The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-07

had been received by Louis XVI, he apuou1ced
his acceptance Of it 10 the several nations, and
with very different results. It reused Ill the
moDarchies Of Europe, sooner or later, ta 4
mighty and combined effort for the extipgpiah-
ment Of the popular cause in France, a = nscee-
sary measure OF security to the ancient syulsh.
On the contrary, the President of the 0nfAnA
States transmitted the virtuous but irresolute
Kings letter to Congress
The House of Representatives, in their reply,
assured him of their sincere participation in
the interest of the French nation on that great
and important event, and of their wish that the
wisdom and magnanmity displayed in the
formation and acceptance Of the Constitution
might be rewarded by the most perfect attain
ment Of its object--the permanent happiness Of
SO great people" This, sir, was the first sal
utalon to republicanism in Europe by the gov
eminent of the United States, and it was, in
effect, protest against armed Intervention than
organized beyond the Rhine. Sardinia and
Austria, on the other hand, entered Immediately
into treaty, and were soon afterwards followed
by Russia, the Netherlands and Great Britain
and thus was established the first combination,
under the name of the allied powers, to oppose
by force the principles Of the American reyolu-
ton. TO establish this point, it is necessary to
refer only to Wheaton's History of the Law Of
Nations. cit was an armed Intervention to re-
store the ancient order of things in France aud
against the principles of the French revolution,
deemed to be of dangerous example and con-
tagious Influence on the neighboring mon.
arches"
On the 22d of April, l794, when France had
adopted the republican system, and had driven
beyond her borders the allied powers who had
entered them to vindicate the cause of the de-.
posed and executed monarch, the committee of
safety, exercising the executive functions of the
state, announced by letter to our Congress that
ga national government had been born in
France, and with it victory; that internal order
had been restored, and that the conspirators
against the republic had fallen )" and they de-
clared their desire to "draw closer than ever
the bonds of friendship which united the French
nation and the United States" The Senate, in
reply, assured the committee of safety of their
+" friendship and good will for the French repub-
lic," and the House Of Representatives declared
themselves duly impressed by the friendly and
affectionate manner in which they had been ad
dressed" and rendered an unQuiuocal assu-
rance that the representatives of the people of
the United States had much interest in the hap.
piness and prosperity of the French republic"
The question of CHASER political alliance, and
of more intimate artificial ties with France, thus
presented formally by the committee Of safety,
was urged upon Washington with discourtesy
and vehemence by agents of that nation. He
met it promptly, and denied it emphaticay, by
the proclamation of September, 1854, in which
he declared that, in compliance with duty and
interest, the United States would assume and
maintain neutral attitude in the war then
raging in Europe. Disappointed as France was,
the convention of that republic, nevertheless,
within six months afterwards, ordered the Amer
90 TO 1o lie, L \ e
principles in the hall of their debates and re-
ceived it, when presented for that purpose by
the American minister, with enthusiastic demon.
STATIONS of respect and fraternal affection
towards the American people.
Sixteen months after the date of the procla-
nation, and while it continued to regulate the
action of the government, Washington received
the French minister, Adet, with letter from the
committee of safety, and the tricolored standard
of the French republic, on the first day of the
new year-a day specially appointed, because it
was day of general JOY and congratulation.
The committee by that letter informed the
United States that they had received assurances
of sympathy, which had been given to them by
the American minister in Paris, with rapture,
and added that they were well aware that the
United States truly understood that the victories
of the French strengthened their own indepen-
dence and happiness. Washington replied, that
his anxious recolections, his sympathetic feel
ngs, and his best wishes, were irresistibly ex-
cited whenever he saw in any country an OPP
pressed nation unfurl the banner of freedom;
and that, above all, the events of the French
revolution had produced in him the deepest So
licitude, as well as the highest admiration"
Rising into tone of earnestness and enthusi-
asm, unusual with that seemingly imperturbable
magistrate, he added:
81 rejoice that the interesting revolutionary
movements of so many years have issued in the
formation of n constitution designed to give
permanency to the great object for which you
have contended. Irejoce that Hbertn of which
you have been the nvariable defenders, now
finds an asylum in The bosom of n regularly or
gained government--a government which, be-
ing formed TO secure the happiness Of the French
people, corresponds with the ardent wishes Of
my heart, while it gratifcs the pride of every
citizen of the United States by its resemblance
to their own. May the friendship of the two
republics be commensurate with their exist
ence.'
The Senate on That occasion declared that
they "united with Washington in all the feel
ings he had 30 arden!ly and 30 sublimely ex-
pressed" The scene in the House of Repre-
sentatlves was among the most inspiring ever
eAhlolted III the natal nails oil American lnde-
pendence. On taking the chair, the Speaker an
nounced to the House that they would receive
communication which would excite the most
pleasing satisfaction in every American heart,
and cautioned the representatives and the PEG.
pie in attendance to confine the fervor of their
enthusiasm within the restraints of propriety and
dignity Washngton's message was read the
colors of the French nation were received and
unfnrled, the letter Of the committe of safety
was submitted and considered, and thereupon
the representatives unanimously resolved, amid
accamations in and around the chamber, that
they received the communication of France
with sincere and lively sensibility and that they
deemed the presentation. of the colors of the
French republic most honorable testimony of
the existing sympathy and affections of the two
republics, founded on their solid and reciprocal
interests and that they rejoiccd in the opportu.
nifty OF congraulating the French republic on