The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-10
10 Ter to NJ de Sarges the assurances Of his very
distinguished consideration .
r-RASsLArIoN.l
FaENcH LEGATION rs THE USIrEp STATES,
WAsHISCroN, October 81, 1851.

WAsHISCToS, October %, 1851.
The undersigned, Minister of France has re-
ceved the note dated the 22d of October, which
thc Acting Secretary of State addressed him cub
,eouently TO the conversation he had the honor OF
holding with him on the 9Th of the same month, IN
Tie course II which MIR. de Sartiges had. IN kind
and friendly manner, informed Mr.. Crttenden,
who appeared to be ignorant of the fact OF the
character of the instructions issued by the govern.
inent of the republic TO the commanding oIhcer OF
the French station at Havana, as soon as II was
.kusWn in Paris that the first detachment of adj
venturers commanded By Lopez, which announced
itself az the advance guard of larger expedition,
had succeeded in getting oil to sea.
Notwithstanding the spirit OF kindness in which
that communication was made, MIR. Crittenden re-
served himself to point out, in writing If upon
Election he should deem il expedient, the cJnsidc
raons which il might give rise to- both in the mind
of the President and his own. MIR. de saTuges
thanks him for having done sos for while he sees, in
the note addressed to him, renewed assurances Of
the strongest sympathy on the part Of the Amerl-
can Government and OF the American people Tor
France and her government, he also hnds occasion
10 recall certain points OF his conversation which II
would appear were not at fret presented by HIM
with sufficient clearness. Mr.. de Sartiges had en-
deavored to establish, in distinct manner the TWO
following points: First, that the instructions 10
sued by the government OF The republic were spon-
taneous and Violated; secondly, that those nstruc
tons were exclusive, for exclusive case, and ap
phcable only to the class, and not TO the nauonall
ty of any pirate or adventurer that ahould attempt
TO land in arms on the shores Of a friendly power
He had added that the existing laws IN regard 10
the right of search-laws about which the suscep-
tibilities Of the French government are as iorcl-
by reused as those of the Government of the Uni
ted States-were neither directly nor indirectly al
ected by the order to repel violence BY forces since
the instructions which have been issued 70 the com
handing officer of the French station were only IN
tended TO apply to a OF piracy, the article OF
the maritime code in force concerning pirates. In
again asserting these two points categorlcaly, as
he now does the undersign ned thinks that he mas
raD al Of
President both regards the importance oil an
act agreed upon in advance on the part oil France
and England, and the Likelihood that me laws
which govern the right OF search Will be IN the least
affected He will add that the attitude assumed by
President Fillmore and by his Cabinet under these
lameutable circumstances, has been SO upfght that
the French government, 50 lar rom INTENDING 70
imply doubts, which did not exist, by the measures
il spontaneously adopted, il had on the contrary
reason believe that II would ind in those same
ATTITUDES the American squadron acting IN the same
spirit and pursuing u similar object. This consd-
Grafton must prevent any false construction tend
ing to give to this act OF the republican govern
ment the appearance of admonition or OF a re-
proach acitly addressed TO the Government OF the
United States, and never contemplated by the
French government
Mr.. de Sartiges begs to thank Mr. Crittenden
for having sent him the text of the law OF 1918, &C
tually in force, for preventing the crime OF armed
invasion Of territory belonging to any friendly
power. He is happy to find that the opinion OF the
representatives of the American nation is in honest
opposition to this species of aggressions, and that
Congress- has furnished the President with suth-
cient means to arrest them. These means, placed
in strong and able hands, and OF which the Presi-
dent openly declares that he will make an ener-
getic use, If, unfortunately the occasion for re-
sorting to them should again occur, become the
much more precious for the peace of the world, as
America is closely connected with Europe, being
only separated from the latter by distance
ly exceeding eight days journey, by one OF
the most important of general interests-the
interest of commerce. The nations OF Amerl-
ca and of Europe AT this day so dependant
upon one another, that the effects of any event,
prosperous or otherwise, happening on one side Of
the Atlantic, are Immediately felt the other side.
The undersigned finds, among other proofs, an
evidence of the interest which binds the Govern
ment OF the UnitedStates to the other governments
of the world In several passages OF the note OF Oc
tober Odd, wherein Mr.. Crittendep in appealing TO
the liberal ideas of France, intimates that the
tinuauce of those sentiments of confidence and fra
ternal sympathy which so happily unite the two
countries, is calculated TO make the of free
institutions in Europe prevail. The result of this
community Of interests, commercial, political, and
moral, between Europe aud America-of this fire.
quency and rapidity % intercourse between them,
is that it becomes as difficult to point the geo
graphical degree where American policy should
terminate, and European policy begin, as 1t Is TO
trace out the line where American commerce be-
gins and European commerce termlnates-where
may be said TO begin TO terminate the ideas
which are IN the ascendant in Europe and in
America.
lne undersigned has likewise enc nOrOr OF re-
ininding the Acting Secretary OF State that the ter
Tories belon ging to the various European powers,
either on the seas or on the American continent,
are considered by the States TO which they apper
tain constituting part Of the system of their
general policy, France has never admitted that
her possessions in the Antilles might enjoy any
other political rights than those which univer-
sally recognised in Europe it is the same with
England; the came with Spain in regard to their
American possessions. IL is in virtue of this prin
ciple OF common law, which power has yet
repudiated either on its own account or in behalf
oil its neighbors that the government of the repub-
lie has been able to show the interest 1t feels, il
has DONE for the security OF an island recognised
Spanish territory by treaties actually in force,
which security has been threatened in the midst OF
universal peace.
These general considerations do not prevent the
undersigned from acknowledging that the Interest
which country feels for another is naturally IN
creased by reason OF proximity; and bis govern.
inent, which understands the complicated nature
well the importance Of the relations existing
between the United States and Cuba, has seriously
considered the declaration formerly made by the
Government of the United States, and which has
been renewed on this occasion, "that that Govern
ment could not see with indifference the Island Of
Cuba pass from the hands of Spain into those OF
another European Stale" The French govern
ment il likewise of opinion that, in case ii should
comport with the interests Of Spain al some future
day 10 part with Cuba, the possession OF that island,
the protectorship OF the same, ought not to fall
upon any OF the great maritime powers Of the
world
The undersigned hopes that this frank declara-
zion, which he feels himself justified in making, in
regard TO the disinteresed views of his government
10 the future destiny of Cuba and which breathes
the same spirt that OF the declaration which the
United States Government made the subject,
and the categorical explanations he has given rela
tive the character OF the instructions exclusively
cent TO the French station at Havana, will pot an
end TO all the uncertainty which the late events
that beiell on the occasion Of Lopez's expedition
might have given rise TO in the mind OF the Presi-
dent and that his excellency will rest satisfied
10 the great value which the government Of the re
public attaches 10 the maintenance and develop
nent of thoee frank and sympathetic relations at
present existing between the two countries.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion
Go tender 10 the Acting Secretary of State the
RANGES of his high consideration.
SARTIGES.
MIR. CnITTEHDEN,
Acting Secretary OF State, &c.
The Secretary Of State 10 NJ. de Sdrtiges.
o..