Southern telegraph., January 01, 1836, Image 1

About Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838

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Volume 9.
F.0DST3T, (MISS.) F ?, I S A 7 M C ?. If I XT fASfTTART 1, 183 5.
Number 47.
THE SOUTHERN TELEGRAPH
U IDITKD ADR ri'SMSNItO Iflll FllWt IT
TH0H.U B. PAI.BKH,
AtIVK DOLLARS per r. ar, inadrantr, or
SIX at the expiration of the year.
-As SvUrriftfwiu rteticed fur a tkerter pe
riod than ear Jffar.
Tema ! Advertising.
Perjquare of ten linei or leu, for the first in
sertion, One Dollar ; for each additional iuser
tio i, Fifty Cents.
I .mi sit one,-ten cents per line for the fir-t,
nd fire cents per line for each additional inser
tion. fjjr To those who advertise by the year, a
lilMTtilditcount will be made.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate,
and House of Rejyresentatires,
In the discharge of my official duty, the
ask again devolves upon me of communi-
hrtin: with a new Congress. The reflec
tion that the representation of the Union
lias been recently renewed, and hat the
constitutional term of its service will expire
with my own, heightens the solicitude with
which I shall attempt to lay before it the
state ol our national concerns, and the de
vout hope which I cherish, that its laliors to
improve thorn may be crowned with success
You are assembled at a period of profound
interest to the American patriot. I he un
i .i i f
exampieu tjrowm ana prosperity oi our
country, having given us a rank in the scale
of nations which removes all apprehension
of danger to our integrity and independence
from external foes, the career of freedom is
before us, with an earnest from the past, that.
it true to ourselves, there can bo no tonm
liable obstacle in the future, to its peaceful
and uninterrupted pursuit. Yet, in propor
tion to the disappearance of these apprchen-
sipns which attended our weakness, as once
cidiraswd with t
ilia ulij v
as to tl m
that it is
wer ol some states ol
ibid world, sholin wo now bo solicitous
those which belong to the conviction,
to our own conduct we must look
for the preservation of those causes, on
which depend the excellence and the dura
bilityof our happy system of government.
In the example of other systems, founded
on the will of the people, we trace to inter
nal dissentimi the influences wluch have
so often blasted the hopes of the friends ol
freedom. The social elements which were
(drone and successful when united agains
external danger, failed in the more difficult
tiisk of properly-adjusting their own inter
ir.il organization, and thus gave wav the
great principle; t" self-government. Let us
trust that this ndmonition will never be for
gotten by the government or the people of
the Lnited State j and that the testimony
which our experience thus far holds out to
the great human family of tho practicability
mid the bless ggj of free .government will
be continued m all. tunc to come
We have hut to look at the state of ou
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce
and the unexampled increase ol our popula
tion, to feel the magnitude of the trust com
mittcd to us. Never, in any former period
of our history, have we had greater reasdh
than we now have, to be thankful to Uivinc
Providence for the blessings of health had
been paid with that scrupulous fidelity by attorneys of the I'nrioJ State, where mdi
which his whole conduct has been charac- cations warruntcd it, to prosecute, without
terized, and the hope is indulged, that the respect to person, all who might attempt to
adjustment of the vexed question of our violate the obligations of our neutrality;
claims will be followed by a more extended while, at the same time, it has been thought
pnd mutually beneficial intercourse between necessary to apprize the Government of
the two countries. Mexico that we should require the integrity
The internal contest still continues in of our territory to be scrupulously respected
Spain. Distinguished as the struggle has by both parties.
unhappily been, by incidents of the most From our diplomatic agents in Brazil,
sanguinary character, the obligation of the Chili, Peru, Central America, Venezula,
treaty of indemnification with us, have and New Grenada, constant insurances are
been, nevertheless, taithlullv executed by received ot the continued good understand-
tho Spanish Government. ing with the Governments to which they are
No provision having been made at the last severally accredited. With these govern-
scssion of Congress for the ascertainment ments upon which our citizens have valid
of the claims to be paid, and the apportion- and accumulating claims, scarcely an ad-
ment of funds, under the couvertion made vance towards a settlement ol them is made,
with Spain, I invite your early attention to owing mainly to their distracted state, or to
the subject. The public evidences of the the pressure of imperative dotnostic ques-
debt have, according to the terms of the tions. Our patience has been, and will
convention, and in the forms escribed by probably be still further severely tried; but
it. bee olaced in the possession of the Lni- our tellow-citizens wnose interests are lu
ted States, and the interest as it fell due, volved may confide in the determination of
has been regularly paid upon them. Our the Government to obtain lor them, evant
commcrcial intercourse with Cuba stands as ually, ample retribution.
