The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-07

How the Former Procured the Payment of
an Indemnity by France.
When General Jackson became President,
writes Ben: Perley Poore in the Boston
Budget, he found that France owed the
United States %, OOO, 900 francs, which he re.
solved, ''by the ETERNAL should be paid.
Andrew Stevenson and William 8. Archer,
both Of Virginia, were candidates for the
French mission, but it was given to smother
applicant OF the same State, William G.
Rives. Mr.. Stevenson afterward received the
mission to London; and Mr.. Archer, rather
piqued. joined the ranks of the opposition.
Mr.. Rives made but little Roadway until
Louis Philippe came into power, when the
treaty was signed. Great was the rage of
whiskered Frenchnen, who asserted that
Louis PHILIPPE had bought in o large portion
of the claims ard thus robbed the French
treasury in order to fill his WI pockets.
Mr.. Rives, On the contrary. was in high
spirits. and it is asserted that only eight
days after the treaty was signed be wrote q
d spatch TO Mr.. Forsyth, Secretary of State.
in which he boosted that be had effected
a treaty which all his predecessors had failed
to accomplish, and by which he had gulled
and outgeneraled the French ministry. aud
induced it TO pay not only every just and
legal claim, but many claims that were con
siSered desperate and doubtful"
This was, perhaps, pardonable in a young
and ardent man, but Mr.. Forsyth did very
wrong in permitting the letter to be made
public. as subsequent events proved. By
the condition of the treaty the indemnity of
%, 600, 600 francs was to be paid by install
ments, and Mr.. Woodbury., Secretary OF the
Treasury, was Instructed to draw immedi.
ately for one Of the installments. He did
draw, and the draft came back d~ishonored
and protested, and for the reason that the
French Chamber of Deputies had refused to
make an appropriation to fulfill the treaty
which Louis Philippe had signed and
sanctioned. And the reason assigned
by the Chamber for their refusal was
that the American Minister, in his dis
that he swindled the King and the Due de
Broglie. In the meantime Mr.. Rivers came
home, and the late Edward Livingston was
dispatched to the Court OF So. Cloud, in
stIucted 10 demand the immediate fulfill
ment OF the conditions of the treaty OF July
t. 1881, and in the event of his meeting with
any obstacles TO the object OF his mission to
demsnd his passports and retire to England.
He was coldly received; the Chambers re-
fused to make any appropriation, and Mr..
Livingston, as instructed, demanded his
passports and retired TO London. Thus
stood the case until the month OF Janu-
airy, 1885 when General Jackson issued
a special message recommending
the issue OF letters of marque and reprisal
against French commerce. The message was
referred to the Committee of Foreign At
faiTs-Mf. Edward Everett. Chairman-in
the House. and to the corresponding com
mittee Of the Senate, of which NJ. Clay was
the head. The committee of the House re-
ported in accordance with the message of the
President, but that OF the Senate unani
mously reported that nothing should be lone
until further information was received from
France.
Louis Philippe managed TO have the in
demnify paid. though the French nation was
almost unanimously opposed 70 1t, and GER
tainly there was anything but affection
manifested.