The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-03-30
reception of the French Minister.

Reception Of tine French Minister.
M, Lecompie, the new French Minister,
was officially received by the President on the
18th The following arethe reception speech
and reply thereto aswe find themin the Wash
ington Republic:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: In confding to me the
mission which fulfil near you, the President
of the French Republic has conferred on me
double honor-that of representing my coun-
try near the noble American nation, and that
of re-establishing the relations, momentariy
interrupted. between the two governments
Allow me, Mr.. President, to felicitate myself
on having to perform duty SO dear to my
heart and to express to you the hope that no
misunderstanding will in future disturb the
union which exists between two nations bound
together by so many sympathies. What 9th
er term could |, in fact, apply to any thing
which might endanger, even IN appearance,
relations founded upon sentiments ofgenerosity
so real and so solid? France was the first to
support American independence by arms and
to recognise it by treaties: and the blood of
her children is mingled in this sacred land
with that of the martyrs of its independence.
The government of the United States, on its
part, was the first to recognize the French
Republic when it had been proclaimed by
France. Would it not be spectacle painful
to humanity, and deplorable for the cause of
liberty, to see two nations, the only ones which
have presented the example, so noble and so
consoling for human dignity, of government
founded upon right, and upon the wishes of all
it citizens, separated from each other by trifiing
interest? No! Such spectacle will not be
given to the world which looks upon us;
and the two sister Republics will prove by
their example that, if order and liberty may be
guaranteed by governments freely elected, in
ternational relations may likewise find in the
same principle solid and durable basis.
According to the desire of the French Re-
public, such will be my duty; and In. fulfilling it
neara government so enlightened as that of
the United States, / hope not only to experience
no difficulty in preserving union SO precious
but also to see it strengthened by new bonds
The POLITICAL commercial and religious hber-
ties of the whole world are interested in it;
and in seeing at the head of this Government
a patriot warrior, who has conquered his title
by such noble services to his country, have
the hope that France, which has always hon
ored devotion and glory, will find in him the
same sympathy which animates her towards
the noble nation near which have the honor
of representing her.
To the Ministers address the President re-
piled as follows:
SIR: express the sentiment of the Amer
lean people in welcoming you most cordially,
as the Representative of nation endeaEed to
l. of
the past and the anticipations of the future
1t is subject of sincere felicitation to me to
be the instrument of re-establishing relations
momentarily interrupted, between two nations
bound together by so many associations, and l
unite with you in the sincere expression of
of the hope that nothing will henceforth dis
turb those sympathies which have SO long uni
ted them together in the bonds of friendship.
We have ever held in grateful remembrance
the assistance which France rendered us IN
Cur revolutionary war; and we can never
forget that she was the first to sustain by her
arms and to recognize by treaties American
Independence. With pride we recur to that
portion of our history, to which records the
united struggle of the Frenchman and the
American in the cause of human liberty,
mingling their blood and sleeping in death
on battle fields consecrated by their
heroic yalor.
We glory, too; in the recollection that the
Government of the United States was the
FIRST to greet the French republic when freely
by the people of France; and we
rejoice in the belief that no trifing interests
can divide us. The harmoney OF the two
great sisterrepublicss should ever be maintained
on terms honorable to both; & their bes. inter
ests should ever be regarded as inseperably
Represented by Minister of
such distinguished reputation, France will,
1 trust, find that no cloud can, 70. moment,
overshadow our amicable relation; and abide
in the confidence that her illustrious President,
chosen by the free voice of an enlightened ma
ton to maintain its honor, happiness, and pros
perity, will on all occasion, cooperate with
me in my honest efforts, not only TO preserve
but to strengthen the ties of amity between
us; SO that we may perpetually present the
the world proud spectacle of union and con-
cord. @