regulated bv the act of Congress. No re- Unfortunately, manv ol the nations ot this
cent information has been received as to the hemisphere are sell-tormented by domcsti
lisoosition of tho Government of Madrid on dissensions, llc ol ition succeeds rcvof
this subject, and the lamented death of our tion, injuries are committed upon foreigners
recently appointed Minister on Ins way to engaged m fawrui pursuits, inucn time eiap-
Spain, with the pressure of their affairs at ses before a Government sufficiently stable
home, render it scarcely probable that any is erected to justify expectations of redress,
change is to be looked for during the coming Ministers are sent and received, and before
year. Further portions ot the Florida ar- ine uiscussions ot pasi injuries are lairiy
chives havo been sent to the United States, begun, fresh troubles arise; but to otrequent-
although the death of one of the Cominis- ly new injuries are added to the old, to be
sioncrs, at a critical moment, embarrassed discussed togctlfcr, with the existing (iov
the progress of the delivery of them. The eminent, aber it has proved its ability to
higher officers of the local Uovernment sustain me assaults made upon ir, or witn
have recently shown nn anxious desire, in its successor, 11 overtnrown. 11 inis un-
compliance with the orders from tho parent happy condition of things continues much
Government, to facilitate the selection and longer, other nations will be under the pain
dcliverv of all we have a right to claim. ful necessity of deciding whether justice to
Negotiations have been opened at Madrid their suffering citizens does not require a
lor the establishment of a lastim? ocace be- prompt redress ol iniuries by their own
- ' - - ni l
States, in which it was enjoined upon him
by the constitution to lay before that body
information of the state of the Union, com
prehending its foreign as well as domestic
the object; and he was understood, and so
expressly informed by ibis governmental the
time, to engnge, that the question should be
pressed to a decisiou at a period sufficiently
relations; and that if, in the discharge of , early to permit information ot the re-ult to
this dutv. he fi ll it ineuinlient uoon him to lc communicated to Congress at the coin-
summon tho attention of Congress, in due
ssssassL ..w
twecn Spain and such of the Spanish Amer- power, without waiting for theestaMishmon
ican Governments of this hemisphere, as of a Government competent and enduring
have availed themselves of the intimation enough to discuss and to make satisfaction
given to all of them of the disposition of for them.
Spain to treat upon the basis of their -entire Since the last session of Congress, the
independence. It is to be regretted that validity of our claims upon France, as liqui
simullancous appointments of all of our dated by the treaty of 1834, has been ac-
ninisters to negotiate with Spain, had not knowledged by both branches of her Legis-
been made: the negotiation itself would Wature, and the ni mey has been appropiiti-
havebeen amplified, and this lung standing ted for their dischargo; but the payment is,
dispute, spreading ovcrn large portion ot the t regret to inionii you, stiti wiintieio
world, would have been brought to a mora A oriel reeapituianon oi the most impoi-
sjJeedy conclusion. . tant incidents in this protracted contro-
Ojt political and coirfciiil relations versv, Will show how utterly untenable are
with Austria, Prussia, Sweeten aw! Denmark, the grounds upon which this course is ut
stand on the usual favourable basis. One of tempted to be justified.
the articles of our trcatywithmussia in re- On entering upon the duties of my station
lation to the trade on theWorttf-west coast of I found the United States an unsuccessful
America having expired, 'instructions have applicant to tho justice of France, for the
been given to our Minisier at Si. Peters- satisfaction of claims, the validity ot wind
burg to negotiate a renewal of it. Tft lng was never questionable, and has now been
and unbroken ainity between the Urn gov- most solemnly admitted by franco hcrsvlt.
ernments "ivos every reason for supposing The antiquity of these claims, their high
tho article will be renewed, it stronger mo- justice, and the aggravating circumstances
fives do not cxist'to prevent it than, with our out of which they arose, are too familiar to
view of the object, can be. anticipated here, the American people to require uescriion.
