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«
AEORC4IA TEL
By 31. & E. E. Bartlett.
MACOJY, Georgia, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24,1835.
Volume X....Number 26
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
'fdhtTCitten* «f the X-nnte ami
House of Representatives :
Tn the discharge of my offirinl duty, ilio task
„j n devolves upon ntc of communicating witlin
w Congress. Tim reflection that the ropre-
^ntatioD «f «he Union bus recently been renew-
i t mnl that the constitutional '.erin of its service
ill rxpire with tnv mvn, heightens the solicitude
with which I shall attempt to lay before it the
,nateofnnr national concerns, and the devout
Hi>pe which I cherish, tint its labors to improve
piP'ii may be crowned with success.
You are assembled at a period of profound int
erest to tho Americnu Patriot. The unexampled
growth and prosperity of our country having giv
en us « rank in the scale of nations' which rem
oves all apprehensions of danger to our integr ily
and imtcpondeuco from external foes, the career
of freedom is before us. with an earnest from the
past, if true to ourselves, tliore can be no formi
dable obstacle in the future, to its peaceful and
uninterrupted pursuit. Yet in proportion to the
disappem auec of those apprehensions which at
tended ear weakness, ns oucecontrasted with the
power
of soino of the states of the old world.
should we now he solicitous ns to those that lie-
lone t" the conviction that it is to our own con
duct that we must look for the preservation of
those causes on which depend ilia excellence &
the duration of our happy system of govern m’t.
In the example of other systems, founded on
the will "f the people, we trace to internal dissen
sion the influences which have so often bloated
the hopes of the friends of freedom. The social
clement*. which were strong and successful when
united against external danger, failed in ths more
difficult task of properly adjusting their own in
ternal organization, and thus gave way the great
principle of self government. Let us tiint that
ihi«admonition will never he forgotten by the
Govemmeut or the l’eople of the United States:
and that the testimony which our experience thus
far holds out ta the jpYM human family, of the
pneiicubility anil tho blessings of freo governin'!
will be confirmed in all time to coido.
\Yc bas e but to look at the state of our agri
culture. manufactures and commerce, and the
nnrxainpled increase of our population, to feel
the great magnitude of the trust committed to
us. Never in any former period of our history,
have we had greater reason than we now h ?ve,
to be thankful to Divine Providence for the bles
sings of health and general prosperity. Every
branch of labor we see crowned with the mns» a-
bmidant rewards : in every element of national
resources and wealth, and of individual comfort,
we witness the most rapid & solid improvements
With no interruptions to this pleasing prospect
at home, which will not yield to the spirit of har
mony uud good will, that so strikingly pervades
the mass of the people in every quarter,
amiJst nil the diversity of interest and pur
suits to which they nre attached : and with no
ennte rf solicitude in regard io our external af
fairs. which will not. it is hoped, disappear be
fore ilia principles of simple justice, ami the for
bearance that marks our intercourse with foreign
powers,—we hove every reasou to feel proud of
our beloved country.
The general stnteof our Foreign Relations baa
uot materially changed since my Inst animal mes
sage.
In the settlement of ths question of »he North-
Eastern boundary little progress has beer, made,
Greit Britain has declin'd nrceding to the propo
•ition of ilio United S:atc», presented in accord
ance with the resolution of the Senate, unless
certain preliminary' conditions wero admitted,
which I deemed incompatible with a satisfactory
and rightful adjustment of the controversy. Wai-
ting for some distinct proposal from the govern
ment of Great Britain, which has been invited,
I can only repeat the expression of mv confidence
that with tho strong mutual disposition which I
believe exists, to make n jnst arrangement, thi*
perplexing question ran he settled with a d.ie re
gird to the well-founded pretensions and pacific
policy of all the parties to it. Events are fre-
qurnilv occnning on the Nnrth-F.astern frontier,
of a character to impress upon nil the necessity
of a spee Iv and definite termination of tho dis
pute. This consideration, ndded to the drsire
common to both, to relieve the liberal and friend
ly relations so happily existing between the two
countries, from all embarrassment, will no doubt
have its iust influence upon both.
Our Diplomatic intercourse with Portugal has
simultaneous appointment by nil, of Ministers
to negotiate with Spain, had not been made :
the negotiation itself would have becu simplified,
and this longstanding dispute, spreading over a
large portion of the world, would have been bro’t
ton tnorospeedy conclusion.
Our political and commercial relations with
Austria. Prussia, Sweden and Denmark, stand
on the usual favorable basis. One of ths arti
cles of our treaty with Russia, in relation to the
trade on the North West coast or North America,
having expired, instructions have hecu given to
our Minister at St Petersburg, to negotiate n
renewal of it. The long and unbroken amity
between the two Governments, gives every rea*
son for supposing the article will he renewed, if
siroiigei motives do uot exist to prevent it, than
with our view of the subject, can he nuticipaii-d
here.
