Martinsburg gazette. [volume], December 17, 1835, Image 1

About Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855

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By Edmund P. Hunter. J
mmaammmmnv n 11 r*r«. .»,• imkm
MARTINSBURG, (VA.) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1835.
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[Vol. XXXVI—Mo. 43.
— ' —’ -1 ■UMa.— r -- 1 ...u l.j.
O.fico ofibe Mirtiusburg Savings Institution >
June U, 1834. 5
BY a resolution of the board of direct
ors ofthis institution the following
rates of Interest have been adopted for
the government of the Treasurer thercol
nreceiving money on deposite, viz :
For deposites payable")
six months alter demand, I . .
certificates may be issued v,a rcr c(-l llm
hearing an interest ut the j Pe) annum.
rate of J
For deposites papable")
fijui months after demand, I . . ,
certificates may be issued b ^ ' r(n mn
bearing an interest at the | Pct annum
rale of J
For deposites payable")
ninety days after demand, | a
certificates may be issued e,’Pcr
bearing an interest at the | 1>C> anntun■
rate of J
By order
GEORGE DOLL, Treasurer.
July 10, 1834.—tf
BEBINGTORT OT2X.X.S.
/TT1IIE subscriber having leased the Bed
H. ington Mini.s, formerly occupied by
Mr. B. Darbj, respectfully solicits the pa
tronage of its former customers, and the
public generally. Me will at any lime
manufacturn Wheat into Flour, for costo
mers ; and deliver a barrel of superfine
Hour for every five bushels of rnerchanta
hie wheat, at the Mersrs. Focinan's ware
house, free of expense; also, exchange bar
rels for the offal if desired. Every descrip
tion of COUNTRY fYORK will be done
at the above mills.
II. I. SHAFER.
N. B Cash will at all times be paid for
wheat if delivered at said mills. II. I. S.
September 17, 1835.— bin
LA?f3 3 AJT3 11 ILL
FOR SALE.
HA\ INGsold a part of my estate near
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Va.
1 wish to dispose of the residue, consisting
of the Mill tract of about
:} 4 0 ACRES,
and the Oak Ridge tract of 130 Acres—
lands equal in quality to any in the state.
Upon the Mill tract there are upwards of
one hundred acres of first rate bottom
land, and about the same quantity of
cleared upland, the balance, in timber.—
The Mill bouse is a substantial stone build
ing, one hundred feel by forty, in which
three pair of Burrs and one of Country
btones arc worked by the Tuscarora
creek, one of the best andmost permanent
mill streams in the country.
The dwelling house, also of stone, is a
large convenient well finished building,
divided into fourteen rooms, besides a
passage of 13 feet width through its centre.
There are barns, stables and other out
houses in abundance, all good and conve
nient. #
The Oak Ridge tract is 21 mile* distent
from the Mill tract, about one half of it
covered with timber, cl the finest quality,
the balance cleared, well fenced, and in
a high slate of cultivation. The improve
merits on it are indifferent. 1 will sell
those farmson accomodating terms, either
entire, or divided, to suit purchasers.
MATTHEW RAMSON.
March 5, 1835—tf
VALUABLE MANUFACTURING
?KOPansv
FOR SALE OR RENT.
nrllE subscriber as trustee of Edward
G A. Gibbs of Martinsburg Berkeley co.
Va., is authorized lo sell or lease the fol
lowing valuable property lying on the Tus
carora creek in Martinsburg.
1. A valuable Woolen factory with all
the necessary machinery, implements ike.
now in (he occupancy of John N. Riddle
Se Co. whose lease of the same expires on
the 1st of April 1836. To this valuable
factory is attached a machine Shop—and
every appurtenance and convenience ne
cessary (or the spinning, weaving, dyeing,
and dressing processes in the making of
Cloth.
2. A Valuable Sawmill.
3. A Cupalo Furnace, with its appara
tus and various llasks, patterns, and fur
niture.