1 ask your attention to the message of my It is sutiicieiit to say that, for a period of ten
predecessor at (he opening of the second y ears and upwards, our commerce was, with
session of the nineteenth Cong ess, relative but little interruption, the subject of constant
ifuueral orositeri.v. Kverv branch of labor Uo our commercial intercourse with Holland, aggressions on tlie part of 1" ranee aggr
- I . -.1. .L .,1 1 i .Via iT.WMinmnld I'l ill ll.v-1 1 ; I Willi 1 1 I I I si I H 1 - till! I ll'i 1 1 ll'.l 1 V f'llll III I'PH (if ullH'll WCI'P.
reiee crowneu wiiii ine inosi annuo. on iu- unu tu un. n,.....w ...... , .
. " . . .TV . I t I I 1.1
subiect communicated to the House ot nop- condemnations ot vcsseiand cargoes un
resentatives on the 10th of January, 1825, der arbitrary decrees, adopted in coutraven
and 18th January, 1827. Coinciding in the tion, as well of the laws of nations as of
opinion oi" my predecessor, that Holland is treaty stipulations, burnings on the high
not, rnder the regulations of her present seas, and seizures and confiscations, under
system, entitled to have hor vessels and special imperial rescripts, in the ports oi
their cargoes received into the United States other nations occupied by the armies, or un
on the footinf ot American vessels, as re- der the control ot Jt ranee, ouch, is now
nurds duties of tonnage and impost, a respoct conceded, is the character of the wrongs we
for .his reference of it to the Legislature has suffered wrongs, in many cases, so flagrant
alone prcvontod mc from arguing on the that even their authors never denied ou
subject. I should still h ive waited, without right to reparation. Of the extent of these
comment, for the action of Congress, but injuries, some conception may be formed
time, to what might be the possible conse
quences of existing difficulties with any
foreign Government, he might fairly be sup
posed to do so, undr a sense of w hat was
due from him ;n a fvnk communication with
another branch of his own Government,
and not from any intention of holding a men
ace over a foreignnower. The views ta
ken by him recejvedmy approbation, the
Franco Governinc nt was satisfied, and the
negociation was continued. It terminated
in the treaty of July 4, 1831, recognizing
the justice of oui claims, in part, and promi
sing payment to the amount of twenty-five
millions of francs, in six annMal instalments.
The ratification of this treaty were ex
changed at Washington, on the 2d of Fel-
ruar , ISw. and in five days thereatter it
urc Congress, who immediately
cts necessary, on our part, to
nice the commercial advanta-
d to her in the compact. I he
previously been 'solemnly ratified
bv the Kin of the French. ilutBatts which
are certainly uot mere matssBKalsorm,
and of which the translation is as follows:
" We, approving of thoSbove convention,
in all and each of thedflHiLons which are
Contained in it, do dclHV ourselves, as
well asy our luwrs arTolccessors, and it
is accepted, approved, ratified, and confirm
ed, anility these present, signed by our
ind. wedo accept, approve, ratify, and con
rm it; promising on the faith and word of a
King, to observe It, and to cause it to be od
seved inviolably, without ever contravening
,or suffering it to be contravened directly
or indirectly, for anv cause, or under any
pretence whatever.?'
Official information of the exchange ol rat-
fications of the United States reached Par
is whilst the Chambers were in session.
fho extraordinary, and to us injurious de-
iys of :ue French Qficrnment, in their
action upon the subject ot tts tutniment,
have been heretofore stated in Cjngress,
nd 1 have no disposition to enlarge upon
them here. It is sufficient to observe that
the then pending session was allowed to
expire without even an effort to obtain the
necessary appropriations: that the two suc
ceeding ones were likewise siffefod to
pass without any thing like a seriioiis at
tempt to obtain a decision upon thejotjectj
nd that it was not until tho fourth session,
Imost three years after the conclusion of
the treaty, and more than two years after
the exchange of ratifications, that the bill tor
' Wards : in every clement of nation il resour
ces and wealth, and of individual comfort,
we witness the most rapid and solid improve
ments. With no interruptions to this pleas
ing prospect at home, which will not yield
to the spirit of harmony and good will that
so strikingly pervades the mas;', of the peo
ple in every quarter, amidst all the diversity
of interest and pursuits to which they are
attached: and with no cause of solicitude in
regard to our external affairs, which will not,
it is hoped, diu-vRpoar before the principles
of simple justice and the forbearance that
iiark our intercourse with foreign powers
we havo every reason to feel proud of our
beloved country.
