The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-04

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.v of rules and regulations to put down the atrocities
n which We had 80 long complained,-Doc 100, p
20 T1,at this decree Intended for the relief OF
,m.ueans commerce we Know from letter addressed
NM IsllsyrsDd 10 MI sssHy, dated Apgust ., l79s,
Is WHICH he ooamaassied Toe iosegons decree 10 that
Sa,as in particular 10 every Misunderstanding 10
dissuDesr between them and The French repsble."
ON hs 9Th Of the laonh, M Talleyrand wrote 10
Mr. Sspwith our consul general al Pans, inviting al
on 10 the same decree. and then observes .'You will
.ss beyond doubi, IN the intentions and acts OF the
Drectory motive 10 effect the commercial security OF
onr fellow citizens long II shall be kept within
~, limits" SO that clearly the object of the decree was
~ concia,e the United States and thai, 100, after we
haJ adopted several OF the very measures which il is
"nY sai placed Us al war with france.
Tbe next step taken by the French COVE eminent was 10
direct he discharge OF the crews OF American embargoed
s.ssls by a circular addressed by the Minister of Ma
dne the agents o matte al he pofs OF Inc republic,
hated August 49, 1875. Ia lhls circular hnd the follow
ihg
remark citizen by me eoresponienee Of the greater part
no S aS q st NS S ns
ons Of have beeni undeood BY The adoption of
that 6l place. eompromts The safety Of those
sells and second seems u place US in hostile attitude against
me tinted states when the contrary the
republics. "-Doc lo2, ., 54s
\, that France had idea of being involved in war
win the United States at that date.
On the s,h OF the same month the minister ad
dressed circular 10 the plncipa officers, civil and mill
sry of the pors conceived in The kind and friendly
spirit in which ne says;
Our political situation regard the United States citizen
not having undergone this day change might
influence upon attentions nations think u,
bring your recoliecon that no attempt should be
the security and liberty Of persons composing Etais
and he is oryss
and other citizens of United
ga.ce the n'eeions of respect
asd hereof justice to The demand
their validity DOC l02, p. SAB
On the 2O.h M. Talleyrand communicated these cir
culars to consul general. and remarked that their
contents will prove to you the intention of the govern
inent to remedy the abuses committed against It's inen-
tons. Doc. 102, p. $40. 9H
But step much more important was taken by France
the 10Th OF August. when the Directory, bya decree.
raised the embargo which had been laid on American
vessels This decree expresses fully what the
real policy France had decided TO pursue towards the
United States, that deem it material to produce it entire
II was as follows:
The Directory considering that, the
hostile manifestations oftbe States which
have occaoaed documentary embargo upon their vessels
cabinet that government faithful to the interests
s % a e. s ~
and wishing to pursue the friendly and fIatenaI habits OF
lows
Art "The embargo laid upon American shall be i'm
ARR and of the Colonies. is charged
with Of the decree, which shall not Be
printed"
France was then pursuing pacific line Of policy
towards the United States on the 10Th OF August 7aS.
wal cAis'cu a. tHdt very according 10 the
'ory OF those who want to get rid of these spoliaon
claims.
But more conclusive evidence on this point will be
found IN truly able and highly interesting letter from
raley rand the Minister OF Justice dated Ms late a.
the 18th of December. l7o9 in which he discussed al
considerable length the validity OF the celebrated decree
oi the role dequpage which had proved destructive
10 American commerce, and inlicales strong opinion
against it. In speaking of the decree lie inquiries :" il
not manifest nienou 10 hui inrhgers everywhere ~
and then adds:
A
obligation regulations Then
mex must have opened those regulations and CONFIRMED
aday. they would be condemned for so haviag done
forwards was confessed not 10 EXIST
lie concludes his letter with The following significant
remarks:
"This is dear colleague, the consider the
question shall add that J, the Dnec-
tssn prevent hostile combinations Se,ee ana an ss
@ i would be polite 10 support the new dcu raised by
rvatesrs which, csnsecaed land could
~ and by no means AFTER the spirit the
United general disconten hitherto the greatest
and could say The only force Of the American
Here we have a perfect key TO the entire policy OF
France towards the United States while the defensive
measures authorized by Congress in full operation
IL will be Tecoleced thai the letter written more
than eighteen months after the annnmen, of the treaties
and after Congress bad authorized the public vessels Of
the United States TO attack and capture he armed vessels
OF France. During that period, says NJ Taleyrand, in
wards the United States " 10 prevent hostile conbina
tons" between them and Eng land and then he adds
IS not al the moment when the Directory expecting
reap the fruits OF that policy that would be polite 10
support the preensions OF prvaeers under the decree
OF The roe fe9upogs, contrary to the spirit OF the laws
and treaties, which would occasion numbers OF con.
h-caons, and the United States general dis
content Does this look like war, anything approach.
Ing ~
In the letter Of the French ministers 10 the American
ENJOYS Ellsworth, Dave, and Murray, under date OF
August H. 1900 lind the following passage pertinent
The question am now discussing
In the place, upon principle already
down IN their former mott, yx that the which
MOI have broken them tina, which
pes existed for time between France United
.rnmsns, Of war al ea-, on the side
France'-Doc. loa, p. GIG.
In subsequent part Of the same letter they use Ian
guage IN some degree conflicting with this 10 which the
minority report refers TO prove that in the opinion Of the
French government did exist | understand those
remarks to apply only TO hypothetical case but il other
WISE the two paris are utterly inconsistent The latter
END oil the letter "iorgot the beginning
But that the views Of the French government as to The
relations OF The two countries in reality such as
represent can be shown concusivey from the report oil
Mr. Roderer TO the Corps Legs.,f dated November 20
isol, already referred to, IN which he says:
"s ss.u the rep~bic xnv- rise To and excite,
some Irritation The o the United disturbed
french pnyaeeu several captures 70 their injury followed h
ted States sroneraed from hs treaties h,A united them Franc,
y soss on he,r relation. WITH her they granted letters q
e vessel. Of the two nation. soon announced that tn
Such thing. American nesosor
ve Paris led hher by the desire and the hope Of
Then the American negotators went TO Paris 10 pre-
vent a var-no to close which had been raging neal
two years