4. A Blacksmith's Shop and Tools
This valuable properly will be disposed
of by (he subscriber separately or together
at piivatc sale, or will be leased separate
ly or together for a term of years. The
factory ol couise sold or leased subject lo
the term cf the present tenant—posses
sion of the rest delivered immediately.—
The subeciibcr can assure persons who
may wish to engage in business of this
sort that a Bargain can he bad, the exe
ecutionofhis trust requiring that some
disposition should be peremptoiily rm.de.
Enquire of (be subscriber living in Mor
gan County. Va., opposite Hancock, Md.
or lo D. 11 Conrad Esq. Martinsburg,
Va. CROMWELL ORRICK.
Trust) e for E A GiLLs.
September 3, 1835—tf
CASH FOR FLOl R!~
ri"\HE subscriber have made tirrange
JL ments for the purchase of any Elour
that may be delivered to them at their
Ware House at Sbepberdstown for which
they will at all times give a fair price in
CASH. They will he governed in the of
fers for Flour, by the latest Georgetown
pi ices, They will also purchase Rye and
Corn, as well as the produce of the coun
try generally at fair prices.
SHOK1T &. HARRIS.
Sept. 10, 1835.
DR. D. MIRpUy,
HAS removed his cilice to the house
on King street, situated on the cor
ner opposite Mr. J. Billmire’s Hotel, when
he may he found at all times, when not
professionally engaged.
April 30, 1835—tf
— 'ULJLfjcjKifc-sTrr--*'.... r~n~n mm m
P It R S I D K N T S M ESS A G I* .
Fellow Citizens of the .Semite and
House of Representatives:
In the discharge of my official dufv,
the task again devolves upon me nf com
municating with anew Congress. The re
flection that ffie representation has been
recently renewed, andlhat (he constitu
tion&l term ol its service will expire with
my own. heightens (he solicitude with
which I shall attempt to lay before it the
stale of our national concems, ard the
devout hope which I cheri-h, that its U
hors to improve them may he crowned
with success.
Vou are assembled at a period of pro
found interest to the American patriot._
i he unexampled growth and prosperity
of our country, having given us a rank in
I the scale of nations which removes all
apprehensions of danger to our integriiy
and independence from external foes, the
career ot Iteedom is before us, and w ith
an earnest from (he pa«t, that, if true to
| ourselves, there can be no formidable ob
| stacle in the future, to its pcacefnl and un
interrupted pursuit. Vet in proportion to
the disappearance of those apprehensions
wr.ich attended our weakness. as once con- ,
(rasted with the power of some of (he !
states of the old wot Id, should we now be
solicitous as to those which belong to the
conviction, that it is to our own conduct
wc must look fur the preset vation nf (hose
causes, on which depend the excellence
and the duration cl our happy system of
Government.
In the example of ether systems, found
ed on the will of the people, we tiace to
internal dissensions the influences which
have so often blasted the hopes of the
friends cf freedom. Thesorial elements,
which were strong and successful when
united against external danger, failed in
the roqre ddficul' task ol properly adjust
ing their own internal organization, and
thus gave away the great principle of self
govrrnrm nf. Get us trust that this admo
m'ion will never te forgotten by (he Go
vernment or People of the Uuited .States;
and that the testimony which our experi
ence thus far holds out to the human fa
mily, or the practicability and the blessings
ol free government will he confirmed in
nil time to r.omc,
Wo have hut to lock at the state of our
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, -
and the unexampled increase of our popu
lation, to le.r l the magnitude, of the trust
i committed to us- Never, in any former
period of our history, have we had great
J u reason than we now have, to he thank -
i ful to Divine Providence for Ihe blessings
i of health and general prosperity. Kvrry
I branch of labor we sec crowned with the
most Abundant rewards: in every ele
ment of natioiml resouiccs and wcal.h,
and of individual comfort, wc witness the
most rapid and solid improvements*—
With no interruptions to this pleasing
prospect at home, which will not yield to
the spirit of harmony ar.d good will that
to strikingly pervades the mass of the peo
ple in every quarter, amidst all the diver
sity of interest at d pursuits to which they
are attached ; and with no cause of soli
ciltide in regard to our external a & airs,
which will not, it is hoped, disappear be
fore the principles of strict justice and the
forbearance that maik our intercourse
with foreign powers, we have every reason :
to feel pioud of our hrlnvcd counity.
