Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-07-17
MR.. RIVES.

The National lntelLgencer replies to an absurdas-
ton of some of the Democratic press, that Mr..
Rives appointment to the French Mission is a bad
one. because when he was Minister before, he wrote
home letter about his negotiations, which, by boast
ing of the favorable terms he obtained, made him OBJ
noxious TO the French tits alleged that the French
Assembly refused to ratfy the treaty with the Unit
ed States because of the publication of this letter
The charge was fully rebutted at the time by Mon
A. JAY a member of the Assembly and Chairman
of the Committee to which the subject of the appro
pration to carry the treaty into effect referred,
who said in a published letter, dated Paris, January
"a, 1885:
1t il asserted in the American Prints that the rejection
Of the American Treaty by the Chamber of Deputies at
their last session chiefly owing to the publication OF
letter from Mr. Rves to his government This an
which justice to that distinguished statesman, and
OF his unremtng exerons 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
bis letter alleged as motive y for dspung the amount due
ever read the letter alluded to"
Gen. Cass's book on France tesdfes TO the fact,
that Mr. Rives els favorably remembered in Paris"
and Mon Jays statement shows that he was highly
esteemed during his residence there
twill be a new thing, if Minister should be-
come unpopular in his own country, because he
once served it efficiently at foreign court. More
over, it scarcely behoves the Democracy who
praised Mr.. Rivea to the skies for these very SER
vices at the time they were rendered, now to turn
upon him and say he will be poor Minister now,
because he was too good Minister then. No part
of Gen Jacksons administration was more extoled
by he party than his policy about the French inde-
nifty, and nothing was pointed to by them with great
er triumph than the success of his Minister at Pa
ris in securing our demands by a solemn treaty
The character of Mr.. Rives' letter, to which the
Democrats of the present day make objection, is
thus referred 10 by the National Intelligencer:
Did Mr. Rives wra letter "boasting OF the large sum
he had obtained than he had expected due 2
No such etter can be produced He had concluded q
payment by France of twenty five millions Of frances
full satisfaction and discharge of all the claims Of cit-
amounting, according to the estimate OF the claim
ants themselves, to far greater This he had done
without specific instructions from his Government and
upon his responsibility In this state of things, il
both necessary and proper that he should justify him
the loose and exaggerated statements OF the claimants he
introduced letter Of Mr. Gallatn in which that able and
experienced Minister, who had thoroughly investi-
gated the whole subject than any other person. estimated
the Of claims OF every description justly demanded
al five millions of dollars.
eff added Mr. Ryes ''the opinion here expressed be
corect-and certainly enjoys is entitled more
Respectable stipulated to be paid by the French CO.
vernment will be amply sufficient to satisfy all the Just
claims of citizens, every description fairly compre-
hended in the scope of the negotiation"
Here, surely there no Boosting that he had obtained
than he had eTpected DUE but simply
hope expressed that the sum obtained would prove su
cent to pay athat pasjustly DUE and further JUS
fy to his Government the arrangement he had concluded,
he spoke both his right and his duty do under
the serious responsibility assumed by him, of the discourage
just the subject of the difficulties intrinsic and extrinsc
incident the negotiation and of the additional induce
offered certain collateral provisions of the Treaty
accept final settlement Of unpleasant contro-
yersie. with ancient ally and "as laying lasting
foundation Of Harmony and friendship between coun-
and commercial"