Tho general 6tato of our Foreign Rela
tions has not materially changed since my
last annual message .
In tho settlement of the question of the
Northeastern boundary, little progress has
been made. Great Britain h 's declined ac
ceding to the proposition of tho United
States, presented in accordance with the
resolution of the Senate, unless preliminary
conditions we're admitted, which I deemed
incompatible with a satisfactory and right
ful adjustment of the controversy. Waiting
for some distinct proposal from the govern
ment of Great Britain, which has been invi
ted, I can only repeat the expression of my
confidence, that with the strong mutual ths
tion which I believe exists, to make a
juM arrangement, this perplexing question
can be settled with a due regard to the well
grounded pretensions and pacific policy of
till the parties to it. Events are frequently
ocmrringon the Northeastern frontier, of
b character to impress upon all the neces
sity of a speedy and definitive termination
ot the discontent. 1 his consideration, ad-
I ded to the desire common to both, to relieve
the liberal and friendly relations so happily
i existing between tho two countries from all
i embarrassment, will, no doubt, have its just
I innuenco with both.
Our diplomatic intercourse with Portugal
!- has been renewed, and it is expected that
the claims of our citizens, partially paid,
will be fully satisfied as soon a,'the condi
tion of the Queen's Government will per
mit the proper attention to the subject from
them. The Government has, Lam happy
to iuform you, manifested a determination to
act upon the liberal principles which have
ttwrkod our commercial policy the Wpiest
effect upon tho future trade between the
I United States and Portugal are anticipated
1 from it, and the time is not thought to. he ro-
mote when a systom of porfect reciprocity
raiu oe established. ajpaa,
i no instalments aue unaertne conv
tiun with thcing ofthc Tip Sicilies, ha
eccutlv a claim has been m lie by the Bel- from the fact, that after the burning of a
gian subjects to admission in our ports for large amount ut sea, and the necessary de
their ships and cargoes, on the same tooting feneration, in other cases, by long dcten
as American, with tho allegation wo could tion, the American property so seized and
not dispute, that our vessols received in their sacrificed at forced aales, excluding what
port the identical treatment shown to them was adjudged to puvatecrs, before or with
in the ports of Holland, upon whose vessels out condemnation, brought into the French
no discrimination is made in the ports of the treasury upwards of twenty-four millions
United Stales. Giving the same privileges, of francs, besides large custom-house duties
tho Belgians expected the same benefits The subject had already been an affair of
benefits that .were in fact enjoved when Bel- twenty years' uninterrupted negotiation
gium and Holland were united under one except for a short time, when France was
government. Satisfied with the justice of overwhelmed by the military power or uni
their pretension to bo placed on the same ted Europe. During this period, whilst oth
footing with Holland, I could not, neverthc- er nations wero extorting from her payment
lefts, without disregard to the principle ol ot the claims at the point ot the bayonet
our laws, admit their claim to be treated as the united blutes intermitted their demand
Americans; and at the same timo a respect for justice, out of respect to the oppressed
for Congress, to whom the subject had long condition ot a gallant people, to whom they
since been refeired, has prevented me from felt under obligations for fraternal assistance
producing a iust legulitv, by taking from the in their own dnysot sulioring and ot peril
vessels ot Holland privileges granted by Jahe bad effects ot these protracted and una
acts of Congress, although the condition vailing discussions, as well upon our rela
upon which the grant was made has, in my tions with France as upon our national char
judgment, failed since 5822. I recommend, actor, were obvious; and the line of duty
therefore, a review of the act of 1824, and was to mv rnind equally so. 1 Ins was eith
such modification of it as will produce an er to insist upon the adjustment of our clami
equality on such terms as Congress shall within a reasonable period, or to abandon
think best comports with our settled policy, them altogether. 1 could not doubt, that
and the obligations of justice to two friendly by this course, the interests and honour of
powers. both countries would be best consulted.
With the Sublime Porte, and all govern- Instructions were therefore givon in thi
ments on the coast of Barbary , our relations spirk to the Minister sent out once more
continue to be friendly. The proper steps denrond reparation. Upon the meeting
have been taken to renew our treaty with Cdngress, in Doceinbcr, 1821), 1 tolt it my
Morocco. duty to speak ot these claims, and the delay
The Argentine Republic has again prom- of France in terms calculated to call the se
ised to send within the current yeur, a Min- rious attention of both countries to the sub
ister to the United StaHto.