'1 he general state nf our Foreign Kela
lions has not materially changed since my
lust annual message.
In tlie settlement of the question of
the Northeastern boundary, little prog
ress has been made. Great Britain has
derlinr d acceding to (lie proposition of the
Uniter! btatps, presented in nerordanre
with the resolution of the Senate, unless
| certain preliminary conditions were, admit
ted, which l deemed incompatible with a
i satisfactory and rightful adjustment of the
! conliovcrsy. Waiting for some di»tinct
i proposal from the Government of Great
j Britain, which has hern invited, I can on
ly irpeat the expressions of my confidence
| that with the s'rong mutual disposition
| which 1 believe there exists, to make a
i just ai i ingement, this perplexing question
can be settled with due regard to the well
founded pretensions and pacific policy of
all parties to it. Kvents are frequently
occurring on the Northeastern fr- ntier, of
j a character to impress upon all the weces
! sity of a speedy and definite termination
| of the dispute. This consideration, added
! to the desire common to both, to relieve
i the friendly and liberal relations so hsppi
i ly existing between the two countries from
! all embarrassment, will, no duuld, have
j its jus! influence upon both,
j Our diplomatic intneourre with Portu
gal has been renewed, anil it is expected
I that the claims of our citizen*, partially
^ paid, will be fully sat is fieri as soon as the
l condition cl the Queen’s Governme nt will
| pcimit the proper attention to the subject
. of them. Thai ^overiytrenl has, I am hnp
( py to inform you, m r,t{fe*b rl a dctcimina
lion to act upon the liberal principle* which
■ have inaikid our commercial policy . the
happiest (fleet* upon the tiadeof the Uni
j ted States and Portugal, are anticipated
from it, and the timers not thought to b"
‘ remote when a system of perfect recipro
| city will be established.
! I be instalments due under the Cor.vcn
j lion with ihe King of the Two bicilie*
have been pair] with that scrupulous fide!
itv by which his whole conduct has bc,en
j chsrartc’ized, and the hope is indulged,
that the adjustment of die vexed question
, of our * brims will he followed by a more
extended and mutually beneficial inter
course between the two countries
'lire internal contest still continues in
£>pain Distinguished as this struggle has
unhappily been, by incidents of the most
sytigumary character, the obligations of
rtiu treaty of indemnification with us, have
been, nevertheless, faithfully executed by
j the Spanish Government,
I provision having born made at the
last session of Congress for the ascertain
ment of the claims to be paid, nnd the np
portionment of (lie funds, under the con
vention with Spain, I invite jour early at
tention to the subject. The public evi
deuces of (he debt, have, according to (he
term* of (he Convention, and in the forms
prescribed by it, been placed in the pos
session of the United Slates, and (he into
rest as it fell due, has been regularly paid
upon them. Our e onimerrial intercourse
w ith Cuba, stands as regulated by the *,-(
of Congress. No recent infomution has
been received as to the opposition of the
Government of Madrid on this subject, and
the lamented death oTour iccer.tlj appoin
ted Minister, on his way (o Spain, with the
pressure of their atl'iirs at home, render it
scarcely probable that any change is to he
looked for during the coming year. Fur
(her portions oi the Florida archives have
been sent to the United .'States, although
the death of one of the Commissioners, at
a critical moment, embarrassed the pro
cess of the delivery of them. The high
er officers of the local Government have
recently shown an anxious desire, in com
pliance with the orders of the parent Go
vernment, to facih'ate the selection and
delivery of all we have a right to claim.
Negotiations have been opened at Mad
rid, for the establishment of a lasting peace
between- b'pain and such of the hpinisii
American Governments of this hemisphere,
ns have availed themselves of the intima
tion given to all ni them, of the dispo-i
(ion of bpain to treat upon the basis of
•heir entire independence. It is to tie re
gretted that simultaneous appointments,
by all, of ministers to negotiate with Spapi,
bad not been made; the, negotiation it
self would have been simplified, and this
longstanding di-pute, spreading over a
large portion of the world, would have
been brought to a mote speedy conclu
sinn.
