nation, he was
satisfied such tribunal would say, that the pre-
sent state OF things was war, on the side OF Anne
RIGA, and that no indemniles could be claimed"
C;pJ;ro I, thns ;p,pnccihle IN nrocura naoo