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A € O it GEOBOIi TELEGRAPH.
CO-Sfo»*»jb8S«
|N OHWl'^y
Tujsiujay; Jail 12, 1&3*>.
SURPLUS REVKNl&.reB iNK SiUCK,&
NAI 'i ON A jFDJSP E N GE.
Tho following re&liiu .o submitted j-e«er<Ui>
by Mr. BENTON', was taken up for consider^
Don • v
Jie&olved. That the t-urplus revenue of (bn 1
.ailed Estates, ami the divjiieutis of slock reuit
Lie from tho Bunk of the United Slates, ought;«
be sot apart, and applied to tbe general deleuciL
and permanent security of ibe . ouuiry. Tha;
Jhe President be requested to cause ibe ."enure it
be informed,
1, i'bc probable amount that would be n- e&
*nry for foitifyiug tbe lake, maritime, and giu.
frontier of the United States, and such points oi
tbe laud frontier as may require permanent forti
fications.
2, The probable amount (but would be neces
sary to cousti act an . adequate amount of armo
ries and ar-tcu tlsiu the United Stales, and to sup
ply tbo Slates with field artillery, especially brass
Held pieces, for ther militia, aud with side arms
.amt pistols tor their cavalry.
3, tbe probable amount that wuulJ bo neccs
sary to supply the United States with tbe ord
nance, arms ruU amaiuuitious of war, which a
p oper regard to self-defence would requite to be
always ou bund.
4, ( be probable amount that would be neces
sary to place the naval defences of the United
States (inc.udiitg the iucrease of the navy, uavy
yards, duck yards, and steum or floating batteries)
upou the footing of streugtb aud respectability
which is due to tbe security .-.ud to tbo w elfare of
the Union.
The resolution having been read, Air, Itciiton
rose, and said that the objects contemplated by
it were of a general ami permanent n ature, and
required attention without regard to existing cir
cumstances. To place itself in a state of defeuco
was tho duty of all (outlines, w hich „csired to
preserve heir independence, or to lire with bo
nor. The United States were nut in a state of
defeuco. uud it wat their duty to attend to th it
object. The present time w as tbe proper time.
Th* public debt was paid, a large surplus reveu
U ; ' was accumulating ami the couu'ry was every
way prosperous. Pro) .s acre devis d to dj tri
bute these surpluses among the s-i aus; but lie
Was in favor oi tc.Uttg them apart, aud dedica
tiug them to tile defeece of the Unioi. Former
ly, and by a law as old as the tiepuhiic, these sur-
plusse3 were all set apar>, aud constituted a sep
arate fund, called the sinking find, and inviolably
applied to the sacred purpo,e of ex anguishing tbe
natiounl debt. By tins me u, th ■ debt has been
paid. He was for reviewing aud co.itiuumg this
policy, with a change of object, from the debt to
tbe defences of the Uniou, and would wi-h to see
all the surplus revcuue take that direction, until
the country was as secure from receiving as it is
averse from offering otfeuco. It would require
all the surplusses, aud mauy years of exertion to
accomplish tbe object.
Air. B. repeated, !::s motion was for objects of
a general aud pennaueut character, and lie felt it
th> be bis duty to make it, without regard to im
peudiug events, aud to extriusic circumstances.