Our political Si commercial lelatiuns with
Austria, Prussia, Swedan.and Denmark,
stand on the usual favorable basis. One
of the articles of our treaty with Russia,
in relation to the trade of the Northwest
coast of America having expired, instruc
tions have been given to our Ministers at
St. Petersburg!! to negotiate a renewal of
it. 'I he long and unbroken amity between
the two Governments, gives every reason
for supposing the articles will he renewed,
if stronger motives do not exist to prevent
it, than, with our view of the subject, can
be anticipated here.
i »*k iour uucmiun io me message ol
my predecessor, at the opening of the sec
ond session of the nineteetb Congress, to
lative to our commercial intercourse with
Holland, and to the document# connected
with that subject, communicated to the
House of Representatives on the 10th of
January 1825, and the 18lh January [827.
Coinciding in the opinion of my prcdeces
for, that Holla ml is not under the regula
tions of her system, entitled to have her
vessels and their cargoes received into (he
United Slates on the footing of American
vessels and cargoes, us regards the duties
on tonnage ar il impost, a respect for his
reference of it to the Legslature, has alone
prevented me from acting on (lie subject.
I should still have, waited, without comment
l»r the action ofCongress, hut recently a
claim has been made by Belgian subjects,
to admission into our ports lor their ships
and cargoes,on the same footing as Arne
ricans, with the allegation we could not
dispute, that our vessels received in their
ports the identical treatment shewn to
them in the ports of Holland, upon whose
vessels no discrimination is made in the
ports of the Unfed States. Giving the
same privilges, the Belgians expected the
same benefits —benefits that were in fact
enjoyed when Belgium and Holland were
united under one government, Satisfied
w ith the justice of their pretensions to be
placet) on the same looting with Holland,
I could not, nevertheless, without disre I
gard to the principle ol our laws, admit
| their claim to he treated as Americans :
itid at the same time a respect for Con
I gress. to whom (he subject had long since
been referred, has prevented me from pro
ducing a just equality, by taking from the
vessels of Holland privileges conditionally j
granted by acts of Congress, although the
condition upon which the grant was made,
has, in iny judgment, failed since 182-2,—
I recommvu, therefore, a review of the
act 1824. am) such a modification of it as
wril produce au equality, on -curb teims
as Congress shall think best comports
wi'h our settled policy,and the obligations
of justice to two friendly powers.
\\ dli the Sublime Porte. and all the go
rnorients on the coast of Barbary, out
relations continue to he friendly. The
proper steps have been taken to renew
our treaty with Morocco.
The Argentine Republic has again pro
niised lo send, within the current year, a
Minister to the United Mates,
A Convention with Mexico, for extend
ing the time for the appointment of com
missioners to run the boundary line has
been concluded, and will be submitted to
the Senate. Recent events in that coun
try have awakened the liveliest solictude
in the United States. Aware of the strong
temptations existing, and powerful induce
meuts held out to the citizens of the Uni
ted States, lo mingle in the dissensions of
our immediate neighbors, instructions
havo been given to the District Attorneys
of the United Slate, where indications
waranted it, to piosccute, without res
pect to persons, all who might attempt to
violate the obligations of our neutrality;
while at the same time it has been thought
necessary to apprise the Government of
Mexico that we should require the integ
rity of our territory to he scrupulously re
spected by both parlies.
