Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-09-24
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
LyNCHRURG. SEPTEMBER II. ISL:
THE DIFFICULTY WITH FRANCE.

lRilu W NIL. ] OuSSl1, lUc fIellGn MINISTER at
Washington, has taken the country by surprise.
We saw it stated, some DAYS ago, that this iunc-
tionary had taken upon himself the office Of adj
yiSlng his Government to refuse 10 receive Mr..
Rlves, on account of the expressions contained in
his letter announcing the conclusion ofthe treaty
Of indemnity in 1882. We thought this by no
means improbable, but concluded that a man, who
had been appointed by the provisional govern
ment, would not be likely 10 have much influence
with the reactlonary cabinet of Louis Napoleon,
and did not apprehend that any serious difficulty
would grow out OF his impertinent Interference.
We have seen no contradiction of this report, and
subsequent events induce the belief that ii was
well founded. 1t appears, however, that the i'm
mediate cause of the refusal of the President lon
ger TO recognize him as the official representa-
tlVc OF France was the insulting and disrcspectlul
tone which he had assumed i'll a communication
addressed to MIR. Clayton on a different subject.
This correspondence was forwarded to the French
Government by Mr.. Clayton, with request that
Mr.. Poussin should be recalled. Sufficient time
having elapsed for the action of that Government,
and no notice having been taken of the wish cx-
pressed, the President directed Mr.. Clayton to
inform MIR. Poussin that his pasSports were ready.
This is about the amount ofthe information which
has thus far reached us in regard to this affair."
We see no reason 10 doubt its substantial accura-
cy.
French ncgoiiators have ever been disposed 10
bully. In Napoleon's time, they were wont to
disregard all the forms of etiquette and diploma
cy, as much as their master did the old rules of
warfare IN his campaigns. Backed by the terror
inspired by his power and unscrupulous rapacity,
a dictatoral tone answered a good purpose with
the minor States Of Europe. 1t was tried occa-
sionaily with our own Government, without sue
ceSS-though there is much to offend patriotic
SenslbllIty IN some of the language of French d-
plomatc agents, which was tolerated by the ad-
mlnistrations oil Mr. Jefferson and Mr.. Madi-
son.
II we go further back than the Napoleonic era,
we need not remind the reader taat in the fervor
OF the Revolution, French Ambassadors never
confined themselves 10 the recognized duties of
ihelr ollce-but were ever active propagandiSts
and lntrlguerS, and that, whilst their language TO-
wards the Government to which they were &C
credited, was uniformly insulting and minatorv,
Their best efforts were used 10 ingratiatc themselves
with the people and TO effect a popular commo-
ton. Next to the horrors of an invasion by a
French army, most of the European States
dreaded the advent of a French Envoy. The lat
ter was generally the precursor of the other. Still
less need we remind the reader, that an Ambassa-
dor Of this stamp, Citizen Genet, attempted to
play a similar game in this country, by drawing
a distinction between the Government and the
people. Washington promptly demanded his re-
call, and, though the Jacobin feeling of the day
was at It's height, the people of the United States
sustained the conduct of the President, and no
writer OF a subsequent period has ven tured 10
question It's propriety.
We have no hope that the factious opposition
to the Administration, of which the Union is the
organ, will sustain the President in thus asserting
the honor and dignity of the country. 1t will
] SVmnltII~n with tho Eroprh N1;otetor o,1 ,o,,o
sent, IN odious colors, the conduct of the preSi-
dent, and affect to apprehend dcplorable conse-
quenccS from this interruption of diplomatic in
tercourSe between the two great Republics of the
earth. Though no journal has more Justly, or
more eloquently denounced the French for their
treason 10 the cause Of liberty than the Union, we
confidently anticipate to see in its columns the
charge that the President has been influenced to
adopt this decided course from dislike to the
growth OF free institutions. If Gen. Taylor's de-
termination to enforce the laws of the United
States,ln relation to neutrality, subjected him, in
The case of the steamer UniteR States, to the
Iaughable charge of sympathy with the absolute
King OF Denmark, IN preference to that very ar
dent and consistent Republican the King Of Prus-
STA, may we not reasonably expect to hear him
now charged with a wish to arrest the European
tendencies toward free institutions, by severing
the ties between us and France, the great model
OF Continental Republics. All this we expect To
see gravely set forth in the columns of the ex.
official organ, whilst a vigorous effort is made,
Gene'-likc, to appeal from the President to the
people. 1t will all prove unavailing. The honest
hearted, intelligent and patriotic people of the
United States, without regard to party, will APP
plaud the course the President has pursued
They will rally to his support and forget all par
ty feeling in maintaining the honor of the coun-
try.
1t is not improbable that this proceeding of the
French Minister was less the result of impetuos.
lily OF temperament, want of breeding, and knowl-
edge OF the prophecies of diplomatic intercourse,
than of deliberate design. The position and pol
icy OF Louis Napoleon are well understood in this
country, and universally condemned. The evil
dences OF his hostility to free institutions ofhis
dread OF any thing like a real representative Gov
eminent; and of his desire to affiliate with the alb
~Solutsts OF Europe, are too striking to resist. 1t
may be, that he has thought it would be condu-
GIVE to his design of assuming the crown, were he
to embroil France with the only country, the in
s%tltutlons, growth and prosperity ofwhich are re-
lerred to,in illustration of the blessings of a truly
popular Government, by the French Republican
party. He may have thought, further, that such
a rupture with the model Republic would re-
commend him 10 the Emperors of Russia and
Austria, and other absolute sovereigns, whose
good graceS he is SO anxious 10 gain, and TO pro-
pirate whom there is no act of personal s%eryili-