Bui there were events ami circumstances w hich
should give einpuasis tojiis motion and stimulate
its immediate adoption. A French flee* of sixty
vessels of war, to be followed by sixty more, now
iu commission, approaches our ceast! aud ap
proaches it for the avowed purpose of observing
our conduct iu relation to France'! It is styled
in tlje French papers, a squadron of observation:
and wo arc sufficiently acquainted with the mil
tary vocabul ry of France, to know what th it
phrase tneaus. iu the days of the great Einpc-
rur t wo wijre accustomed lt> seo (he armies which
demolished Empires at a olow, wear that pacific
title up to thr momeut that ;he blow was ready
to bo struck. These great ariuie, assembled ou
the frontiers of Empires, gave emphasis to ue
gotianun, and crushed what resisted. A squad
ron of oiiscrvstiou, then, is a squadion of iiititp
idatiou first, aud of attack eventually! aud uoih
mg could be tnoic paljiuole than that such was
tbe character ol the sq^aurou in question, ft
loaves tbs Freuen coast colemp .raucously with
the departure of our diplomattc agent, and the
assembling of our Congress; it arrives upou our
const the very inoinciit we have to vote upon
Fretjeb • flairs, and it takes a posit jo) upon our
soutberu border—that border, above all others,
on which ive arc, at this time, peculiarly sensitive
to hostile approach
What bave we don#, continued Mr. B. to draw
this squadron upon us / iVe have done uo wrong
to b mice l we are in.iking no preparations a-
gaiust her, aud uoi oven ordinary .preparations for
general and permanent security. Well ve irea
ties, and are executing them, even tbe treaty h t
she does uot execute! We have been executing
that treaty for five years, aud may say h iw.
b .vc paid France as much under it as wc have in
vaiu demanded from h r. as tho first instalment
r.f the indemnity; not in fact by ta< mg money
(•Ut of our treasury and delivering n to her, bui,
what is better for her, uumciy, leaving her ow n
money in her own hands, in the s tape of dimiu-
tshod duties upou hyr wines, as provided fm in
this same treaty which we execute-aud which slit*
doc4 uot. Iii (hit way France ha* gained one oi
.two millions of dollars from us, besides the ea
couragemeut of her wiue trade. On the article
of silk sno is also gaining money from us iu the
same way, uot by treaty, out by Jaw. Ou- d«s-
crimiu itiug duties in tavorof silk, from this sale
tnu Capo of Good Hope, operate almost eutircl)
m her l .vor. Our great supplies of silk are from
C raucc, Euglaud aud Chiua. Iu ten sears', amt
ti color it <g A, n.g as :ut*g as we were insight.*—
i then saw me American Frigate Constitution,
towed by two steamboats, on her way to ,Ncw-
V'urk; as soon as,l cross d her. 1 saluted her
Comuio ore with thirteeu guns, which ue immt-
diaq-Iy retnruoJ, gun for gun. ’.
Mi. ti. icsliuuug, saul thus w as the report made
'>• the Fr m b Government, ny a French officer.
■tier .no tiseol the la t session of Congress, and
: t r the departure of Mona, gerrurier: aud how
. » it received in the Chamber of Deputies, to
•' inch it was communicated J He, Air. ii. would
snow uue example ol thcuianuer in which It w-ij
received, and lor that purpose, would read a par
agraph from the speech ut ibe deputy. Mens, de
ICance.
“ Gentlemen, we should put oil one side of the
tribune the twenty-five milhous, on the other the
sword of Fiance. When the Americans see ibis
good long 6Word, this very loug sivord, gentle
men, (Im - it struck down every thing from Lisbon
to .Moscow.) they will perhaps recollect wh.it it
did fur the independence of their country ; they
will perhaps, too, refleet upou what it could do
to support aud aveugc tbe houor and diguity of
France, when outraged by an ungrateful people.
(Cries of, wc.l said.) Believe me, gentlemen,
they would sooner touch your moucy than darn
to touch your sword; and for your tweuty-fivc
millions, they will bring you buck the satisfactory
receipt, which it is youi duty to exact. (Great
approbation from the exirtmities-J
Another Deputy. Alous. Fleury, de Cbabnulon,
allowed himrelf to discourse thus:
•• The insult frotujFrcsideul Jickson comes from
himsell only. This is more evident, from the to
fusai of the Americau Congress to concur with
him in it. The French Chamber, by interfering,
would lender tbe affair more serious, and make
the iirraugeineut more difficult and eveu danger
ous. Let u> put the case to ourselves. Suppose
the United States bad taken part with General
Jackson, we should have had to demand satisfac
tion, uor from him, but from the United States,
and iusteaii of now talking about negotiation,
we should have had to make appropriations for
a war, and to cutrust to our heroes of Navarino
and Algiers, the task ol teaching the Amerians,
thai France knows the way to Washington as
well as England.’