From our diplomatic agents in Brazil,
Chi c, Peru. Central Ameiica, Venezula,
and New Granada, constant assurances
are received of the continued good under
standing with the Governments to which
they are severally accredited. With tho*
Government* upon which our citizen* havr
i valid and accumulating claims scarcely an
advance towards a settlement of them i(
: made, owing mainly to their distracted
state, nr to the pressure of imperative do
! "irstic questions. Our patience ha* hern,
and will probably lie still further severely
tried; but our fellow citizens whose into
rest* me involved, nny confide in the de
lerminHtion of the Government to obtain
, ^ur them, eventually, Ample retribution,
Unfortunately, many ofthe nation* of
|l,,|S hemisphere are still self tormented by
domestic dissensions, ({evolution succeed*
revolution, injuries are committed upon
( foreigner# engaged in lawful pursuits,
much time elapses before a Oorcrmcnt
; sufficiently stable is erected to justify ex
peclation of redress. Ministers are. scot
nnd received, and before the discussions
I "f injuries are fairly begun, fresh
i troubles; hut too frequently new injuries
, are addvd to the old, to be discussed to
ge'Iier, with the existing Government, af
ter its ability to sustain the assaults made
upon it, or wiili its successor, if overthrown.
If this unhappy condition of things contin
ues much longer, other nations will ho
under the painful necessity of deciding
whether justice to »h>i- cittern* d ies not
req’iira ft prompt rc<!fes% of lujirieti by
their own power, without waiting for the.
establishment of a Government competent
nnd enduring enough to discuss and to
make satisfaction far them
Wince the last session of C ingress, (In
validity of our claims tipun France, h* Ii
quidated l.y the treaty of 1 S31, ha* ben,
acknowledged by both branches of her
Legi-lature. and the money hits been np
preprinted for their discharge ; but (In
payment is, 1 regret to inform you, still
withheld.
A brief recapitulation of the mist in
porthnt incidents in tin* protracted c.nnlro
versy, will show bow utterly untenable
arc the grounds upon which this course is
attempted to be justified.
On criteiing upon the duties of my sta
tion, I found the United States an imsue*
rcssful applicant lo the justice of France,
for the satisfaction of claims, the validity
of w hich was never questionable, and lias
now brer, most solemnly admitted by
l-ranee herself. The antiquity of these
claims, their high justice, and the nggra
vating circumstance* out of which they
arose, aic too familiar to the American
People to require description. It i* sulf,
cient to say that, for a period of ten years
and upwards, our commerce was, with tint
little interruption, the subject of constant
aggressions on the p u t 'of France—eg
gresiions, the ordinary features of which
were condemnations of vessel) and car
go -s under arbitrary decrees, adopted in
I contravention, as well of rhe laws of m
lions, as oI treaty stipulations ; burnings
on the high feas; and seizures and confis
cations, under special imperial rescinds,
in the port* of other nations occupied by
the armies under the control of France_
Such, it is now concede,), is (|,e character
of the wrongs we suffired—wrongs, j„
many cases, so (Ugrant, that even their
authors never denied our rights to rep-jra
bon. On the extent of these injuries,
some conception may I e formed from the
fact that after I lie burning of a large
amount at sea, and the necessary ddeno
ration, in other chsps, by long detention,
the American property so seized and *;»
e.iifiocr! at forced sales, excluding what
was adjudged to privateers, lief ire nr with
nut condemnation,brought into the French
tieasury upwards of twenty four millions
oflrauca, besides largo custom house do
ties
i he subject bad already been an affiir
of twenty years’ uninterrupted negotiation
except fur a short time, when France was
overwhelmed by the military power of
united ivitopc. During this period, whilst
other nations were extorting fiom her,
payment of their claims at the point of the
bayonet, the United Slates intermitted
their demand for justice, out of respect to
the oppressed condition of a gallant peo
pie, to whom they felt under obligations
lor fraternal assistance in their own days
of suffering and of peril. The bad effects
of these piotractcd and unavailing discus
sions, ns veil upon our relations with
France a? upon our national character,
were obvious; and the line of duty was to
my mind cquslly so. 'Ibis was. either to
iniist upon the adjustment of our claims
within a reasonable period, or to abandon
them altogether. I could not doubt,that
by this course the interests and honor of
both countin'* would he best consulted.—
Instructions were, therefore given in this
spirit to the Minister who was sent out
once mote to demand r< paralinn. Upon
the meeting ot Congress, in December,
1829, I frit it my duty to speak af those
claims, and the delays of Fiance, in term*
calculated to cal) the serious attention of
both countries to (lie subject. The then
French Ministry took exceptions to the.
