Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-10-11

ken DIV the CdOlnel. lDefe Is no question that
had Mr.. Clayton passed over, without notice, The
Objectionable phrases of Mr.. Poussin's letter, the
Democratic press would have resounded with the
cry that the dignity of the country had been
trampled upon. and that the men in power were
incompetent to command the respect of foreign
ministers, and unworthy of the task of protecting
the national honor.
%, The Union has a long communication up.
on the subject of Mr.. Rives' correspondence with
Prince Polignac, the Secretary ofForeign Affair,
under Charles X, concerning the claims of ouI
citizens upon France. Several extracts are Civ
en- from Mr.. Rives' dispatches to that Minister,
to show that he used language quite as offensive
10 the French Government as that of MIR. Pous-
sin TO ours. There is, in the opinion of this
writer, so remarkable a similarity in the express
sions used by Mr.. Rives and Mr.. PonSsin, as to al
low the inference, that the latter had the former
correspondence before him, when he penned his
famous note of the 30th May. 1t is intimated
MIR. Poussin informed Mr.. Clayton, without be-
ING asked for his opinions, that the appointment
of Mr.. RiyeS would not be acceptable to the
French Government or people. The author
says:
I'VE doubt not that the French government. as a de-
nons'rlllon OF lis desire 10 have ~auicable relations wi h
the United States. has. in he first instance, overlooked
80 , u - u w III w > Ifiiltl biINS iIlfItp,
and that he has ean received. II. however. on the in
formation of NJ. Ponssin's dismissal by Mr. Clayton. The
French government should send Mr.. Rives his passports,
9iac n, him III NJ clseIy The same category as Mr.. Clay
TON has piaed Mr.. Z and give his former letters as one
cause, AID as an additional ground his letter of ,J0ly
1881 10 Mr.. Livingston, Mr.. Clayton cannot COMPLAIN
without snbiectlng himself to ridicule. H. will be IS.
tapped by his own act as 10 NJ. Poussin. Indeed we
should not be surpfis d if, after all, Mr.. CLAYTON and Mr..
Rivts should be exhibited as the victims Of the snperiu
II lttDat ~ TINT ami- Ilr... = NJ e. ~
NJ. Pou sin, and Of a course adopted to i ow the impro-
pretty 81 Nlr. Rtg,s'S arp inlneui in an unmis;akeable
manner.'
Now, whatever be the similarity ofthe express
slons-however strong the language used by Mr..
Rives-and it was strong we admit-the French
Government, al the time, took no offence. They
did not call upon him to withdraw the letter and
modify, or eSpunge, certain passages. There is a
statute OF limitation in such matters-and the
present Government, should they, on hearing the
dismissal OF MIR. Ponssin, send Mr.. Rives his pass
ports, would expose themselves to ridicule by
attempting TO Justify the measure upon a princi.
pie OF retaliation, by raking up a correspondence
which took place near twenty wears ago. The
letter of Mr.. Rives TO MIR. Livingston, of july
1881, the lndiscreet publication of which, by the
Cabinet at Washington, vas seized upon as a
preteXt by the French Government to resist OF
delay the payment of the indemnity provided by
the Treaty, is adverted to by this writer as some
thing which would complete the justification of
the French Government, should they send Mr.
Rives home. Whatever exception they took &c
this letter, the French Government finally had
their susceptibility Soothed, and were induced
to act honestly and provide for the execution Of
the Treaty. 1t would be the height of absurdity
for them now TO advert to the affair. We are
glad TO have an opportunity Of publishing the ma
terlal parts Of that despatch
N5.Hnyes, july s, ISL. writes 10 Mr.. Iivinus-or
H't ~ tesiy wassigntd July 4. 1881, aud saws:
n arrangement which. amid s, many difficulties
has secured for claims Of onr q izpns prosecuted in vain
for The last twenty years, and a large portion. if not The
rhole Of which has been Considered as desperately a sum
sufficient, N all probability. 10 pay ere,y cent justly due
and nearly trebfe The amount pronounced 10 be due b,
The commission charged ,rih their examination here
which has, at the same time, exlinguished claims OF
French subjects against the United States 10 The nmo,y,,
Of mean. fire millions Of tiancs by a stipulation 10 nan a
million and a halE, and has finally o tten nd Of = o,oeJ
embarrassing dunn (founded on the language ola trea,y>
81 perpetual privileges in he ports OF one If he States Oh
the Union. 10y \ temporary measure intriuSicaH adrian
tageotS 10 ourselves; and, IN the definitlye settlement al
these unpleasant questions. has laid Il lasting foundation
of harmony and friendship between two countries havino
the most imp 'rtant common interests. political and com
meTclal; an arrangement marked by these features can.
not trust, fail To be satisfactory, and TO Justify the re-.
spensblliiy which, under The discretionary powers the
President has been pleased 10 confide 10 me, | have moi
hesitated II assume, both in The progress and termination
of this complex negotiation"
Now, we contend, there is not a word in the
foregoing extract which Mr.. Rives was not iusti-
fled in writing TO his Government. lie was we'll
aware, by the tenor of his instructions, private
correspondence, and the newspapers of the Uni
ted States, that the American Government and
people expected him to obtain a much LARGER sum
in liquidation of those claims With the best
means of knowing the real nature of many of the
claims-the groundleSsneSS of some and the in
%flation of all-he was fully aware that the hopes
OF our people were most eXtravagant, and that The
twenty-five millions of francs, which he agreed Ia
take. was a sum far below the expectations which
prevailed in this country. 1t was bis duty there
fore, 10 set strongly before the President the rca-
sons which induced him to take a sum which he
was aware would be deemed inadequate. His
statements were convincing. His conduct was
fully approved by the President, who laid the
treaty before the Senate, by which body it was
ratified without opposition. 1t was a gross mad.
%vertence OF Mr.. Livingston to publish the letter
of July 31-Mr. Rives was not to blame. in the
slightest degree, for writing it.