The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-27

out interest in satisfaction of all that shall b.
established
The United States diligently pro secuted the
claims from 1893 to 1900, but France did not
SO long remain mere respondent
Edmund G. Genet, her minister, claimed, and
actuGly assumed to fit out pryateers in Amer-
can ports to cruise against British vessels. Un-
der the 22d article Of the Treaty of Amty and
Commerce, he demanded what in fact, were ad
mralty powers, for French consuls in American
ports, by virtue Of article 9Th of the Consular
Convention; while, under color Of the 18th nv
ticle Of the Treaty Of Amty and Commerce, he
insisted that French vessels had right to sell
their prizes free from all duties in American
ports; and, finally, he complained that British
ships were permitted TO take French goods out
OF American vessels, while reciprocal right
was denied to the French marine. All these
complaints however, were disallowed, upon
grounds which will not now be questioned
| Nor were the relations between the United
States and Great Britain less disturbed Besides
having offended earlier and more fagrantly than
France against our neutrality, Great Britain still,
| in violation Of the treaty of Independence,
held the military posts on our Western from
| tiers, and, through them, the control of the dis
affected Indian tribes nor did she seem unwil-
ling, amidst our domestic distractions to pro-
woke new trial of our ability to maintain the
Independence she had so reluctantly confessed
While John Jay opened negotiations with Great
Britain, at London. james Monroe, at Paris, as
sured the French Directory that Mr.. Jays OBJ
ject was to obtain compensation for spo|iations,
with an immediate restitution of the We tern
posts; and that he was positively forbidden
from weakening the engagements existing be
tween the United States and France These
assurances were efectual. Early in 1875, the
French Directory decreed that the treaty Of
Amity and Commerce should thenceforth be
strictly observed and provided for indemnifyina
those who had suffered by the embargo at Bor-
deaux and Mr.. Monroe began despatch with
announcing that satisfactory arrangement of
the claims for spOliations was at hand. But he
closed the communication with statement that
the ground thus happily gained had been sud
denly lost, by reason of rumorcd stipulations
injurious to France in the British treaty Just then
signed at London.
cloud of political mystery gathered upon
this compact from the day of its execution, the
! 18th Of November 1874, until it was finally pro-
mulgated on the 9th of May, 1896 France
complained of this concealment as disnrenu
Gus and she ever afterwards maintained that
the United States had not merely violated their
engagements with her, but had even abandoned
also, their professed neutrality. by reinqnshi u
the principle that free ships made free goods
and by giving to England too favorable stand
ard of contraband She therefore pursued her
depredations more recklessly than before, and
with the ayowed purpose Of compelling the
United States to break their new engagement
with Great Britain, her ancient and most invete-
rate enemy.
Mr. Monroe was replaced by Charles Cotes
worth Pinckney, but France now refused to re-
ceive or recognize Minister A new and an-
gust commission was constituted, consisting of
Mr.. Pnckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge
Gerry, who, after enduring many insults and
battling many intrigues, returned to the United
States. The United States, experimenting war
with not only France, but Great Britain also
laid the foundations of their present systems of
military and naval defence and the controversy
with the former power ripened into resistance,
reprisal, and retaliation.
After two years had thus pissed, and the
French directory had consented to negotiate
Oliver Ellsworth, William r. Davie, and VIM
Vans Murray, proceeded to Paris as ambassadors
They found France just entering the fourth act
| Of the drama of her revolution the consulate Of
the youthful conqueror ofltaly. The American
ministers demanded indemnites for the spolia-
tons, as a sue qua non. The French ministers,
at whose heal was Joseph Ronaparte, readily
yielded this conditions, but insisted at the same
| time on a recognition and renewal of the an.
cieDt treaties, with national damages for the vio-
laiion of them, az a SINE qua non on their part
| The Americans, declining in every case to con
tinue the ancient treaties, proposed to purchase
exemption from their most embarrassing stipu.
lations. They offered ten millions of francs for
a release, from'the article of guarantee and three
millions Of francs for reduction Of the privil
| s.I - IL
the treaty of commerce, to such rs were allowed
| by the United States to the most favored ma
ton. France rejected all such overtures and
the commissioners, respectively receding from
their extreme demands, concluded an accommo.
dation by which the United States received com
pensaton for the plumber of vessels not vet con.
demned, together with payment of the claims
| founded upon contracts, also satisfactory de-
signaton of ARTICLES contraband of war. The
| claims for spOations in cases where condemna-
ton had already passed, the original sine oua
non on our part, together with the reciprocal
claims of France for indemnities, and for a re-
cognion and renewal of the ancient treaties.
the original sine qua non on the part of France,
were reserved by the following article:
"Art. 2 The ministers plenipotentiary of the
two parties not being able to agree at present
respecting the treaty Of alliance of the 9th Of
FEBRUARY, i'io, the treaty OF amty and com
merce of the same date, and the convention of
the lIth of November. 1888, nor upon the in
IDENTITIES mutually due or claimed the parties
will negotia further on those subjects ut con
venient time and until they may have agreed
upon these points, the said treaties and con
ventons shall have no operation, and the rela-
tons of the two countries shall be regulated as
follows"
The United States amended the new som
pact by striking out this second article alto.
gether, and by adding new one which limited
its duration to eight years.
Bonaparte, first consul, accepted the amend
ments, with an explanation, in these words:
" Provided, That by this refrenchmen, the
two States renounce their respective pretensions
which are the objects of the said (second) ar
ticle"
The United States assented, and the compact
was ratiisd as thus mutually amend ed.
This Is the convention of 1900. The pre-