message on the ground ot its containing a
menace, under which it was not agreea
hie to the Frencti Government to negoti
ate. Tim American Minister of his own
accord refuted the Construction which was
attempted to he put upon the message,
and, at the same time, called to the recol
lection of the French Ministry, that the
President's message was a communication
addressed, not to foreign Governments,
but to the Congress of the. United .States,
tn which it was enjoined upon him, by the
constitution, to lay before that body infor
mation of the state of the Union, compie
| bending its foreign as well a* its domestic
relations; and that if, in ilia discharge of
; this duly, he felt it incumbent upon him
to summon the attention of Congress, in
due time, to what might be the possible
consequences of existing difficulties with
any foreign Government, he might fairly
be supposed to do so, under a sense of
w bat was due from him in a frank coni
muoication with another branch of hi* own
Government, aud not from a"ny intention
i of holding a menace over a foreign power.
1 he view* t»k“n hy him received my ap
probation, the French Government w»«
satisfied, and the negotiation was continu
ed. It terminated in tho treaty of July 4,
1831, recognizing the justice of our claims
in part, and promising payment to the
amount of twenty live millions of fumes,
! •« six annual installments.
1 he. i atificntions of this treaty were rx
changed at Washington, on the 2d of Fe
I hruary, HU, and in live (fay* (hereafter
it was laid before Congress, who inimedi
a e|y passed fhe nets reeeasaiv, on our
part, lo secure to France the commercial
ail vantages conceded to low in the com
pact. Fhe treaty had previously tieen so
, lenmly ratified hy the King of the French,
in terms which are ceitainly not mere
matters of lorm, noil of which the transla
! lion is a* fidtnws : " Wc, approving the
I above convent,on, in all and cnch of the
dispositions which are contained in it, do
declare, hy ourselves, as well a* by our
I heir* and successors, that it i* accepted,
approved, ratified, and confirmed; and hy
! these presonts, signed l y our hand, wc do
accept, approve, ratify, anil confirm it;
promising, on the faith and word of a King
i observe it, and lo cause it to lie obiter -
yed inviolably, without ever contravening
it or suffering it <o be contravened, direct
ly or indirectly, for any cause, or under
any pretence whatsoever."
<hlicial information of the exchange of
ratifications in (he United State* reached
Paris whilst the Chambers were in se*
sion. The extraordinary, and to ns inju.
lion*, delays of the French Government,
in their action upon the subject of the |ii|
fitment, have been heretofore stated to
Congress, and I have no disposition In rn
large upon them here, ft is sufficient to
observe that the then pending session
was al'oivcd to expire without even an rf
fort to obtain the necessary appropria
tions ; that llin two succeeding ones were
also suffered tn pass away without any
thing like n serious attempt to obtain a do
cision upon the subject; and that it was
not until the fourth session, almost three
years afier the conclusion of the treaty,
and rnoie than two years after the ex
change of ratifications, that the hill for the
execu lion 11 the irmly was pressed to a
veto and rejected.
In the mean tune, the Government nf
the United States, having full confidence
that a treaty entered into and so solemnly
ratified by the French King, would he ex
rented in good faith, and not doubting
that provision would he made for the pay
ment ol the first instalment, which whs to
become doe, on the second day of Fehrn
ary, IS.S3, negotiated a draft for the
amount fhrmtglclhe Mark of the United
Stairs When this (trait was ;.resented
by the bolder, wfiti the rtrd -nti li rrqui
red by the treaty to autharize hon to in
reive the money, the Government of
France allowed it to he protested. In ml
di'ion to the injury in the non-payment ot
the money hy France, rotifotnoddy to |,( r
engagement, (he United State* were ex
i P,)‘" d to n heavy claim on the part of the.
■ Hank undci pretence of dirpage*, in satis
j faction ol which that institution seiz -Jep
j on, and still retain*, an equal amount of
j the public moneys Congress was in si *
j sum when tho decision <>) the Chandlers
j icached Washington ; arid an immediate
I communication of tins apparently final do
riMnii ef Franca not to fulfil the stipult
! 'inns ol the. treaty, was the course natur
ally to he expected from the. President_
The deep lone of iJHsati faction which
prevailed the public mind, and (hr cor res
lUtmlniif evniti d.._A I.. /•.