I ask your attention to the message of nay pre
decessor, at the opening of the second session of
the nineteenth Congress, relative to our commer
cial intercourse with Holland, and to the docum
ents connected with that subject, communicated
to the House of Representatives on the lOlli of
January, 1"'25 aud ISth January, 1827. Coin
ciding in the opinion of tny predecessor, that
Holland is not, under tho regulation of her pres-
enl system, entitled to have her vessels and their
cargoes received into the United States on the
footing of American vessels and cargoes, as re
gards duties of tonnage aud impost, a respect for
his reference of it to the Legislature, has alouo
prevented me from actiug on the subject. 1
should still have waited without comment, for
the action of Congress, hut recently a claim lias
been made by B-dgiau subjects, to admission in
to our ports, for their ships and cargoes, on the
same footing as American, with the allegation
we could not dispute, that our vessels receiv'd j
veil their author! never denied our right to rep
aration. Of the extent of these injuries, some
conception may he formed from the fact, that af
ter the burning of a largo amount at sea, and the
necessary deterioration in other cases, hy deleu-
tion, the American property so seized aud Mcri-
ficed at furccd sales, excleTiiij, what was arjudg
ed to privateers, before or without condcmua-
fnuud regret at the decision of the Chambers, and j had been so frequently and solemnly announced ties between the two nations, would have been
promised to send, forthwith a inliounl ship, with I as the ouly one compatible with tile ltouur of
despatches to his Minister here, authorizing him J France, was maintained, aud the hill passed as,
lo give such assurance* k* would satisfy the G«iv- nriguallv proposed, tho money would bo paid,
eminent ami people of tho United States that j and there would he an cud of the unfortunate
the tre..ty would yet he faithfully executed hy | controversy.
Frxr.c* The nation d ship -.reived. and tee j ILn. ibis tlnreriug prospect was scon destroyed j fore their representativ
Minister received his instructions. Clait&mg f J J>y an amendment introduced into the hill at the i Executive lias gone in i
accepted ; and ! therefore did not hesitate to give
it my sanction and full ipprobatinn. This was
due to the .Minister who had made himself re
sponsible-for the act; aud it was nuhlished to the
People of tho United States, olid is now laid he-
c-s. tn show how far their
its endeavors to restore ;t
tiau. brought inf .the French treasury apwrxds of, act under the authority ..5r;v>u ,from ihr, h- i moment ol its passage, providing that the money good understanding between ihe two countries
twenty four millions of franc*, ’*.».• dr i j. .ive lo this Go^r/nuient, in tho nttne- of :is, the j slumM ti -* he ■'a.7 until tire French Govern in •••nr It would have been at any tim.-: communicated
I M. . tme of :is, the j shonld he ;’a,». until rtta French Government
ir.osf solotup assurances, that, as soon after tbs j h;, ! •vt-civ-d sM-ftfuclory explanations of th-
o*w election as tho cha. » r would permit, the >’-aside* , ngc of the 2d December, 1834 ;
i.v years uninterrupted urv 'nuu, except tar *• French Chamber* would be .convened, ant wlw. :-s> mar - extraordinary, the Presi-
short time, when France was overwhelmed by . attornpt to procure the no-resittr. appropriation i J,.. ; ~ Corn ed of Minister< ad ipted this a-
the military power of Europe. During j renewed: that ail the co.' .itutional powers o-' me nln T' and ‘onsonted to its incorporation jin
this period. wi;il; Kl or » -ttii were extorting j the Khtg ami hi* rfinistotv should, he put in re-
from her, payment c f f.Vi .urns at tLv poiut ofj caie> ,n to accoir'4i*Ji «hc oiij-et: aud ho wa
the bayonet, too U.titcL * te* inti aiitfed thrirj undo/stood, and ro expressly i-formed by thi
demand for justice, cot of ~iSj"~ ». to the oppres- j Gove rums at, nr tho time, 'to ongnge that tho
Sail condition of a g-dhsut iv«nti t to whom they I question >hou!d hi pressed ' -v decision, at ape-: Kon*. ‘-eutiv.exts aud propositions wfricli they
hr I .’ncii red-mth not justly he imputed to the
itiii information of
fell under obligations for *itvual urustaoce in , .iod -urii Testily on. iy to. y
their uivu days of sufFeri i® a*jJ af icril- The j th*’ .-efr-Ji to La cot.amuuic.' od * r i Congress
bad effects of theci V'-otrJjle-,' and unnvuiltng i nf their nsx, session. Bel;
discussions, as well upt -unit thins wi i, France j in, *.aese assr anccs. I incurred tho resp-m
I | IcIh-io'ci', were obvious; ■
as upon our uati
and the line of du 1 ;.s o my mind equally so
This was, either *;> .-i jsl opon the adjustment or
our claims, within a r msonabh r«iod. or to a-
baudou them n'.togeIftpr- 1 co jM not doubt that,
by this conrse, the Merest au*l honor of he'll
countries would (>.- lies, consulted. Instructions
were, ther? fore, gi-en i : this spirit, to the Minis
ter ttfio was sent . , once more to demand rep
aration. Unon i» -neetiog of Congress, in De-
ceniher. f ft-.v it my doty to speah if those
claims, :.o i the delays of Fr -.jt’. in term - r .ii.u -
luted t.. call tho soricas aucntt<* ; i oftioth '.tut’".-
Ties to the subject. 7 do theo French f iiakiy
rook vx . >u *o t*-t v.emge. on the ttsuad of
it* c-mUiFvg ' wet .u, under which .« a*u«<
in tf.cir ports tho identical treatment shoivu ’■ > j agreesldato ti. Fretichgorernmou. -i>oegotia»«.
them in the ports of Holland, upon whose vessel* ! The ‘can Minister, -'fills seco*^ ro-
siHh *, grtr‘. as 1 ro;;srJed it to .»»■, if stiffeiing
L'otigrsss to separate without co-nmmiicnting
with tlicr,j upon the subject.