This was the language of the Deputies, and it
was thus received with applauses, aud that six
weety after the rise of our Cougr. ss, which had
shown itself pacific, and two weeks after the re
port cf tbe captain of tbe frigate D’Assas, attes
ting tlie fiieudship of our fecliegs, aud the readi-
uess of our ollieers to salute, with honor, the flag
ol France. Aud this language was uot only re
ceived with applause in the Chamber, but it bus
be. n acted upon by tbe Freuch Government.—
Two royal ordinances have appeared iu the Mzn-
iteur, under date of the 2d of December last;
and under these oidiuauccs. Admiral Alakau is
to take command of the “ squadron of observa
tion,” w hieh was immediately to proceed to tbo
West Indies; and tbe Constitution^. which is the
druii-utfirial paper of the Government. and uear-
ly equal ut authority to the Moniteur, af.er sta
ting bat the measure was warranted by the ac-
tu-i state of tbe difficulties -, v 'nij the United
fit .to. goes on 1.1 • applaud th govrrnmint for
thus preparing, long before hand, and concentra
ting the power in the hands of one u-hc is firm,
and cap.ole of using it to ud vantage when necessa
ry Thus the language ot {lie Deputies, aud
tbe conduct of the Government correspond ; and
tbe fleet must now be approaching our coast,
winch bears that long sword, at tbe sight of which
our terrified hearts and faltering tougues. must de
liver me satisfactory answer which Freuch chi
valry exacts!
Air. B. said, he had never spoken uukiudly of
tbe French nation, neither iu his place here as
Senator, nor iu his private capacity elsewhere.—
Born since tbe American devolution, bred up iu
habitual affection for the French name, coming
upou the stage oflife wheu the glories of the Ke-
p.mbeand ibe Empire were filling the win Id and
d .sznDit tbe imagination, politically connected
with We party winch a few years ago. was called
F each, his bo.oui bad glowed wirb admiration
for tb. i gre -i people, aud youthful aflectiou had
r.pcucd into manly friendship. Ho would not
now per.nuhiinseli to speak uukiudly, much less
to us.-epithets; outlie would not avoid fixing his
inentiou upou the reason assigned in tbe Cousti
luiiuue! fm the nrcseOt auVAdce m' me " euvn
-quauron upou us. That reason is this, *•Ameri- I ELSO.S, his Secretary.
iu tbe biil fur fortifications, and in addition to
the two sums «.! ijilliu Iwu. each heretofore re-
comtuemied by the committee tone inserted in
the saia bill for fortifications, uud the uriiininotit
thereof, the further sum of five hundred thousand
dollars be recommended to bo iu.-erted therein,
for the repair, completion aud ccuitruclion of foi-
tincauoiis, and to piovide tbo necessary, arma
ment therefor. Aud tbe committee iiaveAlirect
ed their chairutau to move aa amoudtueurpcCof-
diugly, at the proper time, u> the foriificatiou ap ’
propriuliua hill.”.
The motion was made iu the Senate (u insert
this appropriation of SoUO.lKKJ. The sense ij(
the Senate was so clearly against it, that fie, Air.
B. did not press it, uor eali for a division: It
was rejected when offered, aud thus the Senate,
sumodeys before they objected to the three mil
lions as being too large aud general, had rejected
a much smaller appropriation, aud one that was
specific.
Tbe third act of tlie Senate which Mr. II.
brought forward to establish the responsibility of
tbe Senate for ibe present condition or tbe coiuw
try, and the consequent visit of the Freuch fleet,
was the fact of laying ou the (able, and refusing
eveu to consider a resolution which he brought
forward about the middle of February, calling on
tbe i’resideut for plans and estimates tor tbe gen
eral and pcrmaiieut defence of the country by
sea and laud, it was all for plans and estimates
aud probable amounts of surplus revenue with
the solo view o the defence of the country ; yet
it w.is laid upou tbe table by the vote of die ma
jority, and upou tbe motiun of un opposition Se
nator; aud of all tbe acts of the Senate it seem-,
ed to him to be the ono which went further in
showing the indisposition of this body to provide
for the defence ol the country. It w as uot mere
ly a refusal to apply tnouey, but a refusal to have
iuforinati.ni by which moucy could be applied,
and that while making it aslamliug topic of re
proach that the President had uot furnished plans
and e-timates.
