Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-08

The undersigned will add, that all experience seems
TO prove that the rights, interests and peace of the
continents OF Europe and America will be best pre-
served by the fobeaanee OF each to interfere in the
affairs of the other. The Government OF the United
States has constantly acted on that principle, and has
never intermeddled in European questions.
The President has deemed it proper to the occasion
that his views should be thus fully and frankly presen
ted Tor the friendly consideration of Nj. de Sariges
and his Government order that all possible precau
ton may be used 10 avert any misunderstanding and
every cause or consequence that might disturb The
peace, or ALLEVIATE In the least the sentiments OF conf
dence and friendship which bind together the
public OF the United States and France.
The undersigned avals himself OF this occasion TO
otter 10 M de Saruges the assurances OF his cry dis
u. CRlTTENDEN.
N. de Sartigesto the Acting Secretary of State
[TRANsLATED.l
FRENCH LEGATION IN THE y. STATES
WASHINGTON, Oct ~, 1851. {
The undersigned, Minister OF France, has received
the note dated 22d October which the Actng Secrs-
tary OF State addessed him subsequently to the con-
versatiou he had the honor of holding with him on
the 10th OF the month, in the course of which
NJ de Sartges had, in kind aud friendly manner in
formed Mr.. Crenden, who appeared to be ignorant of
the fact OF the character OF the instructions issued by
the Government Of the Republic to the commanding
officer OF the French station Havana, soon as il
was known in Paris that the first detachment of adj
venturers, commanded by Lopez which announced
Itself as the advance ard OF larger expedition, had
SUGGESTED IN getting OFT to sea.
NOTWITHSTANDING The spirit oil kindness which that
communication made, Mr.. Crttenden reserved
himself to point out, 10 writing if upon reflection he
should deem 1t expedien the onsderations which
might give rise to, both in the mind OF the President
and his own. M. de Sartlges thanks him or having
done so, for while be sees, in The note addressed to
him renewed assurances OF the strongest sympathy
the part OF the American Government, and OF the
American people, for France and her Government, he
also hnds occasion TO recall certain points of his con.
yersaon which would appear were not at first pre-.
seuted by him with sufficient clearness. M de Sar.
tlUeS had eodaaVnrpd establish a
The two following points first that the Instructions
is ed by the Government OF the Republic were spon-
tan Gus and isolaed secondly, that those instruc.
ions were exclusive tor exclusive case, and appca-
e only to the class, and not TO the nationality of any
pirate or advenQrer that should attempt land in arms
on h3 shores OF friendly Power. He had added
that the existing laws in regard The right of search
laws about which the suscepibies Of the French
Government are as lorcbly reused as those of the
Government OF the United S;ates-were neither
directly indirectly affected by the order 10
repel violence by force since the instructions which
have been issued 10 the commanding officer of the
r ench station were only intended to apply case
OF piracy, the article OF the maritime code n force con-
corning pirates. In again asserting these two points
caegorcay, as he now does, the undersigned thinks
that he has removed all OF prejudice on the part
OF the resident, both regards the importance of an
act agreed upon in advance The part of France and
gland, and the likelihood that the laws which gov.
the right o.. search will be in the least affected
he will add that the attitude assumed by President
Fillmore and by his Cabinet, under these lamefHa Bile
circumstances, has been so upright that the French
Government Sd tar from intending to imply doubts
which did not exist, by the il spon aneousy
adopted, it had, the contrary, believe that
1t would find IN those same latitudes The American
squadron acting IN the same spirit and pursuing SINH
lar object. This consideration must prevent any false
construction tending give this OF the Republi-
can Government the appearance OF an admonition or
OF reproach tacitly address ed the Government O.
the UIlted States, and never contemplated by the
French Government.
M de Sartiges begsto thank Mr.. Criitendsn for
having sent HIM the text of the law Of 1873 actually
IN force Tor preventing the crime of invasion OF
territory belonging TO friendly Power He is hap.
py that to ind the OPT OF the aiives OF the
American natonis in honest opposition this specee
of aggression and that Congress has furnished the Pres
hdent with sufficient means to arrest them These means
placed 10 strong and able hands, and OF which the
President openly declares that he will make an ener-
gstic use, unfortunately, the occasion for resornp
TO them should again occur, become the much more
precious tor the peace of the world, as America ia
closely connected with Europe, being only separated
from the latter by distance scarcely exceeding egh,
days journey by one OF the most important of general
lnteress-the interest OF commence The nations of
America and OF Europe are at this day so dependent
upon another that the effects of any event. prosper
GUS or otherwise, happening one side of the At
lanlc, are Immediately felt on the other side. The
IN terslgned finds among other proofs, an evidence of
the interest which binds the Government Of The Uni.
ted States to ths other Governments of the world in
several passages OF the note OF October 22d wherein
Mr. Crtenden, in appealing to the liberal ideas of
France, ntmaes that the continuance of those senti.
meats OF confidence and raterna sympathy which
SO happily unite the two countries, is calculated to
make the cause OF free institutions in Europe
prevail The result Of this community of interests
commercial, political, and moral between Europe and
Americaof this frequency and rapidly OF intercourse
between them is, that it becomes difficult TO point
out the geographical degree where Amer can policy
should terminate and European policy begin, as it is
10 trace out The line where American commerce begins
and European commerce terminates-where may be
said to begin or to terminate the ideas which in
the ascendant in Europe and in America
The undersigned has likewise the honor of remind
ing the acting Secretary of State that the territories be-
longing to the various European Powers. either on the
seas or on the American continent, are considered by
the States to which they apperain 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
universally recognized in Europe; it is the same
with Engand lhe same with Spain 10 regard TO their
American possessions 1t is in virtue of this principle
OF common law, which no Power has yet repudla-
ea' elher on rs own account or 10 behalf OF It's neigh
bors hat the Government of the Republic has been
able to show the interest it feels, 1t has done, Tor the
security OF an stand recognized as 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 ncreas
ed by reason of proximity; and his Government,
which understands The complicated nature well
the importance OF The relations existing between the
Dnlted 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, sth3t that Government could not see wti
indifference the Island of Cuba pass from the hands
OF Spain into those Of another European State" The
ffepcn COY ernment Is likewise OF opinion that, IN
case it should comPor with the Interests OF Spain
some future day TO part with Cuba, the possession of
that island, or the protecorshp of the same ought
to fall upon any OF the great maritime Powers of
the world,
The undersigned hops thar this frank declaration
which he feels himself justified in making in regard
the dsnteresed views of this Government as 10 the
future destiny OF Cuba, and which brealhes the some
spirit that of the declaration which the United States
Government made the subject, and categorical ex-
plantations he has given relative to the character Of
the nStueUOnS exclusively the French station
at Havana, will put end all the uncertainty which
the la events that beel Or the occasion of Lopez's
expedition, might have given rise to in the mind ofthe
President and that his Exceleney will rest satisfied as