A convention with Mexico for extending
the time for the appointment of commission
ers to run the boundary line has been con
cluded, and will be submitted to the Senate.
Recent events in this country has awakened
the liveliest solicitude in the United States.
Aware of the strong temptations existing,
and powerful inducements held out to the
citizens of the United States, to mingle in
tho dissensions of our immediate neighbors,
instructions have been given to the district
ex
iect. The then French Ministry tffak
ception tothe Mossago, on the groun of its
containing a menace, under which it was
not acrceablc to the French government
negotiate. The American Minister, of h
own accord refuted the construction which
was attempted to be put upon tlie mes
sago, and, at the same time, called, t(
the recollection of the French Ministry
that the President's Mes:
nication addressed, not
ments, but to the Coh
essage
yj I
was a commit
reign Govern
of the United
mencemcDt of their next session. Relying
upon those assurances, I incurred the re-
snonsibimv. srreat as I regarded it to be, of
suffering Congress to separate withxit com
miinicuiiu j wkIi them upon the subject.
The cxpectatitns justly founded upon die
promises thus solemnly made to this Gov
ernment by that of France, were not real
ized
The French Chambers met on the 31st
of July 1831, soon after the election; and
although our Minister in Paris urged tlie
French Ministry to bring the subject before
them, they declined doing so. He next in
sisted that the Chambers if prorouged with
out actii"; on the sut ject, should be reas
sembled at a period so early that their ac
tion on tha tmaty might be known in Wash
ington prior to the meeting of Congress.
rhis reasonable request was not only de
clined, but the Chambers were prorouged
to the 29th ol Dwcembec, a day so late that
their decision, however qrgently pressed,
could not in all probability, be obtained in
time to reach Washington before the neces
sary adjournment of Congress by the Con
stitution. The reasons given by tho Min
istry for refusing to convoke the Chambers
at an earlier period, were afterwards shown
not to be insuperable, by their actual con
vocation on the 1st ot December, under a
special call, for domestic purposes which
fact however, did not become known to this
Government until after the commencement
of the last session of Congress.
Thus disappointed in our just expectations
it became my imperative duty to consult
with Congress in. regard to the expediency
ot a resort to retaliatory measures, in case
the stipulations of the treaty should not be
speedily complied with; and to recommend
such as, in my judgment, the occasion cal
led for. To this end, an unreserved com
munication of the case, in all its aspects,
became indispensable. To have shrunk,
in making it, from saying all that was neces
sary to its correct understanding, aid thj
the truth would justify for fear of giving of
fence to others, vould have been unworthy
of us". To have goift, on the other hand, a,
single step further, fdV the purpose of woun
ding the pride of n Government and People
with wh m we had so many motives for cul
tivating relations of amity and reciprocal
advantage, would have been unwise and
improper. Admonished by the past of the
difficulty of making even the simplest state
ment of our wrongs without disturbing the
sensibilities of those who had, . y their posi-
the oxoenUon of the treaty was pressed to aitf0", become responsible for their redress
vote and rejected.
In the mean time, the Government of the
United States, having full confidence that a
treaty entered into and so solemnly ratified
by the trench King, would be executed in
goodfjfaith, and not doubting that pruvi:-ioii
would be made for the first instalment, which
was to become due on tho second day ofFeb-
ruary, 18311, negociated a dray for the
amouut through the Bank of the United
States. When this draft was presented by
the holder, with the credentials required, by
the treaty to authorize him to receive the
money, the Government of France allowed
t to be protested. In addition to the injury
in the non-payment of the money by "France
conformably to her engagement, the United
states were exposed to a heavy chum on
the part of the Bunk, under the pretence of
damages in satisfaction of which that insti
tution seized upon, nnd still retains, an e-
qual amount of the public moneys. Con
gress was m session when the decision ot
the chambers reached Washington and an
immediate communication ot this apparent
ly final decision of France not to fulfil the
stipulations of the treaty, was the course nat
urally to be expected from the president.
