Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-03
THE AMERICAN MINISTER AT PARIS
AND THE LONDON TIMES.
The following letters were transmitted 10 The
London Morning Chronicle for publication
LEGATION or THE UNITED STATES, }
pas January 4 lSIE

London Morning Chronicle for publication
LOCATION or THE UNITED STATES,
PARIs, January 4, 1916.
Sir:-I have The honor 10 call the attention Of
your Exceilency 10 the following paragraph. from
the London Tunes OF The Isl instant:
''Mr Calhoun and Mr.. King stated in their Of
fetal correspondence, with an assurance that has
never been eQuaed, that they received from The
King OF The French pledge that France would
offer no opposition 10 The work they had in hand
That statement was utterly false; for, although
France, like England, did moi conceive that her
interest in the province or Stale OF Texas was
sufficiently strong To Justify declaration OF war
against the aggressor she did protest. as energeli-
cally as England agans, The violation of those
principles which are the basis and The safeguard
OF International relations"
Upon the decency of such language so applied,
or of The taste which lolerates it, il is not my pur-
pose to animadvert. This is not the first time
that the veracty of my dispatches, and OF those OF
the late distinguished Secretary OF Stale oil The
United States, has been assailed ia The same quar-
Ter in terms OF gross outrage. would continue
10 treat such caumnies with the contempt they
deserve, did they not receive some sanction from
their republication in the Journal des Deba!s Of
this morning, paper which, if not official, is,
from rs character and relations, stamped with
certain degree OF authority. The respect which
owe tumyself, and still more that which is due
TO my Government, will not justify me in permit
ling such charges thus persisted in and thus re-
produced, 10 pass any longer unconlradicted.-
The couresies OF private life, not to speak Of those
due to public station must not be violated with
continued impuny.
Your Excellency win perceive that Mr.. Cal
houn's published despatch ofthe 18th Of August,
1874, which is obviously referred TO in the para
graph copied by the Journal les Debats, is eyre
giousy perverted, so that the charge oil audaci-
Gus alsehood, with which that eminent statesman
and myself are so coarsely sligmatized rests, 10
say the least, upon rash misstatement
Noticing in summary way, The information
of my having received satisfactory assurances
that, though prelerrng the independence or 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, the despatch referred 10 conta ms the
following language
81 have laid your despatch No. |, before The
President, who instTuctS me 10 make known 10
you thai he has read it with much pleasure, es-
pecially the portion which relates 10 your cordial
reception by the King, and bis assurance OF
friendly feelings towards the United Stales. The
President, in particular, highly appreciates The
declaration Of the King, that IN no event any steps
would be taken by his Government in the Slight
States Just cause Of complaint. |, was the more
gratifying from the fact, that our previous infor-
nation was calculated to make the impression
that the Government OF France was prepared 10
unite with Great Britain in a joint protest
against The annexation OF Texas, and joint ef-
fort to induce our Government TO withdraw the
proposition to annex, on condition that Mexico
should be made 10 acknowledge her independence.
He is happy 10 infer from your despatch that The
To- 81 ral,t IN, &c in
all probability, without foundation"
To the Joint effort 10 induce Texas to with
draw her proposition 10 annex, my despatch had
not alluded, and am not aware that any protest,
Joint or single, against the annexation OF Texas,
has ever been presented 10 the American Govern
ment
A little further on the preference entertained
by the French Government tor the continued in
dependence OF Texas, is alluded to in these terms:
"You are right in making the distinction be-
tween the interest Of France and England in refer
ence 10 Texas, or, rather would say, The appa-
rent interests oil the two countries. France can
not possibly have any other than commercial in
terests in desiring TO see her preserve her sepa-
rate independence, while ii is certain that England
looks beyond, to political interests, to which she
apparently attaches much Importance"
This despatch has now been before the public
for more than year, and although the subject OF
it has been referred 10 in conversations win your
Excellency, and has been discussed in the Cham
bers, when, if my memory serves me well, both
the concerted action and the conJeclured P0le"
were discaimed, have never received the slight
est intimation from the French Government that
its statements were ques Toned. The positive al
legations Of the paragraph | have quoted, con-
veyed in language Of characteristic coarscness,
which should not lightly be applied 10 men who
have in eminent and responsible stations long pos.
sessed the confidence of their Government and
country, having been conspicuonsly reproduced
in leading Ministerial paper, under the eye oil
the French Government, 10 remain silent any
longer were TO manifest an unworthy indifference
to private reputation as well as public considera
ton. The former has never before been assailed;
when The latter can be with impunity, can no
longer serve my country with honor and advan-
tage
feel it my duty, then, before giving public con-
tradcton 10 these charges, at once to request your
Eycellency 10 enable me 10 state, that they have
not in the slightest degree the authority or sane
ton of the French Government. Whatever feel
ing may have been excited by recent political
cannot but persuade myself that 1t
will give your Excelency great pleasure prompt
ly TO exoneraie from such unworthy accusations
a distinguished citizen, who has occupied the most
eminent stations, including that Of Vice President
of the United States, as well as him who has the
honor to be their representative near his Majesty
the King Of the French.
avail nyselfof this occasion 10 renew 10 your
Excellency the assurance OF my high considera-
ton. WIN. R. KING.
His Exceency NJ. Guizot,
Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
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