Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-16
RECEPTION or TIE TRENCH MINIS
TER BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON.


The Marquis dc Montholon was introduced
Saturday to the President by the acting Sc
cretary Of State, and delivered his Creden-
tials as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
PlenipOtentiary from his Majesty the Empe-
TOR OF the French. The Marquis made the
remarks upon the occasion, of which the
following is a translation:
Mr.. President: | have the honor to place
in your hands the letters Of the Emperor Of
the French, which accredit me in the char
acter OF Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
PlenipOtenuary near your ENcellency.
II seek for what may have determined
his Imperial Majesty 10 give me this distin-
guiShed mark OF bis confidence, / can attri-
butte il only 10 the recollection OF the ties
which already attach me TO this country
The Dersonal relations which / have pre-
viouSly contracted in 1t, during a long So
iourn, and the SympathieS of which 1 am
proud 10 have received numerous proofs,
have made me appear, without douDt, better
prepared than anCtnrt, to serve as the in
terpreter Of the true sentiment which ami
mNeS the Imperial Government toward the
Government and people a. the United States.
In effect, glorious traditions, the inheIi-
tanCe whereof We maintain with pride, do
not permit that France should ever be in
different 70 the deStinicS Of this great Re
puolic. Immense interests, which every
day develOpe themselves more fully, will
draw together more and more closely this
noble and ancient alliance.
I am happy 10 bring hitler, on i solemn
occasion, the loyal and frank expression Of
the wishes which the EmpeI or, my august
Sovereign, forms for the complete reStora-
ton OF peace aud OF concord on the CONT
nent OF Americs. The whole of France par
ticipates M the same thought, aud will al.
WAYS Wow with satisfaction the consolidation
OF the prosperity and the greatness Of the
United States.
Animated by these sentiments or deep
sympathy with the American Union, their
Imperial NECESSITIES and France share equally,
with their whole heart, Ia the grief in which
the most atrOciOuS OF crimes has Just plung-
ed the Government and people of the Uni
ted States.
To which the President replied as follows {:
D. L Marquis dr NORttG0E cannot
forbear TO welcome, a. the diplomatic repre-
sentative Of France, a gentleman who claims
10 be so strongly attached 10 the United States
by those ties incident 10 family connection
and long previous official residence in this
country, TO which you so gracefully ailUde.
The intimacy with the head Of yOUr own
Government, which has resulted from we'll
known antecedeutS, cannot fell To impsTt,
perhaps, unusual confidence 10 YOUR repre-
sensations in respect 10 his purposes and
policy with reference to the United States.
The people Of this country have a tradi-
tioual regard for France, which was origin
ally 50 deeply planted, and has since Teen so
universally and warmly cherished that il must
continue 10 flourish and expand, unless it
should be checked by events most uncom-
mon, no. 90 De anticipated by ordinary fore
sight.
trust that the result of your mission
will ic to strengthen and perpeiuatc the
good understanding between cur two Gov
ernmeuts, and that perfect peace may be
restored un the American continent, pUrSu-
ant to those wishes Of your sovereign TO
which You refer.
offer You my hearty thanks for the SYM
patty which you express on behalf Of their
Imperial Maesties for the recent tragical
events 10 this metropolis.