The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-21

ODbtlnHte REFUSAL OF tne states 10 furnish con-
trlbutions to the general fund, olinton's boast
might not have been justified. II is certain
that sias Dcnne expressed at the time In
private letters his conviction that 1t would be
utterly Impossible TO maintain the American
army for another year
Mr. Lecky brings out strongly another re-
markablo fact connected with the peace OF 17S3
viz that In the latter stages Of the negotiation
the parties most seriously opposed to one
another wero not the English and Americans
but the Americans and the French. Franklin
IL Is true, always leaned to the French side. and
showed much gratitude to France and some
animosity to England. but John Adams had
long disliked and distrusted yergennes. the
French Prime Minister. and Jay. who had
Mt one time been an ardent advocate
Of tho French alliance. changed into the
most violent hostility. Jay Thinks" wrote
Franklin the French Minister one OF the
greatest enemies OF our country. that he would
have straitened our boundaries to prevent the
growth Of our people. contracted our fisheries
to obstruct the Increase Of our seamen. and re-
tanned the roeaists among us to keep us d.
vided that he privately opposes all our nego-
tihtions with foreign courts. and afforded us
during the war the assistance we received only
to keep IL alive that we might be 80 much the
more weakened by II; thatto think Of gratitude
to France is the greatest Of follies> and that to
be influenced by 1t would ruin u.s."
Mr.. Lecky goes on to show that Mr. Jays
language. though 1t may sound strange.
Is easily explained and justified, for while
the French Minister, from desire to enfeeble
England. had never wavered in his determine
ton to secure the independence Of the old
English colonies In America. lie had uniformly
discouraged all attempts to annex Canada to
them. and he aimed at the establishment OF
balance OF power In America in which neither
England nor the United States should have
complete ascendancy. In accordance with the
same policy. he commended that the country OF
tho great lakes was either q dependency OF
Canada or tho property OF the Indians. and that
the United States had no title TO It. In October.
1872. Vergennes expressed these views in
secret despatch to the French envoy
In America. adding. with some bitterness.
that once tho French ceased to substitute
the American army 1t would be as useless as
it has been habitually inactive" and signifying
his establishment at the new demand for money
from France While the Americans themselves
obstinately refused the payment Of taxes. 1t
seems to be much more natural" he wrote.
Tor them to raise upon themselves rather than
upon the subjects Of the King the funds which
the defence OF their cause exacts." The
French agents were also instructed to firmly
deny the right the Americans to an unrestrict-
edparticipation in the newfoundland fisheries;
and not only was the influence Of France hos
tile to ia on these two important subjects OF
negotiation. but on the more momcntous qucs-
ton OF the Mississippi boundary the same an
tagonisn appeared. Here was the great field
in which the ultimate expansion OF the Eng
lish race might be anticipated, but vergennes
insisted that the United States were not. and
should not be. anywhere in contact with the
Mississippi. The northern portion Of the dis
puted territory rs far down as the Ohio he
thought. should be considered part Of Canada;
while as to the southern part OF the great val.
ley, he would gladly have compensated Spain
for her failure to recover Gibraltar and Jamai-
ca by giving her the power OF extending her
dominion through the unoccupied territory to
the west of the inhabited part OF the United
States. and by securing TO her the
sole navigation OF the Mississippi.
The antagonism on these points was very
keen. and fortunately our Ministers
refused to be bound by the instructions OF
Congress. which had virtually placed the whole
control OF tho negotiations for peace In the
hands OF the French. How imprudent this was
must have been made clear enough to jay
when he obtained possession of despatch
-. M, " ~ 10
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Franco Law yehomentlv onnosed tho apen,s of
that mower ON the Mississippi question main.
tanning in onposition to Spain tho right of tho
English to free navigation on that river and
even urging England TO retain West PInrida
for herself. instead of cnding II 10 spain. Eng
land, on the other hand with some restrictions
which we're easily con>nromisad was reodv IN
meet the American demands. The United
States obtained much creoter OK