Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-31

irst collecting the most exact information with ref
ence 10 the enterprise.
d" / avail myself sir. Of this occasion to assure
YOU Of my distinguished consideration.
HENRY MERCER
" Mr. Ellis, President &c, Richmond"
Those who have read the abstract of CORES
Pondenee, furnished by US yesterday, will not
fail to remark that the official endorsatiOn here
given is continued to the present time by the
Marquis DE MONTHOLoN, now the Minister at
Washington, and NJ. PAUL, Consul at Kich-
mond, acting under renewed instructions from
their Government.I
Other documents follow, showing that the
French company, through NJ. ERNEST BELLoT
DIS NIS1EREs. continued to write during the
war. asserting their claim and declaring their
nurpose TO execute the contract whenever The
condition of the country admitted of it. Then
| allows letter from the same gentlemen to
| Monsieur PAUL, dated Bordeaux, April 18th,
| lS65. in which he calls upon that official "to
intervene, as soon as possible, with the civil
3. or military authorities Of the United States,
% SO as to protect our Ithe French company'Sl
rights Of property and other rights in the
canal" The letter contains the following
significant passage
The French government you know, has never
aasad IN y its support 10 the affair OF the canal
The war alone, and that BY sentiment OF neutrality
-a-y % De understood, has prevented tue govern
up1t from maniiestng its support by acts OF mgher
confidence. for If this affair is Of great interest To
nr-.t IN rNna -
n the foreign interests OF their subjects Is strictly
obligatory ON all governments; but IN this case the
,bligation, upon the government Is much stronger,
since its support has been officially pledged. In
august 1860 a despatch referring 40 the canal SAID,
lie moral support Ot his MIiesty'S government was
sven 10 us On the 81 OF November despatch OF
It's ENcellehcy the Minister Of Commerce said ia
cfrrrnce tO our undertaking another American
work that we had gained fresh claims 70 the sup
r,rt of the Emperor government HIS ENcelichcy,
Inc Minister of Foreign Affairs endorsed the opinions
Of the Minister of Commerce, IN despatch oil The
18th of the same month. Sixteen other dispatches,
ministeral) prom g. support and interest oil the
french gOyerum . .Jr American Affairs. II we
were despoed, 10 would not Only be gross wrong,
out interests OF She hughes, order would be cOmprO-
ni-ed 40 the same time; for you know how lmpOr-
ant this naviglble route is 70 our commerce ana
industry laying aside all political eonSide rations'
The 10Th of the same month april, 1861
VI. BgLLor DIES MlNIERES writes again to NJ.
PAUL, as follows
Peace having returned, we take
Exactly the sane position we had AT the commence
nept of the war We can count On the same help
rom the government, and from the people who are
Interested in the business. Those who protect US
and perceive in our great American work the means
81 adding 10 our national commerce and industry,
Increase every day in power and numbers
We desire to execute, and We can execute the
work. Notwithstanding most OF the European man
,iers believe that America is ruined Tor long tllne
to come. We nave however
sufficient reliance, financial and political, French
and foreign, to complete such work as the canal.
But il is necessary that Virginia should cOnsder our
liicuties-and they are great. With the loss oil ITS
military prestige the South, IN the eyes oil Europe
loses its commercial prestige. Many people VINO DO
not understand the subject believe that the south
viii become a farm OF the North, but farm in which
the want of labor and the absence OF security and
tranquility. will cause the products obtained TO be
small aud doubtful The friends OF the canal should
Namne this question with the degree OF attention II
requires and not lightly injure themselves by MUIR
ug or embarrassing Us, 10y restrictions ana want
10 confidence which have no more reason than prac-
,ical usefulness. See Mr.. Ellis | pray You. have
not time 90 write % him 10y thsmdIl. We can help
Id develop the business OF the canal with much oil The
financial and commercial strength OF our country
he Greatness OF which YOU understand. We can
count If not ON ALL at least the majority OF those,
n France who are intelligent patriots, powerful IN
money in talent, and social position. we can
count on the aid of the Chamber OF Commerce, oil
t,eurru Revenues. Ports, Industry, &c. These ele-
meuts. even taken alone, and laying aside the ac-
ton of the government, (Which, however, is ouIs, Sc
cured hy an energy, devotion, and true patriotism
ufNhich We have given many proois) are colossal
powers in a financial point OF view
Upon these letters Mr.. ELLIS remarks-"l
would call the attention of the committee to
the pointed terms in which NJ. DE BElLor
reminds the Consul Of the support accorded
e. to this scheme by the Government of the En-
. pcror, and the favorable opinion entertained
bv the Minister OF Commerce, and other high
officials, of the services rendered to France,
b.. by their Consul, in this connection"
Mr. ELLIS further remarks:
The committee must De struck, think at least
with the elrnestuess and persistence with which
hose gentlemen insist upon what they regard ~
acir rights. aud the value they attach to those
tights under the eNecutOy agreement oil the INST oil
september, lNOn
Perhaps il is proper TO say that the board d d.
,ctnrS felt good deal OF hesitation about laying
ie... letters before the Legislature, nasmuch aS II
Pc, probable they were not intended for publication
ont u the absence of any personal representative oil
Tine Freuch interest asd under the instruction OF the
stockholders to apply to the General Assembly for
the legislation necessary 10 conSummatc the agree
ment with MeSsrs. BellOt DIES MnleIeS, Brothers
Company. and especially in view OF the resolution
hat the stockholders give their consent to the re-
lewal OF the charter OF the 2Jth March lS6l' with
..ch notifications as might be mutually acceptaDle
upon condition Of satisfactory evidence that the sara
ID trteS have the ability 20 execute the work accOTu
ING 10 their agreement the board deemed II best To
prrsent the views feelings and opinions OF these par
u,S precisely as they were communicated 10 Us; re-
living upon fair allowance being made, by an intel
gent body OF Legislators for the freedom ana force
,f ,lnrcs,iun INDUCED resulting in some cases from
misappreheusiOn and generally, no doubt from Ill
cr.uce OF view, attributable to the distant stand
point occupied by them.
The General Assembly of lS60-6l, approving the
objects and views OF the contracting parties, ana
....,.. d. lIIIIN