Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14

were oppressive and dangerous neutral Power
In the darkest hour of revolution, and in extrem
need France had sent and money and ships and
munitions Of war to support-perhaps not SO much
from love of newborn principle of government as
from wish to cripple her ancient and nyeterate foe On
the 9th of February, 1778 treaty of amity and COM
merce and the day treaty OF alliance were en-
tered into in which, by article llth, guaranteed TO
France forever her then existing possessions in North
America and such she might subsequently acquire
And the 14th day of November, l77S Consular con-
venon concluded by the 18th article of which the
United States yielded up to France all civil and maritime
control her armed vessels and their prizes in our
ports
These treaty stpulatons, granted to ally in the
hour Of weakness and in gratitude for her timely aid in
struggle for freedom, would practically have involved
us not only in the bloody contest which followed her
voluton but also in the protracted wars which, with
short intermission, ended only in the peace Of 1876
The warm sympsthiss Of the American people were
strongly enlisted n the Of their friend and ally
and natural hope that example had impressed itself
upon the nations Of the earth outburs Of popu
lar feeling which seemed ready for conflict with all the
despots of the world.
The King of France friend had been taken to the
bock and yet unrestraed love Of liberty had caused
much sympathy with his executioners Anunhoy combna
ton forming against this young Republic of France
under the lead of her ancient enemy and twenyseyen
treaties of alliance, offensive and defensive had been
formed smother and crush the rpening liberties of that
volatile but mighty nation.
In this delicate and dangerous position we were placed
when calm and dspassonate counses necessary to
guide in the true Of peace honor and of
better was IL that mighty nation should
preserve her freedom and the happiness of her people,
than that two should commng their destnes and leave
the world without example Of free Government and al
most without o hope for the future.
Thus and then it when Washington issued his pro-
clamaton of neutrality, and placed country in that
proud position amongst the nations of the earth which
been fully and noby sustained In his cabinet council
it was decided receive minister from France thus
recognising the true policy of country, which should
be departed FROM that Government de ao is the
only one recognise with the internal affairs of
others we should not intermnge:
"Whereas it appears that exists between Austria,
Prussia Sardinia Great Britain and the United Netherlands
the part and France the other and the duty and
interest of the United States require that they should with
sincerity and good faith adopt and conduct friendly
and impartial towards the beigerent Powers have there
fore thought fit by these presents declare the disposition
the United States observe the conduct aforesaid towards
these Powers respectively and to exhor and the citizens
the United States carefully avoid all acts and proceed
ngs whatsoever which any tend to conrovert
such dispositions And do hereby also make known that
whosoever Of the citizens Of the United States shall render
himself liable to the punishment forfeiture under the laws
of nations by committing aiding abetng hostes against
of the said Powers by carrying to Of them those
articles which deemed contrabond by the modern @
nations will not receive the protection of the United States
against such punishment forfeiture and further that have
given instructions to those officers to whom belongs
prosecutions to be instituted against all who SHALL
within the cognznnce of the of the United States vio
late the laws of nations with respect to the Powers at
Done, 4c GEO WASHINGTON
"By the President: TH JEFFERSON"
Marshal in his Life of Washington speaking of this
proclamation, says:
This measure derives importance the consideration
that the of that system to which the
American Government afterwards nhexb adhered and TO
which much of the national prosperity to be ascribed
The Republic of France indignant; but our own
self-respec and due regard to safety, forced
incur that indignation, lest the newborn insttu
tions under which giving TO the world
that was capable of sefgovemment, and dared to
be just to all should be endangered by mnglng in the
relentless contentious of Europe.
For that firm neutrality commerce was despoied
atione and inn
mense amount 1ndignities cast upon US until the
patience Of free people could endure them longer
Reprisas made upon the public and private armed
vessels of France and the 7h of July, 179S Con-
gress enacted follows
The United States Of right freed and exoneated from
the stipulation Of the treaties and Of the Consular convention
heretofore concluded between the United States and France
and the shall henceort be regarded obligatory
the Government citizens of the United States"
Negotiations entered into between both countries
which at times Of highly excited character, and
fortunately ended in the convention Of 1900 We receiv
ed from France full surrender of those and OPP
pressive treaty stpulaons and guarantees, which, If
continued would have made party to her wars; and
the United States in consideration Of this acquttance
from treaty obligations, surrendered to France the just
claims Of merchants for spolations upon their
merce and their property This is distinctly stated by
Ad in his report made to the Trbunes on the 4th of
December 1901.
The tardy justice of Government has yet made no
remuneration to the suffering claimants for spoiatons
thus surrendered They have been begging your doors
for more than thirty for simple justice hope it
may no longer be delayed Let your suffering ct-
feed at board of plenty before the stranger
ters and is filed with abundance Be just before
are prodigally generous
i Mr.. President, hope may be pardoned for this di-
geson In searching into the earlier history Of faith
and policy could not be indifferent to the claims Of
those citizens who denied the protection Of their
Government, and whose property when despoiled was
made equivalent for relief from the national gua
rantees TO France
Mr.. President the policy of our Government, thus
settled by Washington has been confirmed and rearmed
by succeeding that day. and
hardly be obterated from the faith of either Of the
great parties of the country.
jefferson, the founder Of the true Democracy, in his
Il third annual message, says:
Separated wide from the nations Of Europe and
from the political interests which entange them together with
producons which render and friend
ship useful them and theirs cannot be the interest
Of TO assa TO disturb them We should be
indeed away the singular bless
ngs of the position in which nature has placed the oppor
tunity she mas endowed with Of pursuing at distance from
forer contentious the paths Of industry peace and happ
Of cutvang general friendship and OF bringing coll
on ef interest to the umprage OF rather than Of
force Now desirable, then, must be- in Government like
its citizens adopt individually the views, the nte
vesng themselves Of those passions and parae which tend
TO lessen useful friendships and TO embarrass and embrei
in the calsmatous Of Europe"
Mr.. Monroe, who at the helm at the only pexiod
of political millennium, in bis third annual message,
says
at Of The highest importance national character
aud Indispensable 70 The morality Of cifze that all viola
be open the evasion Of laws opportunity s
forded he disposed take advantage Of 10
compromt the Of the nation. IL is submit
ted therefore, the consideration Of Congress whether may