The cxpec'ntioK'jit ,tly founded
mil m. tltos solemnly made to
hy C t i France, were not
Frouci; Ob -tubers met on the 3‘st o, July, IS.JL | . nlcsv ' h *>‘ ...
soon afur the election, and altho.s^h our Minister j n,. of an opinion characterized by themselves
in Paris o.gc- tit-. French Ministry U- press the ( ,; s personal and inoperative.
•rdijcT t mn-.rothom, they declined doin^ so. Hej The concention tint it was my intention to
next Ttsko- that tb? Chamber;- if p-ortigJ*ed j menace or insult the Government of France, is
'vitK it I'riT.v o R the caoject should I s rcassein- ns unfounded, ns the attoir.pt to extort from the
1 lied at period JO'carly, that their aclios on tin-1 fears of that nation what hor sense of justice may
i/cat ; i might he in Washington f riar to dmy. would he vain and ridiculous. But the
] he m sating ottatgran. This roasenahle it- j constitution of the United States imposes on the
quest xW n-'t niy deel - ed. but t Chambers t President the duty of laying before Congress the
, tv- .. proro;, ed to is® Ssiltli of December, a oay condition of the country in its foreign and do-
•ile.. that tbi’- decision, however at gently [ mestic relations, and of rccommen tin
It would have beea at any tim;: communicated
to the Government of Fraucc, had it bccu ofli-
cial'v requested.
The French Government liatic- reeoived all
the explanation which honor ami principle per
mitted, an.I Which eou il in reason he asked, it
rr.-arir to a supposed insult which ! " as hoped it would uo lontrer hesi'ate to pay tho
resented hy the recall of their instalments now due. The agent r.uthorized to
receive (he money, wa» in.tructcd to inform tho
French .Minister of his readiness to do so. in
reply to this notice, lie was told that the money
could not then he paid, because the founnlitics
S lvertmca ' ■ 'Vo'ple of tho United States, are) required hy the act or the Char ,bun had uot been
ao* j- *«»•; To ilio pnrformaLce of an nc( j arr.i-igcd.
r --edsi 1 jus*;' ! to tiint Government and peo- f Not htivii
tho hid.
had heec
‘lini:tc .-'nixi iho offer of passports to ours, they
now, f irthe -st »»ne, prop .sen lo ask exfdana
ccivcd nitv oBaLS c ommmiica-
Pi .-. n h h.-ii declared that the honor «f| »•>« of the iuientious of tin- French Govcnnii nr,
Fra-ve reui,ir8. > Cm fulfilment of tho engage- »•«* anxious to bring. e» far as practicable, this
... hieh the King had enteied, tinlesi j unpleasant affair to a elose licforn ttje meclmg of
-
intAituro-i as mnv, in his opinion, ho rfequiretl* l>y
its interests. From die performance of this duty
he cannot tin deterred bv the fear of wounding
The /MMM* given by tlio Ministry for re \ .he sensibilities of the people or Government of
in fact enjoyed, when Belgium and Holland were | I'r-\’: ..:i)''» m t*<agc was a co',.;ni.r nation ad-
umted under one Government. Satisfied witn I dressu., *.
the justice of their pretensions to he placed on f.'o.ijrrc*. of (a. LuireJ States, in which it was
the samo footing with Holland, 1 could not. nov-! cujoic -d »>, < • him. hy the constitution, to Jay
ertfieleis, without disregard to the principle* of hofor »b\ i «b information of the attJu of the
our laws, admit their claim to be treated as A- j Ui roc, com*.r-diMiding it* foreign -l we.'l as its-
merienns; ami at the same time, a respect fur - 5s; -i «»i "tv'rroi; ami that if, in --ko discharge
Congress, lo whom the subject had long since ‘ ui '.liu * '{y felt it incumbn.t upon hira »•
been referred, has prevented me from producing
a just cq*i lify, l») taking from the vessels of
llollanil, privileges conditionally granted hy acts
of Congress, although the condition upon whirl)
the grant was made, has in my judgment, failed
since lt:22. 1 r« commend, therefore, a leview
of the act of 1824, and such a modification of
it as will produce nn equality, on such terms as
Congress shall think best eonipo-t* with our set
tled policy, aud the obligations of justice to two
friendly powers.
With tie Sublime Porte, and all the Govern
ments on the const of Barhary. our relations con
tinue to he friendly. The proper steps have
been taken to renew our treaty with Morocco.
The Argentine Republic has again promised
lo send, within the current year, a Minister to
the United States.
A Cou' ention with Mexico for extending tho
time for ilio appointment of Commissioners to
run the boundary hue, has been cr-orludcd. nnd
/ will ho submitted to the Senate. Recent events
in that country have awakened the liveliest so
licitude in the U. State*. Aware of the strong
temptations exisliug, and powerful inducements
held out to citizens of the U. States, to mingle in
the dissensions of our immediate neighbors, ins
tructions have been given to the District At tor
nevsof the U. Stales, whero indications warrau-
ted it, to prosecute without*respect to persons, all
who might a'tcmpt to violate the obligations of
our neutrality: while at the same time, it li t*
been thought necessary to apprize tits Govern
ment of Mexico, that we should require the iu-
(egrity of our territory' to he scrupulously respec
ted. hy both parties.
