Middletown transcript., 1873-12-06
A Historical Reminiscence.

~sss~sS 0sScu0Ss ~ WV AWst eou ~vss
recently echoed BY Vice President VIII
son. that the course Of this government
towards Spain should be Influenced BY a
consideration Of the probable effects which
war with this country would have upon
the cause Of republican institutions in
Spain. is too purely sentimental to have
much weight in the matter. II certain
y can weigh bat little in comparison with
the necessity Of compelling respect on the
part Of the Spanish authori.ies aud velus-
tcers in Cuba to the dignity Of tho Ameri-
can flag and Of American citizenship. IL
not to tho claims Of common humanity aud
Christian civilization. Apart from the
question Of what Spanish rspubliesnisn is
really worth. and a republican in Spain is
likely to amount to. it is not the first in
stance in the history Of this country in
which we have b.en compelled ~ a nation
10 take stand against the insolancc Of
European republic. even to the length Of
engaging in actual hostilli,ias. Before the
close Of the administration Of Gen. Wash.
ing.on tho overbcaring tone Of the French
republican government Of that day, 10 its
dealings with the United States. had near
ly provoked war between the two nations.
Soon after tho Directory came into power
in France. during the admistratiou Of the
elder Adams. further insults we're offered
to this country by the capture of American
vessels. and by gross disrsspect shown TO
the American representative at Paris. Al.
though then. as now, tho plea was advanc.
cd that great forbearancs was due to .
sister republic, particularly at time when
republicanism was in ito Infancy, and all
the dsspots Of Europe were leagucd for its
overthrow. the people Of this country wore
not deferred from taking the most vigor.
GUS measures to obtain redress. and to
vindicate the insultcd honor Of the nation.
Not even the fresh recollection Of the
decisive aid afforded but few years be-
foro BY France, in the most critical mo-
ments Of eur own struggle for liberty. pre-.
vented the men of the same generation
which had welcomed Lafayette and Ro-
chambeau as allics from treating French
men as enemies. Feeble a. the resources
Of the government then were, without an
army or q navy, or a treasury to supply
the means for raising either. every hostile
measure was rcsorted to, shor. Of formal
declaration Of war. Authority was given
TO capture any French vessels found inter-
fering with American commerce or cruis-
ing near the coast with suspicious intent,
afterwards enlarged into perm ission to cap
turc French armed vessels under any cir
cumstancss. Uadsr the authority thus
given, Commodore Truxtou, in the frigate
Constellation, engaged aud captured the
French frigats L'1nsurgents, Of superior
force, after an hours action. lie aftcr-
wards engaged . still heavier French
frigate, La Vengeance, and would have cap
tured her had she not escaped in the night
Other cruisers were captured. and under
the letters Of marque issued to private
armed vessels, over fifty French privatccr,
were captured aud brought in for c0ndsn.
nation. Meanwhile Notifications were be-
ing constructed and an army was being
raised. to command which General Wash
ington was oucs more called from his re-
tircmsnt. aud money was struck at tn,
public mint bearing the motto, "Million
for defence. not one cent for tribute" il
significant allusion to tho insolent propose
Of the French Directory that tho United
States should make lone to tha. republi
a. tho price Of it's continued friendship
Tho revolution Of the 18th Brumaiu (l79O
which overthrow tho power Of tho Direc
tory and placed the Firs. Consul Bonapart
At the head Of affairs, alone prevented tn
United States from being added to the lii
Of powers With which republican Franc
wss then as war. A convention was q
greed upon. which led to q suspension I
hos,ilities, and the segotstion Of q trea.
after the accession Of Mr.. Jefferson to III
presidency. by tho terms Of which on
fourth Of the sum stipulated to be pal
to France 10 rstsrn for the cession Of Lot
T isiana wss retained TO meet the claims 4
French spolistionsou American commerc.
| This well-nigh forgotten chapter in Ii
, history Of the United States shows how
, the days Of their wssknsss. and infancy .
most. the sense Of what WAS due 10 Il
: national honor prevailed 10 the minds
the stssesmsa Of that ssusra,ion. all
over their sympathy With the eauss Of r.
. publicsnisn sbroad asd their gratitude
, resent and available ally. No wss
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