. |
l»y or.!. a general knowledge of (fie ie»ulr,
rendered il mote Ilian probable, that :* re
soil to immediate measures of redtess
would lie, the conn qucr.ee of calling the
attention of that hotly to the subject,_
Sincerely desirous of preserving the pari
fie relations which had so lung cxi»tc:i lie
tween the two rounlri'-*, } wa* nnxious to
avoid tin* course if I could he satisfied,
'hat by doing so, neither the intriesU nor
the honor of my country would be com*
|>romitte.l. Without the fullest as&uran
res upon that point, I could not hope to
acquit my«elf ef the responsibility to lie
incurred, in si (filing Congress to adjourn
without laying the subject before them —
I hose received hy me were believed lo be
of that character.
J hat the feelings produced m the Uni
ted Slates by the news of the rejection of
the appropriation, would he such a* I have
d esc tilted them to have been,was foreseen
by the French Government, and prompt
u assures were taken to prevent the con
sequences. The King, in person, rxprrs
red through our Minister at Farit, hit pro
found regret at the decision of ihe Chant
hers, and promised to send forthwith a
national slop with despatch * to hi* Min
istcr here, authorizing him to give such
assurances as would sati«fy the Govern
ntrnl and Feople. of tho United Stales that
the treaty would jet tic faithfully cxrru
ted hy France. The na'ional ship arri
ved, and (he Minister received his instruc
tions. Claiming to act under the aulho
i ity derived from them, he gave to this
Government, in the name of bis, the most
i solemn assurances, that ns soon after Itio
new elections as the, chatter would per
mit, the French Chambers would lie con
I veiled, and the attempt lo procure the nr
ce*sary appropriations renewed: that all
i the constitutional powers of the King and
his Ministers should he put in requisition
to accomplish the object; and he. was tin
derstood, and so expressly Informed by
this Government at the time, to engage
that the question should be pressed to a
decision at a period sufficiently caily to j
permit information of the result to he com
municated to Congress at the commence
ment of thoir next session Relying upon
these assurances, I incurred the. responsi
bility. great as I regarded it to he. of suf
fering Congress to separate without com
j murueaUng with them upon the subject.
The expectation* justly founded upon
the promise* thu* aofemnlv made to thin
Government by that of France, were not
re*l,**u. The Fronrlj Chamber* met on
the ..1st of July, tact, soon afier the elec
iion ; nod although our Minister in Pan*
urfT'l ,llft Frrnrh Ministry to bring (ho
•object before them, they dcrlinrd doing
»o. He next insist,-d that the Chamber.
• Prorogued without noting on the •object
should be re assembled at a per od so ear
y 'hut their action on tbr tieaty might he
known m Washington prior to the meet
ing «l ( engics*. This leasonalde request
"a* nut only derlin. d, t,„t the Chamber*
prorogued m (be 09th of Decemlwr, a day
so lute that their decision, however or
j a™'1? pressed, enuhl not, ,n *11 probalnli.
| <y, be obtained in time i» reach Washing
ton before tin- m ee**ary adjournment of
< "egress by the constitution. The rra.
son* given by the Ministry for refusing („
convoke the Chamber! nf an earlier peri
0 I, were efierward* shown not to be insu
perable, by tbp.r actual coovocstion orr
the 1st ol December —which f*rt. howev
er, did not heroine known lo ibis Govern
ment until hfr tne commencement of thn
last session of Congress.
rhn« disappointed in our just expecta
tions,-it bermne luy imperative duty to
consult with Congress in irgnrd to the. ex
pediency of a retort to retaliatory meas
ures, inepse the stipulation* i*f the treaty
should not bo speedily complied with; and
to recommend Midi as in my judgement,
the occasion called fir. Toths* end, nn
unreserved communication ,.| the ease, in
i'll its aspects, became indirp.-n-bble.