From our Diplomatic Agents in Brazil, Chili
Peru. Central America. Venezuela, and New-
Grcnnda. constant assurances are received of
the continued good understanding with the Gov
ernments to which they arc severally accredited.
With those Governments upon which our citizens
have valid and accumulating claims, scarcely an
advance towards a settlement of them is made,
) owing, mainly to their distracted stale, or to the
-
'•‘ore.gti govern.neti'.i, hut 'o the j fusing to couvo?, ' she ( Vv a >ari at au oa lier pe
riod, were aftorwards sho.roi not to ho imupera-
F'o, hy their aett a: convocation on tin* 1st 4
December, undora spt ; ,t) call for domestic pur
poses, which far ' how*r. - iid not become l.notvu
to this Govern ii;uutt-i-Vr the coia r.enco
inent of the last if Congress.
Thus dUai. ' .rfted in our jot-1 ox.peetai.onv. i
v ''«o my i operative -’ tv t consult wit! 7on-
gr> :s in r '.gard to tho ot...-iHtioney of a res *rt t.
retaliatory rmanre*, tn : *.s* ’h i «tipn!ati( .is of
the treaty sho’dd not lie speedily complied with;
and to ro< oiumendsnch a? mv jodgme-.. the
ooepsioc called f< '1'c . bis ru-., an unre, • red
..i.rav'iicauon of the cast. , in a’! its aspects, be-
imo indisneusable. To h.;v *• sfintnk, in making
nr
suiniv m -ie .>t!«n*ion of CongTsj* i. -uotime
trhru migbf he the. possi'le . mseqirs:.-®*
i- • uiiTic-dtics with any foreign G-iverun
.' .gl)‘ fi'i ' suppos 'd ‘.o do so, UQr ;t , v.;„,.
«• * k *» ■ me from him in a frank com inuni •
i • i-‘; azr-ther branch of his own Govern-
m at, and not f. jir any ii. of holding »
menace over a for. gn power. .i r . risw* ta‘-'er.
hy hii»- iceivcd u?v apo.oiir‘nm T the fteMb
been renewed, and, it i* expected that ihe
claims of our citizens partially paid, will he fnl-
Iv satisfied as soon ns the condition ofthe Queen’s
Government will permit the proper attention to
the subject of them. That Government has, 1
am happy to inform yon, manifested a determin-
atioato act npon tho"liberal principles that have
marked our po'icv,—the hnpniest effects upon
the future trade bero-en the U States nud^ Por
tugal, nre anticipated from it. nnd tho time is not
thourht to he remote when a system of perfect
reciprocity will he cstnh!i«hcd
'I lie instalments due under ihe convention with
the King of the Two Sicilies, have been paid
with that scrupulous fidelity by which bis whole
conduct lias been characterised, and the hope is
indulged that the adjustment of the vexed ques
tion ofonr claims will he followed by n more
extended and mutually beneficial intorconr«o be
tween the two countries.
The interna! contest still continues in Spain.
Distinguished ns this struggle has unhappily been
by incidents of the mosi sanguinary chasacter.
the obligations of tile Into treaty of indemnifica
tion with us, have nevertheless, been faithfully
executed hy the Spanish Government.
No provision having been made at the last ses
sion of Congress for the ascertainment of tho
claims to ho paid, and the apportionment of the
funds, under tho Convention made with Spain,
I invite your early attemion to the subject. The
evidences of the debt, have ac<*irding to the
terms of the Convention, and in the forms pre
scribed by it, been placed in possession of the U.
States; nnd tho interest as it fell duo has been
regularly paid upon them. Our commercial in
tercourse with Cuba stands as regulated by the
Oct of Congross. No recent information has been
received as to the disposition of the Governm’t
at Madrid on this subject, nnd the lamented death
of our recently appointed Minister on his way to
Bpain, with the pressuro of affair* at home, ren
der it scarcely probable that any change is to he
looked for during the coming year. Further por
tions of the Florida Archives have been scut to
the U. States, although the death of one of the
Commissioners at n critical moment, embarrass
ed the progress of tho delivery of them. Tho
pressuro of imperative domestic questions. Our
patience has been, and will probably ho still fur
ther sorely tried ; hut our fellow-citizens whose
interests are involved, may confida in the deter
mination <>f the Government, to obtain for thorn
eventually, ample retribution
Unfortunately many of the nations of this hemis
phere are still seif-tormented by domestic dissen
sions. Revolution succeeds Revolution; inju
ries arc committed upon foreigners eogag.d in
lawful pursuits, much time elapses before a
Government sufficiently stable is erected tojusl-
ify expectation of redress. Ministers are sent &.
received, and before the discussions of past inju
ries arc fairly begun, fresh Irouhlcs arise; hut
too frequently new injuries nro added to the old,
to he discuss’d together, with tho existing Govern
men!, after it lias proved its ability to sustain the
assaults made upon it. or with its successor, if o-
verthrown. If this uuhappy condition of things
continues much longer, other nations will he un
der tho painful necessity of decidiug whether
justice tn their suffering citizens docs not require
a prompt redress of injuries, hy theirown power,
without waiting fir the establishment of a Gov
ernment competent and enduring enough to dis
cuss and to make satisfaction for them.