The deep-tone of dissatisfaction which per
vaded the public mind, ay siVtho correspon
dent excitement produced in Congress by
only a general knowledge of the result, ren
dered it more than probable, tha a resort to
immediate measures of redress would be the
consequence of calling the attention of that
body to tho subject. Sincerely desirous ot
preserving the pacific relations which had
iJUM cxitfed between the two countries,
wwi lUajZis to avoid this course, if 1 could
be satishew that by doing so, neither the
ntere.st nor-the honor ol my country would
be comproinitted. Without the fullest as
surances upon that point I could not hope to
acquit myself of tho responsibility to be in
curred, in suffering Congress to adjourn
without laving the subject before them
Those received by me were believed to be
of that character
That the feelings produced in the United
States by the news of the rejection of the
appropiation, would be such as I have des
cribed them to have been, was forsecn by
the f rench Government, and prompt men
sures were taken by it to prevent the conse
quences, i he King, in person, expressed
through pur Minister at Paris his profound
regret at the decision of the Chambers, and
promised to send; forthwith, a national shit
with despatches to his Ministor here, author
izing him to give such assurances as rould
satisfy the Government and People of the
United States, that the treaty would yet be
faith full v exocuted by b ranee. 1 he nation
al ship arrived, and the Minister received
his instructions. Claiming to act under the
authority derived from them, he gave to this
Government, hi the name of his, the most
solemn assurances, that as soon after the new
elections as the charter would permit, the
French Chambers would be convened, and
tho attempt to procure the necessary appro
priations renewed; that alhlie constitution
al powers of tbe King and his Ministers
; hould be put in requisition to accomplish
ttflajirnestly desirous of preventing further
obataHes from that source, I went out of. my
way tl preclude a construction of the mes
sage, by which the recommendation that
was made to Congress might be regarded as
a menace to France, in not only disavowing
such a design, but in declaring that her
pride and her power were too well known
to expect any thing from her fears. The
Message did not roach Paris until more than
a month after the Chambers had been in
session ; nnd such was the insensibility of
the Ministry to our rightful claims and just
xpectations, that our Minister had been in
formed that the matter, when introduced,
would not be pressed as a cabinet measure.
Although the Message was not officially
communicated to the French Government,
and notwithstanding the declaration to the
contra ry which--it contained, tlie French
Ministry decided to consider the conditional
recommendation of reprHals, a menace and
arrisult, which the honor of the nation
made it incumbent on them to resent. 1 he
measures resorted to by them to evince their
sense of the supposed indignity were the
mmedtate recall of their Minister at Wash
ngton, the ofTer of passports to the Ameri
can Minister at Paris, and a public notice
to the Legislative Chambers that all diplo
ic intercourse with the' United States
had I ecn suspended.
in this manner vindicated the
dignity of France, they next proceed to il
lustrate her justice. J o this end, a bill was
immediately introduced into the Chamber
of Deputies, proposing to make the appropri
ntiuus necessary to carry into effect the
treaty. As this bill subsequently passed
into a law, the' provision of which now con
stitute the mam subject ot difficulty between
the two nations, it become my duty, m or
der to place tho subject before you in a clear
light, to truce the history of its passage, and
to roler with some particularity, to the pro
ceedings and discussions in regard to it.
The Minister of Finance, in his opening
speech, alluded to the measures which
had been adopted to resent tho supposed in
dignity, and recommended the execution of
the treaty as a measure required tor the ho
nor and justice of France. He, as the or
gan of the Ministry, declared the message,
so long as it had not received the sanction of
Congress, a more expression of the person
al opinion of the President for which neith
er the Government nor the People of the
United States were responsible, and that an
engagement had been entered into, for the
fulfilment of which the honor of France was
plodgod. liutertainiug these views, the
single com.iL a which uie I'roncn ministry
proposed to annex to the payment of the
money, was, that it should not no maae un
til it was ascertained that the Government
of tbe United States had done nothing to in
jure' the interests of France; or, in other
words, that no steps bad been authorized by
Congress of a hostile character towards
France.
