The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-31
Our Relations with France.

OGt CUII ccpOGutut Nv w oohinAsAo b0ulo tlN0
since asserted that the Count de Sar.iges,
French Ainieter to Warrington, had employed
his coed Offices in endeavoring to bring ABOUT
8 reconciliation between the administration
and her Britannia Majesty'a late representa-
tive, Mr.. Champion. The statement is confirm
ed in letter to the New York organ of the
present French government which bears marks
Of having been inspired at the French lega-
ton.
The copntry is Hnder obligations to NJ. de
Sastiges for his efforts to preserve our coed
understanding with our neighbors; none the
less because II seems difficult to conceive what
can have been the principle Of those efforts, or
because they seem to have yielded such very
small fruit
At the same time, this may not he an inoppor-
tune moment to observe that more promising
fed for the employment OF II. de Ssrtiges
qualities as peacemaker appears to lie in the
natural course of his duties. The dispute with
Mr.. Champion will be settled, undoubtedly, to
the satisfaction of both countries, and that
without any of those terrible consequences
which the French Minister seemed to apprs-
hend; but it is not SO clear by any means tina.
the cloud Of questions which is rising up
between the United States and France eau
those questions are in themselves exceed
ingly knotty and others exceedingly ridi-
calous. And N. de Sartiges ought to be
aware that the spirit of at least one of the
parties to them is not such as to encourage
very sanguine hopes of an early solution on
pacific basis.
1t is, to speak plainly, very generally kucEn
or believed that the feelings of the French
Emperor toward this country are anything
hat as friendly as our past relations with
France would justify. II is understood that
he still resents the supposed insult offered to
one of his frigates by French exiIes, wno sang
the Marseillaise" around it, in this harbor,
and for which he applied vainly to kr. Mason
for repair alton. II is well known that the late
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, NJ. Drcuyn de
l'Huys, observed frankly to Mr.. Piatt late Sc
cretsry Of the American Leg alton at Paris, that
"peace with the United States WAS more dan ger
ous to France than war"-hinhng, not obscure
~ po0e - al Oppoltuu4Vy OuCAC0, VIC EoNCAh.
nent CT France would pursue that course which
appeared to involve least danger for itself.
And it is quite notorious that the American
military commission were refused permission
to Inspect the important French Notifications,
On the express avowed ground that the pros
poets of hostilities with America were too i'm
minent to render such an inspection prudent
or safe. This was the language of Marshal
Valiant, the present French Minister of War,
who it ia said, closed the interview with per-
feet politeness, by bidding the American off
GERS adieu till they "met again at the cannon's
mouth
Indications like these, coming from so pro-
verbally discreet a sovereign as the present
Emperor of the French, are not by any means
to be overlooked. 1t is true, as NJ. Drouyn de
Hugs said, that the United States are dan
eerous to hereditary despotic governments;
and there is no question but they will grow
more dangerous from year to year, as inter-
course and travel increase, and the success OF
republican institutions in this country becomes
more generally known. Nor is it to be doubt
ed that, in the present position Of the Emperor
of the French, period of perfect tranquility
would be very likely to stir up political trou-
bles which might precipitate the revolution
that may one day be destined 70 subvert his
dynasty.
On the other hand, the United States have
grave reason to complain of the regulations
which harass American shipping in French
ports. It is an actual fact that our vessels
have contributed largely to support a material
branch Of the French administration, and thai
latterly, the impost upon them has been largely
Increased. The inequality at present existing
between French and American vessels ia
French ports is now SO marked that were the
French as good sailors as they are soldiers We
could not compete with them in the trade
between America and France. This is no.
right. II las been borno for many years
with this country in the hope that some
more sagacious administration than those
with which we have had to deal would gain
power and remedy the grievance; but the
present Emperor, embarrassed as the war has
left him, is aggravating it.
This country would sustain retaliatory mea
snres OF most stringent character, if we had
an administration with the nerve to propose
them. French ships might either be especially
loaded with taxes in American ports; or, and
this would be the better plan by far, the trade
with France might be suspended Tor while
A brief embargo would very soon bring the
French government 10 their senses; and would
secure for us safe and profitable trade on
fair terms thereafter. 1t would be measure
Of severity; and In the present frame of mind
Of the French Emperor, it might possibly leai
to trouble: but it is not the usual policy of
this country to suffer injustice from vague
fear Of consequences. Mr.. Pierce, of course,
will not recover from the agony consequent
upon the CHAMPION affair in time to attend to
this; but 1t will engage the attention of his
successor. And if N. de Sartiges be still Min
lister to Washington, he will then have an Cd