Since the last session of Congress, the validity
of our claims upon France, ns liquidated hy the
treaty of 1831, has been acknowledged by both
hrnuclics of her Legislature, nnd the money has
beeu appropriated for their discharge, hut the
payment is, I regret to inform you, still withheld.
A brief recapitulation of the most important
incidents in this protracted controversy, will show
how utterly untenable are the grounds upon which
this course is attempted to be justified.
On entering upon the clinics of my station. I
found tho U. Slates nn unsuccessful applicant
to the justice of France, for the satisfaction of
claims, the validity of which was never quest
ionable, and has now been most solemnly admit
ted hy France herself. The antiquity of these
claims, their high justice, nnd tho aggravating
circumstances out af which they aroso. are too
familiar to the American People to require de
scription. It is sufficient to say. that, for a peri
od of ten years aud upwards, our commerce
Gover. a at was satisfied, tad Fie oevr-tiatron i :< from «ay : ug ail that was necessary toils enr-
wa* co.» siut'. It terml - in -ho feats of I eect understanding, mid that tho truth we hid
JuL *, t $»l. .-(cognising tiiejusticc of our claims | justify, for 'ear of giving offenev to others, would
in part, end promising or- ir W suonct; have* hoeo anworthy of us. To Have gone, on
of twenty-five millions of iVhwa- io Ax aatiav ! the other hand, a single step further, for the p:tr-
P*is5 of woanding the piido of a Government
ftd people with whom we had so many motives
Ms.
insist
T.v ratifications of this ironiy m** exchanged
at \V *i,‘ugtoaosi the 2d of Fehrun. f, 1332, atm
in five day* (hereafter it wn* laid Ovforo Con
gress. who >ma; .liatcly pnsv.d he v u necessa
ry, on < ur |» >r*. to secure to t’.unce the oti-
uicrcin 1 nd"»r.’at,'cs conceded -.••• h.i» ti r com
pact. Thrttr. aty had previotbW bee*, solemnly
ratified hy 0- Kiugof the Fre-.-hiu u which
are cet ’? ,iol mere matter* e." ror.,,j asj «rf
which th- translation is a? follows:
“AVf approving tho abrve couv«jtion n a!'
and each cTthc disp-soio*. i»hi A ro ' ,;aiue.I
in it, do 4-clare by oti.-seivea, r* vast a* nj c;r
heirs anil surcessors. that it is .v r/t'-e. •ppf-av-
ed, ratified and cunfirmod * jd J-.y -i: »e pres-
ents. sigr.^o by cur hand, .s.v t < r tpt, approve,
ratify, and coafina il; p g, oc tho faith
a:'d word of a King, *o r*.- v" ii dH to cause
it to he observed inviol»*'iy, s. i' * o«t era. 1 contra
vening it, or suite- ir , it ’» K t.ontravcn«d, di
rectly or iitdii-ec*',. ':r ktt jscso, or under any
pretence wimuiw ic-
Official inf Tmatin F ln< exchange *»f ..Etficrt-
tious in the U: — Stay-, .'sneited P iri* whilst
the Chamber >• mi »e»,i : ->n. The extraordin
ary, and to i. ■ i-'js-rions, delays cf the French
Government r*r rItiar aetiott upon tho subject of
fulfilment, have been heretofore stated to
Congress, an f h . ao disposition to enlarge
upon them h< f . is sufficit-tu to observe that
the then pend! ; se *i/»i ras olloT.'cd to expire,
^without eva. w effort to eV tic the necessary
appropriation*— 1uk. ths ;v»o succeeding ones
were also sutured • j pass away without any
thing like a serious uipt to obtain a decision
upon the subject—aou that it was not until the
fourth session— s'must thr-je years after the con
clusion of ihe tre .y, and more than two years
after the exchange of ratifications —that tho bill
for the execution of the troity was pressed to a
vor , md rejected. In the mean time, the Gov
ernment of the Uuitcd States, haying full confi
dence that a treaty entered into nnd ?o solemnly
ratified by the French King, would bo executed
iu good faith, and not doubting that provision
would he made for the payment of the first in
stalment which was to bocotne due on the second
oay of February. 1833, negotiated a draft for
the amount through the Bank of the U. States.