What the disposition or action of Congress
might be, was then unknown to the French
cabinet. But, on the 14th of January, the
Senate resolved that it was, at that time, in
expedient to adopt any legislatire measures .
iu regard to tlie state of affairs between the
United States and France, and no actios
on the subject hud occurred in the House of
Representatives. These fac s were known
in Paiis prior to the 28tfa of March, lKl.'i,
when the committee, to whom the bill of in
demnification had been referred, reported
it to (be Chambers of Deputies. That com
mittee substantially re-ecKicd the senti
ments of the Ministry, declared that Con
gress had set aside the proposilioa of tho
President, and recommended tho passage of
the bill without any other restriction than
that originally proposed. Thus was it known
to the French Ministry and Chambers, that
if the position assumed bv them, and which .
had been so frequently and solcmnfr an
nounced as the only one compatible with the
honor of Frauce, was maintained, and the
bill passed as originally proposed, tbe mon
ey would be paid, and there would be an
end of this unfortunate controversy.
but tins etiecnng propoct was soon des
troyed by an amendment introduced into the
bill at the moment of its passage, providing
that the money should not be paid until the
r rench Government had received satisfac
tory exph. nations of the President's message
ot the 2d December, 1831; ami what is still
more extraordinary, the President of the
Council of Ministers, adopted this amend
ment, and consented to its incorporation in
the bill. In regard to a supposed insult
which had been formerly resented by the
recall of their Minister, and the offer of
passports to ours, they now, for the first time,
proposed to ask explanations; Sentiments
nnd propositions, which they had declared
Could not justly be imputed to the Govern
ment or People of the United States, arc set
upas obstacles to the performance of an act
of conceded justice to that Government and
People. They had declared that the honor
of France required the iiilfilment of the en
gagement into which the King had entered,
unless Congress adopted the recommenda
tions of the message. They ascertained
that Congress did not adopt them, and yet
their fulfilment is refused, upless they first
obtain from the President explanations of
an opinion characterized by themselves as
personal and imperative.
The conception that it was mv intention
to menace or insult the Government of
France, is as unfounded as the attempt to
extort from the fears of that nation what her
sense of justice may dcnywould be vain
and ridiculous. But the Constitution of the
United States imposes on the President tho
duty of laying before Congress the condition
of the country, in its foreign and domestic
relations, and of recommending such mea
sures, as may, in his opinion, be required
by its interests. From the performance of
this duty he cannot be doterred by fear of
wounding the sensibilities of the Govern
ment of whom it may become necessary to
speak; and the American People are inca
pable of submitting to an interference by
any Government on earth, however power
ful, with the free performance of the domes
tic duties which the Constitution has impos
ed upon their public functionaries. The
discussions which intervene between the
several departments of our Government,
belong to ourselves; and for any thing said
in them, our public servants are only res
ponsible to their own constituents, and to
each other. If, in the course of their con
sultations, facts are erroneously stated, or
unjust deductions are made, they require no
other inducement to correct them, however,
informed ot their error, than their love ef
justice, and what is due to 1
acier; but thev can never sufj
terrogated upon the subject as a matter ot
right, by a foreign power. When our dis
cussions terminate in acts, our responsibili
ty to foreign power commences, not as indi
viduals, but as a nation. 1 ho principle
which calls in question the President for the
language of his message, would equally
justify a foreign power in demanding expla
nation ol the language used in the report ot
a committee, or by a member in a debate.
This is not the first time that the Govern
ment of France has taken exception to the
message of tlie Presidents. President
Washington, and the first President Adams,
inSlie performance of their duties to the A
mcrican people fell under the animadversion
of the French Directory. The olvjcction ta
ken by the Ministry of Cha-les X, and re
moved by the explanations made by our
Minister upon the spot, has already been
adverted to. When it was understood that
the M nistry of the present King took ex
ception to my message of last year, putting
a construction upon it which wus disavowed
on its face, our late Minister at Paris, in an
swer to the note winch first announced a
dissatisfaction with the language used in tbe
message, made a communication to the
French Governmen!,. under date of the 28th
of January, 1835, calculated to remove all
impressions which an unreasonable suscep
tibility had created. He repeated, and cal
led tho attention of the French Government
to the disavowi.l contained in the message
itself, of any intention to intimidate by men
ace he declared that it contained, and was
intended to contain, no charge of ill faith a
gainst the King of the French, and properly
distinguished between the right to complain,
in unexceptionable terms, of the omission
to execute an agreement, and an Accusation
of bad motives in withholding Such execu
tion and demonstrated, that the necessary
use id' that right ought not to be considered
as an onRsaive imputation. Although this
communication was made without instruc
tions, and entirely on the Minister's own re
sponsibility, yet it was afterwards made tbe
act of this Government by my full
approbation, and tliat approbation was offi
cially made known on tbe siftth of Ajyil,
1835, tothe French Government, n, now
ever, failed to have any elfect. Tho law,
ever, failed to have any
aftar this friendly
patsssd with
at