The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-25

ternssOf gross outrage. ! would continue 10 uea
such caulnnies with the contempt they deserve die
they not receive some sanction rom their republi
cation in the Journal des Debats Of this morning,
paper which ifnot Official is from It's character anc
latons stamped with d certain degree Of authori
ty The respect which | owe 10 myself and atil
more that which is due 10 my government, will no
Justify me in permitting such charges, thus persisted
in, and thus reproduced to pass any longer uncon
tradicted. The eourtesles OF private life, not L
speak Of those due to public station, must not b,
violated with continued IMMUNITY
! "YOur exceency will perceive that Mr. Cal
houn's published despatch Of the l2th Of August
lei4, which is obviously referred to IN the para,
graph copied by the Journal des Debats, is eyre
gionsy perverted, so that the charge ofaudacous
falsehood with which that eminent statesman and
myself coarsely sugnatlsed, rests, 10 cay the
least, upOns rash misstateneni.
| "Nuticing ia a summary way the information oil
my having received satisfactory assurances, that
though prefening the independence OF Texas, in no
event would the French government take steps in
the slightest degree hostile, or which would give to
the United States just cause Of complaint, tho de.
spatch referred to contains the following language;
{" 4 have laid your despatch, No. L. before the
President who insiruetJ me TO make known 10 you
that he has read it with much pleasure, especially
the portion which relates to your cordial reception
by the king, and his Of friendly feelings
towards the United States. The President, in par.
ticular, highly appreciates the declaration Of the
! king, that in no event any steps would be taken
by his government in the slightest degree hostile or
which would give TO the United States ust cause OF
complaint IL the more gratifying from the
fact, that previous information calculated To
make the impression that the government of France
was prepared to unite with Great Britain in Joint
protest against the annexation Of Texas, and joint
effort 10 induce her government TO Withdraw the
proposition to annex, condition that Mex ico
should be made to acknowledge her Independence.
He is happy 70 infer from your despatch, that the
information as far as it relates TO France IS in all
probability, without foundation
ITO the Joint efTor to induce Texas to withdraw
her proposition to annex, my despatch had not al
luded, and am not aware that any protest, JOINT or
single against the anneXatI IN OF Texas, has ever
been presented to the American government.
"A lIulo further on the preference entertained by
the French government for the continued independ-
ence ofTexas, is alluded to in these terms:
"'You are right in making the distinction between
the interests Of France and England in reference to
Texos, or rather would say, the apparent interests
Of the two countries France cannot possibly have
see her preserve her separate independence, while
it is certain that England looks beyond, to political
interests, to which she apparently attaches much i'm
pOrance.'
! This despatch has now been before the public
more than a year; and although the subject Of
u
excellency, aud has been discussed in the Cham
bcrs when, if my memory serves me well, both the
concerted action and conjeciured protest dis.
claimed, have never received the slightest lntlma-
ton from the French government that its state
menis were questioned. The positive allegations
Of the paragraph have quoted conveyed in Ian
guage Of Characteristic coarscness which should
not lightly be applied to men who have in en-
inent and responsible stations long enjoyed
the confidence of their government and country,
having been conspicuousy reproduced by leading
ministerial paper, under the eye OF the French gov
crnment, TO remain silent any longer to mani
fest an unworthy Indifference to private reputation
n, we'll as public consideration. The former has
never before been assaulted; when the latter be
with impunty, can no longer serve my country
with honor and advantage.
al feel il my duty, then, before giving a pub
lie contradiction to these charges, at 70 request
YOUR excellency To enable me to stale, that they
have not in the slightest degree the authority or
sanction Of the French government. Whatever
feeling may have been excited by recent political
Transactions, cannot but persuade myself that it
will give your exCeiIency great pleasure promptly
to exonernte from such unworthy imputatlons a
distne uished citizen, who has occupied the most
eminent stations including that OF Vice President of
the United States, as well ns him who has the hon
or to he their representative near his Majesty the
King Of the French.
al avail myself of this sion to renew to your
exce!Iency the assurance Of my high considera-
ton.
OWN R. KING.
oils Excellency M. GuIzor,
minister of Foreign Affairs"
"PARrs, January 9, 1886
TRANsLATtoN.-pRIyATE.
"DEPARTMENr or FoREi0N AFFAIRS. CABINET.
"SIR: | have received the letter which you did
me the honor to write to the 4th of this
month, and hasten to reply to it. The Journal des
Dsba is not in any manner the organ of the govern.
men, of the king, which cannot aud should not be
considered responsible for what is published there
IN, whether for articles emanating from that jour
nal itself, or those borrowed from foreign
journals | add, that in regard to the ques-
ton Of Texas, at the same time that
the government of the king has pursued the course
which seemed to it in conformity with the views Of
a wise policy, and the interests of France, it has
had you hare already received the assurance,
the intention to do anything hostile 10 the United Sates,
or ,ohch might ire them just subjec, Of complaint.
tuke pleasure in repeating it 10 you.
Receive, pray you, cir, the renewed assurance
CSiened,) "GUIZoT.
"Mr. KING, Minister of the United States"