When this draft was presented hy tho holder,
with tho credentials required hy the treaty to au
thorize him to receive tho money, tho Govern
ment of France allowed it to be protested. In
addition to the injury in tho non payment of the
money hy France, conformably to her engage
ment, the United -States were exposed to a heavy
claim on the part of the Bank under pretence of
damages, in satisfaction of which, that institution
seized upon, aud still rctaius.an unequal amount
of tho public moneys. Congress was in session
when tho decision of tho Chambers reached
Washington; and an immediate communication
of this apparently final decision of Franco not to
fulfil the stipulations of the treaty, was tha course
naturally to be expected from the President.—
Tho deep tone of dissatisfaction which pervaded
lor cultivating relation* of amity and rociprocal
advantage, would have been unwise and improp
er. ^monished by the nasi, of tho difficulty of
making evon »ho simplest statement of- our
wrongs without disturbing tho seusihilities of
whom it may become necessary to speak: and
tho American People aro incapable of submit
ling to an interference by any Government ou
Till, however powerful, with the tree perfor-
inxnre ofthe domestic du'ies which the constitu
tion tins imposed on ilu-ir public functionaries.—
The discussions which intervene between the sev
eral departments of onr Government belong lo
ourselves; and for any thing said in them, our
public servants are only responsible to their own
constituent*, and to each other. If. in thocourse
of tbeir consultations, facts are erroneously slat-
oil, or unjust deductions are made, they require
no other inducement to correct them, however in
formed of their error, than their love of justice,
and what it duetn their own character: but they
can never submit to be interrogated upon the
subject as a matter of right, by a foreign power.
When our dis-tissious terminate in acts, onr re
sponsibility to foreign powers commences, not as
individuals, but as a nation. The princpla which
call* in question the President for the language
of his mes«age, would equally justify a foreign
power in demanding explanation of the language
used iu th« report of a committee, or hy a mem
ber in debate.
Thi* i3 not the fi st time that the Government
of France has taken exception to the messages
those who had, hy their position, bocoino respnn- „f Vm-rican Presidents. President Washington
sitiTe for their redress, and earnestly desirous of
preventing farther obstacles from that source, I
we ■■■ out of my way to pro elude a construction
o: ?;;•> message, by which the recommendation
that was made to Gotigrcss might be regarded as
x men ice to France, in not only disavowing such
a ties gif. hut in declaring that her prido and her
p/ wer ware too welt known to oxpoct any thing
from her fears. The message did not reach Par
is until more than a month after tho Chambers
iiad been iu sevUii, anil such v*as theinsensibili
tyof the Ministry to our rightful claims and just
expectations, that e:ir Minister had been inform
ed, th it the matter, when introduced, would not
he pressed ns a Cabinot measure.
Although the ■ » r isago was not officially com
municated tn 'ho French Government, and not
withstanding tho declaration to the contrary
which it contained, the French Ministry decided
to consider tho conditional recommendation of
reprisals, a menace and an insult, winch the hon
or of tho aylioH made it incumbent ou then* to
resent. The measures resorted to hy them to j
evince their sense of tho supposed indignity,
were, the immediate recall of their Minister at
\Va9hiugt0u, tho offer of passports to the Ameri
can Miuister at Paris, and a public notice to the
Legislative Chambers that all diplomatic inter
course with the United States had beou suspend
ed
Having, in this manner, vindicated the dignity
of France, they next proceeded to illustrato her
justico. To this end, a bill was immediately in
troduced into the Chamber of Deputies, propos
ing to make tho appropriations necessary to car
ry into effect the treaty. As this hill subsequent
ly passed into a law, the provisions of which now
constitute the main subject of difficulty between
the two nations, it becomes my duty, iu older to
place tho subject before you irt a clear light, to
trace the history of its passage, and to refor. n ith
soino particularity, to tho proceedings and dis
cussions iu regard to it. Tho Minister of Finance,
in his opening speech, alluded to the measures
which had boon adopted to resent the supposed
indignity, aud recommondcd the execution of the
treaty as a measure required by the honor aud
justice of Franco. Ho, as tho organ of tho Min
istry, declared the message, so long as it had not
received the sanction of Congress, a more e.\
pressiou of the personal opinion of the President
for which neither the Government nor the Peo
ple of tho Uuitod States were responsible- and
that an engagement had been entered into, for
the fulfilment of which tho houor of Franco was
pledged. Entertaining these views, tho single
condition which the French Ministry proposed to
annex to the payment of tho money, was, that it
should not be made until it was ascertained that
tho public mind, and the correspondent excite- j the Govcrumeut of the United States had done
meat prodneed in Congress hy only a general J nothing tn injure the interests of Franco; or, iu
knowledge of the result, rendered it more than other words, that uo steps had been authorized
higher officers of l5:i local Government have re-1 was, with hut little interruption, the subject of
centlv shown an noxious desire, iu com pliance
ffhh tho order* of tho parent Government, to fa
cllitato the selection and delivery of all wo have
* tie hr to claim.
Negotiations havo been opened at Madrid for
•he establishment of a lasting peace between
Spain and sueh of tho Kpan. Am. Govemm’ts of
constant aggressions on ths part of Prance—ag-
gro*sions, the ordinary features of which, were
condemnations of vossels and cargoes under ar
bifrarv decrees, adopted iu contravention, at well
of the laws of nations, as of treaty stipulations :
burning on the high seas, and seizures and con
fiscations under special imperial rescripts, in the
•hi* hemisphere, ns havo nvai'cd themselves ofi ports of other nations occupied by ihe armies, or
•ho hltimatioiis given to nil of them, of the dis- j under the control of France. Such, it is uow
position of ripain to treat npon tho basis of their 1 conceded, is tho character ot tho wrongs we suf-
fntii-A 1 f. • . •
entire indepeiidonca. It is to he regretted that] ferod; wrongs in many casor, so flagrant, that e- xpressed, through our Minister at Paris, his pro-
prohalde, that a resort to immediate measures of
redress would be the consequence of calling tho
attention of that body to tho subject. Sincerely
lesirous of preserving the pacific relations which
had so long existed between the two countries, I
was anxious to avoid this course if I could be
satisfied that, hy doing so, ueilher tho interests
no'- tho houor of my country would be compro-
miued. Without the fullest assurances upou
that point, I could not hope to acquit myself of
tho responsibility to he incurred iu suffering Con
gress to adjourn without layiug the. subject be
fore them. Those received by rao were believed
to bo of that character.