1 be fourth circumstai ce ou which Mr. B. rc-
demanded as an equivalent of a pecuniary con
sideration. Does France desire only a decla
ration that wc had uo intention to obtain our
rights by an address to her tears rather titan to
her justice I She has already had it, fraukiy 6c.
explicitly given by our Minister, accredited to
her Government, ms act ratified fay me, and
->ny confirmation of it ofitcialiy communicated
by him iu his letter to the French Minister oi
Foreign Allairs, of the 25th ol Ajrnt, i odd, and
Repeated by my published approval of that let
ter alter the passage of the biil of indemnifica
tion.- Does France want a degrading, servile
repetition oi this act, in terms which site shall
dictate, aud which v/iil involve an acknowledg
ment of her assumed right to interierein our do
mestic councils I She will never obtain it. The
spirit of tlie American people, [thedigiiity of the
Legislature, and the firm resolve or the Exec
utive Government forbid it.
‘As the answer of the French IVIiuister to our
Charee d’Aftaiirs at' Parh* contains an allusion
to anetter addressed by him to the representa
tive ol^France at this place^ it now becomes
proper to lay before you the correspondence
had between that functionary and the Secre
tary of State, relative to that letter, and to ac
company the same with such explanations as
poiuted. The Government of I<,„ ucp
ibuy change their detcrmiuatioa, will’ BBleo
uer :ms message as sufficient. \V„ have ri C ° Dsi '
cleariy prescribed by tbe Duke de tirocl , Bl *
which, aud upon w hich alone, the (•-,.? *? tJ I'°#
crnmeia w ill consent to nm.nl. . ;,u l . 11 f 'uv.
“ “ “ "—J’ , ernnieut will consent to comply wiih is ot -
e laithlul perlormance of which by us mey amt pay tho five millions of ambus to o -
e to this day enjoying many important com- fellow-citizens. Specula.ion w „ ow “ Ut
kWItiwl ll.4<Oinl..>r<\.- r Ph« I'lnilrlo -tlli! .1 I **L- ... L . ^ (Qfl
countries is suspended—a state of things origi
nating m an unreasonable susceptibility' on the
part ol the French Government, and rendered
necessary on our part by their refusal to per
form engagements contained in a treaty, from
the
are
merctai advantages. i The clouds'and darkness which have ***•
It is iiiue that this unequal position of affairs -bis quest on have vanisheo. It w Ul) ^ S " v ' r
should cease, and that legislative action should vtear as a sun beam, l'he money n,|| °
be brought to sustain Executive exertion in such S:l ^ s , e or S au * the 1 reucb Loy t ,- um
tv p,.,„ tmless the Goveiutneut of the Uuiteo .v,-, i 1 *
measures astne case requires. Wniie Fiance aU(J;ess1ts , litIlUf offici-ll i(1 ““M
persists in her refusal to comply witn the terms act , )mpailieU by what appeared to h. ’
ot a treaty, the object of which was, by remo- believed would appear to the whole Am b#
ving all cause of mutual complaint, to renew • people, without distinction of party, tube”***
ancient feelings of friendship, and to unite the grading apology. Tbe striking peculiarity
two nations in the bonds of amity,and of a mu- , case, tlie one which ho would undertake to
tually beneficial commerce, she cannot justly > distinguished it from any other case which had /.
complain if we adopt xucli peaceful remedies ^^ e „ rn f t,in ‘ ;S ’ ,n ,h ,? ,nl, r rcourse bet« Kll
.ii e r r j .i_ r • . „ „<■ tudepeudent nations, was, that the very I-.- .
as the law ot nat.ons and the circumstance, Q f lhis , wcre dictated to the America
the case may authoaise and demand. Of the ; verument by the French Secretary f or f “
nature of these remedies, I have heretofore A flairs. One of these terms was, that it 1,^°
had occasion to speak, and, in reference to a vei entered into ihe intention, prune, the tho
particular contiugency, to express my convic- of this Government to call iu qiicsnou therlL
tion' that reprisals would be best adapted to tlie f ;i ' l h of the Government of France,
emergency then contemplated- Sinca that pe- But the french Government proceed still fu.
