The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-03

e~euo " MT W toi bearing
the balance Of power than the question Of Texas
But upon this most mOrnentous question the MIN
lister abandons at once his whole idea OF common
action with England, and tells u.s. with all precipi.
tation that upon this question must preserve our
| neutrality. | cannot admit then any more than ia,
! honorable members TO whom | have referred, thai
the reasons presented by the minister eogent OF
conclusive No, is not true TO say that these high
considerations this day presented commercial in
tsrests. The safety Of Mexico, the American bal
anee OF power have been the real reasons which led
the French cabinet TO adopt the course il has cho-
sen. There 10 but one real reason for this course
and II Is reason full OF danger at this moment
when II behOoyes To deliberate freely and to assure
our complete independence. One reason has fixed the
determination Of the French cabinet and il is com.
plasanee, subseryiency. (Condescendance.) There
is no other reason.
Need prove this 1t is the inference from the
whole progress of the negotiations. When did thu
cabinet first tell Of these great interests about which
| Il is now solicitous and which have determined
il to commit act Of real hostility against tn,
American government
Not in i545 should the cabinet first have felt III,
force OF these high considerations The ministe
well knows that the question Of Texan annexation
is all old question. As early as 1887 even bsfor,
her Independence was recognised by the difieren
powers, Texas precipitated herself towards the Uni
ted States, and asked for annexation; and this Tex
all offer was rejected precisely because the indepen.
dence Of Texas had not yet been recognised by
France or by England.
The question Of Texas was no new question
then, in l645. During the whole course Of the yeal
l6i3 the minister Of foreign affairs received the de.
spatches Of agent in Texas and Of our minister
resident IN the United States He knew then the
state Of the question: he knew that the annexation
Of Texas was in agitation; he doubtless knew that
in the month ofDecember, lsi3, the message Of Pres
ldent Tyler showed that that question alroady
the order Of the day, and was in negotiation be-
tween the United States and Texas. Surely 1t waI
not then any reason drawn from the interests Of
Ffanes-dny of thoss high political consideration
now 30 pompously developed before you, which
decided the conduct Of France, and the instructions
given to the French agents, for, from lSi3 at which
time the question Of 1887 was renewed, the com.
mercial treaty, the question Of Mexico, and the
! American balance OF power question, were all IN
existence, and yet they produced no effect on the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs. The message OF the
President then announced that annexation was the
| order Of the day. That announcement did not
move tho French minister, and very properly SO,
for there was no FTeAch interest whatever, and no
true reason which should lead Francs TO oppose tn.
nexation which Texas demanded, and TO which
the United States were giving their consent
But what occurred at the close Of January, lo4t
when all these facts were known, when oil the
important reasons alleged to-day had been
viewed with indifference by the French cab.
ineH The English government then transmitted
| by lts ambassador at Paris, despatch TO the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs asking him wheth
er France would consent TO give to her agents
instructions in conformity with those given "a
the English agents to form an opposition in COM
against Xationi and II IL Just at that time
Just upon the communication Of the desire Of Eng
land which was made by Lord Cowley, that our
first despatch is sent forth, and the minister who
had been silent TO NJ. PageOt, the French minister
AZ to his dispatches marked IL, 20, and ~ write,
/ Las To IIp Ia pT E'ehF
TO tell him that IN fact France IL now about to op
pose, in conjunction with England, the annexation
| of Texas.
maintain that this single fact is a complete refu
tation Of the whole system Of the Minister for For
eign Affairs. All the reasons-the more and the
| less pompous-which he has brought before the
chamber with such high ability, are fictitious rea
sons. They have been without influence, as they
are without reality
There has been no real interest to engage France
in an act Of opposition TO the United States; rather
there was but one such interest-he desire of Eng.
land and that desire subserved at the close OF
January, 1874. Applause. Flts bien.l
| M. DuPN. IL is very bad, rather. Laughter
M. BERRrER. What then, gentlemen? In the
face Of these great events, which should neither be
exaggerated extenuated in this state of difficult
| and peril0us relations between Great Britain and
the United States, and at this very moment tn,
French cabinet determined exclusively upon the
desire Of England to interpose in the Texan ques
| ton, solely in the pursuance Of interests which
are not the interests Of France. This is the fac
which the minister Of foreign affairs calls the frs
step of the policy which il behooves this day to
begin. .,--s-.- ,-.- ..-,...,,.-- ~. .--......
| Presume my words Ifnow il were true TO say that
after all, granting France TO have exhibited sub
seryency [condeseendanct to England, her part has
yet been very slight, and limited to a small matter
II it were true to say as the minister has said thai
the action of France has been confined to three
points-to the desire that Texas should not be an.
nexed; to advice given to Texas that she should
preserve her independence; ard to a counsel given
to Mexico, that she should recognise the indepen.
dence of Texas-if this were all rue-though such q
desire would yet have been without reason, though
such counsel to Mexico would have been no more
than an act of complaisance towards England still
l should then no serious Inconvenience in
| such course, although | not pleased
to observe the French cabinet interfering in the
name of France in affairs as to which France has
manifestly no interest present or proximatc.
But the cabinet has not confined itself to q wish
nor to a counsel; and when asked whether in this
system of subserviency (condsscendance) towards
England, q do not wish to a stronger word }
the dignity of France had been fully preserved,
had in my mind what has occurred in the affair OF
Texan annexation. We have not limited ourselves
to wish and TO counsel; we have been led on
to take part in that which, regret that am com.
PEELED to use this expression)-ln that which has
been nothing more nor less than intrigue which
unfortunately for our national dignity, has borne all
the marks Of an intrigue, and has met at last its hu
initiation.
We have had another purpose than that Of coua.
sci, and than that of wish to engage Mexico in
momentous and menacng affair in regard to Texas
In the American documents, l find letter from
our charge d'afaires at Mexico, Mr.. Alley de CT
prey. He had been charged to make the Mexican
government accept four articles, in which the re.
cognition Of Texan independence by Mexico was
stipulated on the condition that Texas should never
consent to annexation. This act was already more
than simple counsel. This draft of articles, and
this negotiation to make the Mexican government
accept them clearly overseppcd the limit Of mere
desire. The letter of M. de Cyprey will show you
the importance we attached TO this question in our
zeal to serve England, who was then pursuing hei
purpose with perseverance and energy
Remark the date of M. dc Cyprey's letter. 1t has
an importance which you will soon appreciate Or
the 10Th of May, l845, M. de Cyprcy writes from
Mexico to the President of Texas: MIR. President
| am happy to be enabled to inform your cxcclIen
cy that the Mexican government, after having OBJ,
tanned the authority of both houses Of the Mexican
Congress- has acoeded to the four preliminary art
cles transmitted byfhe Secretary Of State of rexas