That the feelings produced in tho United States
bv the news of the rejection Gf the appropriation,
would be such as I have described them to have
1* eu. was foreseen hy the French Government,
1.id prompt ine.-nures were taken by it to pre
vent the consequences. The King, in person.
by Congress of a hoslilo character towards
France.
What the disposition or action of Congress
might he, was then unknown to the French Cab
iuet. But on the 14th of January the Senate re
solved, that it was at that time inexpedient to
adopt any legislative measures- in regard to tile
state of affairs between tho United States and
France, aud no action on tho subject had occur
red in the House of Representatives. These
facts wore known in Paris prior to the 23th of
March, 1835. when tho committed to whom the
bill of indemnification had‘.icon referred, reported
it to the Chamber of Deputies. That committee
substantially re-echoed tho sentiments of the
Ministry, declared that Congress bad set aside th?
proposition of the President, and recommended
the passage of the bill without any other restric
tion than that originally proposed. Thus was
it known to the French Ministry and Chambers,
that if the position assumed by them, aud which
and the first President Adams, in th*. perform
a nee of their duties to the American People, fell
under the animadversions of the French Directo
ry. The objection taken by tho Ministry of
Charles tho Tenth, and removed by the expla
nations made by otir Minister npon the spot, has
already been adverted to. When it was under
stood that the Ministry of the present King took
exception to my mes<a*e of last year, putting a
construction upon it which was disavowed on its
face, onr late Minister at Paris, iu answer to the
uoto which first announced a dissatisfaction wi ll
the Inngurgc used tn the message, made com
munication to the French Government, under
dato of tho 2l)th of Janua.-y, 1835. calculated to
remove all impressions, which an unreasonable
susceptibility bad createn- flo repeated, and
called the .attention of tho French Government
to the disavowal contained iu the message itself,
of any i‘.teniioe to intimidate hy menace—he
truly declared that it contained, and was intend
ed n tonUiiii. no cl. irao of ill faith against the
King ui the r, 'rench, properly dl- r ‘iigiii*hed
hetT-c.-a tiv \rhito v npl»it., ini' c? iptioua-
hle terms, ot :V omiisi- >0 exti-ote ai: agree
ment, and an accusation at hm' .str.iive. Hi "iirl -
hulding such execution ; nut' dent •>jsWn'ed lhai
the necessary use of that right ought uot to he
considered as nil offensive imputation. Although
this communication was made without instruc
tions. and en'irely on ihe Minister’s own respon
sibility, yet it was afterwards made the act of
this Government hy my full approbation, and
that approbation was officially made kuowu, ou
the 25th of April, 1835, to the Fretich Govern
ment. It, however, failed to have any effect —
The law, af'er thi* friendly explanation, passed
wi'h the obnoxious amendment, supported hy
the King’s Ministers, and was finally approved
hy the King.
The People of the United States are justly at
tached to a pacific system in their intercourse
with foreign nations. It is proper, therefore,
that tiny should know whether their Govern
mont has adhtred lo it- In tho present iustauce,
it has been carried foth utmost extent, that was
cousis'ent with a becoming self-respect- The
note of the 29th of January, to which I have be
fore alluded, was not the only one which our
Minister took upon himself the responsibly of
presenting, on the same subject, and in the same
spirit. Finding that it was intended to make the
payment of a just debt dependent on the per
formance of a condition which he knew could
never he complied with, he thought it a duty to
mako another attempt to convince the French
Government, that whilst self-respect and regard
to the dignity of other nations would always pre
vent us from using auy language that ought to
give nffeiice.yot ivo could never admit a right in
or, m |)y foreign Gov’t to ask explanations of, or to
interfere in any manner ill, the communications
which one branch of our public councils made
with another: that iu the present cn*e, no such
language had hceu used, and that this had iu a
former note been fully aud voluntarily stated be
fore it was oon'et- plated to make the explana
tion a condition ; aud that there might he uo
misapprehension, he stated the terms used in that
note, aud he officially informed them that it had
been approved by the President, and that, there
fore, evert explanation which could reasonably
be asked, or honorably giveu, had been already
made—that the con'cmpiatod measure bad been
anticipated by a voluntary aud friendly declara
tion. uud was therefore not only uscle.ss; but
might be deemed offensive, nnd certainly would
not he complied with, if annexed as a condition.
When this latter communication, to which I
peciallv invite tho attention nf Congress, was
laid before me, I entertained tho hope that the
means it was obviously Intended to afford, of an
honorable and speedy ,idjustmcut of tho difficul-
eveui of their refusal to pay ihe iiisci.lrr.euts upu*
due, without further explanations, lo return "to.
the United Stales.
