Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-28
COMMUNICATION.
FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES DURING
THE AMERICAN REvoLUTloN.-No. /.
TREATY OF ALLIANCE.

recent article in the National hateligencer
written by an American in Paris, evidently emanat
ing from an able and practised pen, contains state
ments and opinions touching an important period
of our history which may Justly claim further con-
sderation. While the writer successfully combats
certain errors into which the distinguished historian
of the Girondists had been led by a too easy faith
or too hasty research, he adopts others concern
ing the early political relations between France and
the United States, grave in their character and
more extensive in their application.
Relying on authorities which he deems worthy
of implicit confidence this writer revves and gives
a new currency to suspicious, long entertained OF
the motives, good faith, and conduct of the French
Government in its alliance with the United States,
during their struggle for independence propose
to examine the grounds of these suspicious, or
rather of these charge; for they have, in fact
become positive charges OF bad ialth and sinister
designs, in the mannerthey have been represented
by prominent class of American writers.
And here may be stated, at the outset, that the
question is not what motives France had for enter
inc into war with England, or for seizing the op-
portunty of the revolt of the American colonies to
effect that measure. That France was influenced
in taking this step by love OF republican institu-
TONS or by the romantic dsinterestedness of build
ing up new empire in remote hemisphere simply
for its o,cn sake cannot for moment be supposed.
Since the days of the Crusades, what nation has
ever dreamed of so erratlc an enterprise? 1t cam
not be presumed, therefore, upon any principles of
human nature or rational policy, that, in running
the hazard and mourning the enormous expense of
a war, France had any other ultimate aim than the
promotion of her own interest. Hence the only
question to be considered in the present case is,
whether France was true to her engagements to the
United States-whether she promptly, faithfully,
and steadily fulfilled these engagements till Ameri
can independence was secured.
The character of Count de Vergennes is nvolv-
ed in this question. As the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in the Cabinet of Louis the Sixteenth, he
was the principal agent in all the transactions be-
tween France and the United States during the war.
To him more than to any other individual, perhaps
more than to all others, the Americans were in
debted for the countenance and aid they received
from abroad. From the first to the last hour of the
contest he was their friend, as far as friendship
could be manifested by steady adherence to their
cause and unremltted efforts attain its success.
The writer of the Paris letter, and others, distrust
his sincerity, and accuse him of showing an open
face to the Americans, while he was secretly plot
ting schemes to their disadvantage and at variance
with his professions. This point will also be ex-
am1ned as we proceed
Although the reasons which induced France to
make war upon England at that time are not i'm
mediately connected with the question under con-
sideration, yet, as throwing light on the subject,
some of these reasons, stated by the French,
may properly be mentioned. In the year 1863, at
the close Of what in America has been known as
the old French Uar, treaty of peace was signed
between England and France. From combna-
ton Of unforeseen causes, the turned out TO be
most disastrous to the French. After fighting seven
years, their marine reduced almost to insgnif-
canoe, compared with that Of England, they having
lost thirty three ships of the line and seventyour
frigates, besides a vast number of merchant YES
sells. Canada had been taken from France, and
islands in all parts of the world her funds were
exhausted her credit gone ; and the nation was
discouraged. In this condition. peace was ne
cessary.
The experience of all ages has shown that no
treaty can endure in which one party takes advan-
tage of the necessities of another 10 impose de-
grading terms or insist on humiliang concessions
There is sense of honor sei-respect, in nations
as well as individuals, which, though they may
yield to temporary force, will submit no longer than
till the aggreyed party acquires strength to throw
of the burden and recover It's lost dignity Dig
nifty inherent in the nature of every man, and in
the spirit of every political association Intoxicat-
ed with her successes, England forgot this principle
Of human nature. She forgot the lessons inscribed
on every page of her history, and thought only Of
humbling her rival not merely by weakening her
power and diminishing the resources of that rival,
but by bringing her honor and national spirit under
reproach in the eye of the world England demand
ed Canada and the islands in the Gulf of ST. Law
renee, thereby cutting off large part of the French
fisheries she demanded sacrifice OF territories
and long-established sources of trade in the West
Indies, Africa, and the East Indies and she oh
tanned all her demands. After the treaty. she at
tempted to impose restrictions on the French navy.
and prevent It's increase. 1t was the purpose Of
England, not so much TO indemnify herself for the
expenses and losses of the war, to reduce her
rival to state of weakness and humiliation from
which she should not soon recover. Hence she left
deep wound to rankle in the breast of every
Frenchman; and hence likewise, no Frenchman
that was true TO his country, or true TO himself
could be expected patiently TO submit to these igno-
minous terms any longer than the necessity should
exist BY which they had been imposed.
There was heavy charge against England, also,
in regard to the first operations of the war; which
France could never forget. Before the declaration
of war, and while constant assurances Of pacific
disposition were made to the French Ambassador
in London, secret orders were sent by the British
Government 10 their cruisers in various parts of the
world to seize French vessels and bring them into
English ports. fleet was likewise secretly dis
patched to intercept French squadron on its way
to Canada; and two ships of the line were actually
captured near Newfoundland, with regiment OF