have shtunk, in making it, (rout saying all
that wirt ncecrsary to if* correct under
standing, and that the truth would j islify,
(or fear of gi'ing offence to other*,' would
have been unworthy nf us. T„ have gonu
on Din other hand, a single afep further,
for the purpose of wounding thu pride of
a Government nod |>cople with whom we
hud »o many motives for cultivating rein
ti ns of amity and reciprocal advantage,
would have been unwise and improper"_
Admonished by Iho past of the dillkulty
»f making even the simplest statement of
our wrong*, without disturbing the sen*i
tub tie# nf those who bad, by their position,
b< coino responsible for their redress, and
earnestly desirous of preventing further
obstacles from tbit source, I went out nf
mv way to preclude a construction nf llm
massage, by which the recommendation
that was made to Congress might he re
garded as a menace to France, in not only
disavowing such a detign, but in deviating
that her pride and power were too well
known lo »Xpert any thing from her fear*.
1 be Message did not reach Peri* until
more Umn u month after the Chamber*
bail been in scs.-ion ; and such was the in
sensibility of the ministry to our rightful
claim* and jut expectations, that our Mi
nister bad been inf brined Unit the matter,
when introduced would not he pa ssed a*
a cabinet measure.
Although lb- merragn was not officially
c"inmunicatf d to tin Freucb Government
-md nntwi listautliug the declaration to
the contrary which it contained, the Frenh
Mini-try decided to consider the condition
al recomiii '1 dstion of reprisal*, a menace
and an insult, which the honor of the na
tion made it incumbent nn them to resent,
1 he incnsurea retorted to by them to o
vinceJheir sense ol llm supposed indigni
ty. "cri, Ibe immediate recall of the
Minister at Washington, the offer of
passp uta the American Minister at Paris,
and » public notice to the Legislative
Chambers, that all diplomatic intercourse
with tho I oiled .Stall« bad been snspeii
drd. r
II.' -i •
manner, vindicated Mm
dignity ol France, they n. *t pro. ruled to
illustrate, her justice. To this end a hill
wan injro'hiceil into the Chamber ofDrp
otics,proposing to make theappropriations
necessary to carry iutn . fit, ct the treaty ~
As this hill subsr ipicnt ly parsed into a law
t.i< provisions ol which now c.institute thn
main subject of difficulty between Ihe two
oh lions, u It curort my duty, in order to
p<aco the subject hc.lore you in a clear
">s^t, fu tracts the histoiy of its passage,
»iul to refer, with some particularity, to
Ihe proceedings and discussions in regard
to it. 1 he Minister of Finance in his
opening speech, alluded In the measure*
which had been adopted to .esent the sup
posed indignity, and recommended Ihe n •
ecution ol the tieaty as a measure requi
red by tl.e honor and justice of France*_
i le. as the org m of Ihe Ministry, declared
Ihe Message, •<» long as it had not received
the sanction ol Congress, a mere expedi
tion of the peisnniil opinion of the presi
dent, lor which neither Ihe (ioverninent
nor the people ot the United fstates weio
responsible, and that the engagement had
been entered into, I >r the fulfilment ol"
which the honor of France was pledged.
Knterlaining these views, the single con
dition which the French Ministry propo
sed to annex lo the pay ment of the. money
was, that it should not be rna.to until it
was ascertained that the. Government of
the United Slates had done nothing to in
jure the interests of France ; or, in other
words, that no steps had lieen authorized
by Congress ol a hostile cfiaiactu towards
France
What Ihe disposition or action of Con
gress might bo, was then unknown to the
French Cabinet. But, on the l itbofJan
nary, the Senate resolved that it was. at
that time, inexpedient to adopt any legisla
tive measures in regard to the state of af
fairs between the U. States and France,
and no action on the subject had occurred
in the House of Representatives. These
f.icts were known in Paris prior to the
‘iSth of March, 1S3M when the committee
to whom the bill of indemnification had
been referred, reported it to the Chamber
of Deputies. That committee substanti
ally re echoed the sentiments of the Min
istry, declared that Congress had set aside
the proposition of the President, and re
commended the passage of the bill, with
out any other: restriction thau that origin