The result of this last application lias ird yet
reached us, hat is daily expected. Tha'd may
he favorable, is my sincere wish. Franc having
now. through till the branches ofher Govennqput,
acknowledged the validity of our c'aimy.anl the
obligation ofthe treaty of 1831, and tiler?, really
existing no adequate cause for further delay " ill
at length, it may he imped adopt the course
w hich -lie interests of both uafious, nut less than
the'principles oi justice, so imperiously, require.
The treaty being ones executed on hci part,
will remain to disturb thoffricndly relations nfu.n
two countries; nothing indeed which wi'i nuC yield
to tho suggestions o r a pacific and enlightened
policy, and to the influence of that mutual g.od
will,and those generous recollections, which wo
may confidently expect will then be revived ir all
their ancient force.
Iu auy event, however, the principle Involved
in the new aspect which'has been given lo the
controversy, is so vitally important to tho ititlrpen •
dent administration of the Government, iljrs.t it
cau ueilher he surrendered nor compromittcd
without national degradation. 1 hope it is ui.--
ueccssary forme to sav that such a sacrifice -vip.
not he made through any agency of mine. The
honor of my country shall never bo stained by
apology from me, for the statement of truth c.hI
the performance of duty; nor can I give ai»y ex
planation of tny official acts, except such as i*
due to integrity aud justice, atsd consistent with
tile principle on which our institutions have been
framed. This determination will. I am confident
he approved hy my constituents. I have, indeed
studied their character to lout little purpose, i font
sum of tweutv five millions of francs will havo
the weight of a feather in the estimation of tv
app^rlaiiis to their national independence;
if, unhappily, a different impression should a'
auy time obtain, in nuy quarter, they will, I etn
srre, rally round the Government of their ch> ;ce,
with alacrity and tintuimity, and silence forever
the degrading imputation.
Having thus fraukly presented to yon tae cir
cumstances which, since the last session -:?l Con
gress have occurred in this interesting aud impor
tant matter, with tho views of the Executive in
regard to them, it is at this time only necessary
to add, that ivheuevcr the advices, now daily ex
pected from our Charge d’ Affaire* shall havo
been received, they will be made the subject of a
special communication.
The couditin;i of tho public fiuances was never
more flattering than at the present period.
•Since my last cotnniuuca'iou, all tho remains
1 of ihe public debt, have been redeemed, or mon
ey lias been placed i 11 deposite for this purpose,
whenever the creditors choose to receive it. All
the other pecuniary engagements of tho Govern
ment have been honorably and promptly fulfill
ed, and there will bo a balance in the Treasury,
at tho close of the prescut year, of about nino-
tecn millions of dollars. It is believed, that af
ter inectiiig.al! outstanding and unexpended ap
propriation*, there will remain near eleven mil-
i.msto ho applied to any new objects which °aa-
I gross may designate, or to the more rapid - xc-
rutioj of the works now in progress, In aitv.nT
iliesa objects, aud to satisfy the current qxpeadt
ltures, ®f .he castling year, it is cstinm ed that-
there will ue received, from various sources, 2 f J
millions more, iu laite- X -j)
Should Congress make new npptopr- ’’-mis.
111 conformity with the estimate! whr u v ill be
submitted from tho va , res dt aytincu 'v r-vi/airt-
liugto about twenty f< ,; i. r,.‘.;.'«®ns, st: 1 du»-mai
lable surplus at the close o'; :hr '»-** wter
deducting all tmexpeudod appropriatWM*. "ill
probably he not less than six millions, l ha sjtn
can,- in my judgment. :ia now usefully applied,,
to proposed improvements, in our Navy yards,
and to new national works, which are not enum
erated iu the present estimates, or to the moire
rapid completion of those already begun. Ei
ther would he constitutional and. useful, aud
would render imuesessar> any attempt, in our
present peculiar condition, to divide the surplus
revenue, or to reduce it auy faster than «ill he
effected hy '.he existing laws. In any event, as
the animal report from the Secretary of the l’rea-.
sury will enter into details, shun ing the proba
bility of some decrease in the revenuo during the
uext seven tears, aud a very considerable de
duction in 1842, it is not recommended that Con
gress should undertake to modify the prc*entTa-
riir. so as to disturb tho principles 011 which the
compromise act was passed. Taxation on some
of the articles of general consumption, which
are not in competition with our own productions,
may he, 110 doubt so diminished, as t-» lessen to
some extent, the scurco of this revenue; ami tho
saino object can also he assisted by tnoic liberal
provisions for the sulypets of public defence,
which, in the presout slate of our prosperity and
wealth, may he expected to engage your atten
tion. If. however, after satisfying all tbo dews*
atids which can arise from these sources, the on
expended balance in tho Treasury should sn:'
continue 10 increase, it would he belter to bear
with the evil until the great changes contempt;
ted in our Tariff laws have occurred, and siiail
enable us to revise the system with that earonn :
circumspection which arc due to so delicate- amt ■
important a suhject.J
It is certainly our duty to diminish, as far r -
we can, the burdens of taxation, and t;> regar •
all tho restrictions which aro imposed on il •
trade and navigation of our citizens, as ev. -
which we shall mitigate whenever wo are m-
prevented bv the adverse legist-ition and pen.
of foreign uations, or tboso primary duties whit
the defence and independence of otir country en -
jo'fi upon us. That wc have accomplished mttri
j towards the relief of our citizens by-the change*
