The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-14
From the .Nasionai btsliigsnee Of the 18Th inslani
Mr.. Rives and the Mission 70 France.

MIR. Rives and the Mission 10 France.
Every act of the present Administration
destined TO encounter relentless criticism at the
of Mr.. RIvEs TO the mission TO France ceived at
first with marks of almost unanimous appreciation,
has at length provoked the malignity of party ha-
tired, and furnished occasion for reckless and UNI
founded assertions, which regard for the truth of
history, less than justice to all concerned,
quires should be confronted with the indisputable
evidence Of facts. In this general " hunt of oblo-
guy" the New Hampshire Patriot asplres to lead
the onset. In late number of that paper we find
the following clamorous denunciation
"He Mr.. RwEs] afterwards negotiated treaty
by which France agreed TO pay large sum for
spoliatons upon our commerce. He was so elated
with his success that he wrote letter boasting of
the large sum he had obtained more than he ex-
pected, or was due. This letter published,
and, finding It's way back to France, so exasper-
ated the Legislative Chambers that they refused TO
vote the money to enable the Government to fulfil
the treaty and this came near involving the two
countries in war. Such foolish and imprudent con-
duct rendered him very unpopular IN Paris; and
that alone is a good reason why he should not he
sent there
In answer to all this, we propose simply to recall
the facts as they stand upon the records of the
country Did Mr.. RIvEs write letter g Boosting
expected, or was due?' No such letter can be
produced lie had concluded treaty with the
French Government STIMULATING for the paymentby
France of twenty-five millions Of francs, in full
satisfaction and discharge of all the claims of our
citizens, amounting, according to the estimate of
the claimants themselves, to a far greater sum.
This he had done without specific instructions from
his Government and upon his own responsibility.
In this state of things, it was both necessary and
proper that he should justify himself to his Gov.
eminent for what he had done. Against the loose
and exaggerated statements Of the claimants he
introduced letter of Mr.. GALLArlN, in which that
able and experienced Minister, who had more
thoroughly investigated the whole subject than any
other person, estimated the amount of claims of
every description justly demanded at five millions
of dollars.
"lf," added Mr.. RIvEs, the opinion here ex-
pressed be correct-and certainly none enjoys or
is entitled more respectable sum stipulated to be
sufficient to satisfy all the just claims Of citi
zens of every description, fairly comprehended in
the scope of the negotiation"
Here, surely, there was no Boosting that he had
obtained sum than he had expected, or ,oas
due, but simply hope expressed that the sum OBJ
tanned would prove sufficient to pay all that
justly due; and further to justify to his Government
the arrangement he had concluded, he spoke, as it
was both his right and his duty to do under the
rious responsibility assumed by him, of the dis
couraging failures which had attended all previous
attempts to adjust the subject; of the difficulties
intrinsic and exuinsic, incident to the negotiation
and of the additional inducements offered in certain
final settlement of our unpleasant controversies with
our ancient ally, and I" as laying lasting founda-
ton of harmony and friendship between two coun-
tries having the most important common interests,
political and commercial
The next allegation of the New Hampshire ora
Gle is, that Mr.. RvEs' aforesaid letter, being pub
lished in this country, and fndng its way back to
France, SO exasperated the Legislative Chambers
that they refused to vote the money to enable the
Government to fulfil the treaty and this came near
involving the two countries in war; Now, it so
happens that there is the most conclusive evidence
from the highest authority of the utter falsty of
this reckless assertion. Monsieur ANTOINE JAY, a
distinguished member of the French Chamber of
Deputies, and well known to the world by his va
rous literary productions, was the chairman rap
porteur) Of the committee in the Chamber Of Depu-
ties to which the appropriation for carrying the
treaty with this country into effect was referred
Seeing, in of the American prints at the time,
an inslnuaton such that which is now brought
forward as matter of pretended history, he adj
giving the most formal and conclusive refutaton to
1t. This letter was published only fourteen years
ago IN the leading journals Of this country, but the
short memories Of the oracles Of the Opposition seem
to render its publication again necessary. Here
ii is:
"PARIs, January "a, 1895.
my DEAR SIR: Ii is asserted in the American
prints that the rejection of the American treaty by
the Chamber Of Deputies at their last session was
chiefly owing To the publication of letter from Mr..
RryEs TO his own Government This is an error
which justice to that distinguished statesman, and
a sense Of his unremitting exertons to promote the
interests Of his Government whilst here, induce me
formally to contradict
" No such evidence appears in the debates and
in none Of my conversations with the Members
have ever heard his letter alleged a motive for
disputing the amount due. ] much question, indeed
4 M thor 81.