riod, France, by all the departments of her 1 , cr ‘, ^ l>ou lh . e *' cfu ® al to tnaKe this apology,
Government, Itas acknowledged the validity of | , )e mJd^ouw't.ev^ 1 ^ madelthey^reT
our claim, and the obligations ot the treaty, comein to leave the question where it iheu
will enable you to understand the course of the _ _ ^ ^ n ^
Executive iu regard to it. Recurring to the and has appropriated the moneys whiclt are ne- They have giveu us nonce, Fu "advance,'flat ti *
historical statement made at the commenccm’t' ecssary to its execution; and though payment w iil consider our refusal to make this degrauiu^
of your session, of the origin and progress of. is withheld on grounds vitally important to our: apology, an evidence ti.at trie misuuderstandiut
our difficulties with France, it will be recollec- • existence as an independent nation, it is not to di«i uot proceed ou our part from mere error aud
ted that, on the return of our Minister to the U. be believed that she can have determined per-i ,n,stake -
States, 1 caused my official approval of the manently to retain a position so utterly inde- [ - “ V‘ ,u ' t J 1 , 111 ?* 6 , to e3t . ,>ress the feel-
explanations be had given to the French Mint- fcnsible Iu the altered state of the questions , ii|g lhese lc[ters cf , he Duke do J}ro(iil P c ul « r '
stor of Foreign Allairs, to be made public.— in controAeasy, and under all existing circum-j ost siucerely, most ardently uid he hope, “hTi
As the French Government had noticed the stances, it appears to me that, until such a de-j tbe French Government, wheu this m’essar
inessage without its being officially coinmunic- termination shall have become evident, it will | reached them, if not before, might lecou-i^
ated, it was not doubted that, if they weredis- he proper and sufficient to retaliate her pres- j their determination, and that all our difficulties
lied to show that the Seuale w as espnnsible for | posed to pay the money due to us, they would ent refusal to comply with her engagements, might yet pass away. But their lauguagt is notv
the preseut naked and defenceless conditiou of ■ notice any public explanation of the Goverum
the country, auu for tbo humiliation to which we of the United States in the same way. But
contrary to these well founded expectations, ports. Between this and the interdiction of all
the French Ministry did not take this fair op- commercial intercourse, or other remedies, you,
portunity to relieve themselves from their un- as the representatives of the people, must de-
tortunatc position, and to do justice to the U. termine. I recommend the former in the pre-
States. j sent posture of our allairs, as being the least
Whilst, however, the Government of the U. injurious to our commerce, and as attended with
Jd ent relusal to comply with her engagements,: miguiyct pass away, dui tneir lauguagt isuow
i’t by prohibiting tho introduction of French prod- ! £ ,ear ’ spvctfic, mcapable of ambiguity or doubt.
lt , nets and the entry of Frenen vessels into our c '''° k nl,J become our duty calmly, but firmly,
nnrts. Rotw^nll.w and ll.n Sntmvlirtmn of all a ^ “* C ,uteres »* ^ k-
ivvro uow subjected iu being superintended by
tbe heroes of Algiers aud Navarino, the project
of certain Senators to apply the public moneys
in a unlereiit direction, namely, to divide tbein a-
moug tho Slates, and which required them to
keep tbe sums for distribution as large as possible,
iu order to present captivating dividends to each
distributee. The plan of putting tbe country iu ' States was awaiting tho movements of the Fr. the least difficulty of returning to the usual
a po.sture of defeuce, was incompatible with these
plans of distributing the revenues. The two
plaits esnuot goon ogetber: one or die other
must give away, aud lie had purposely drawn the
rcsolutiou under consideration to make au issue
between them, aud to draw the liue betweeu
those w ho will put their country in a state of de
fence, aud those w ho will leave it uaked aud help
less.
Mr. B. had felt it bis duty to bring to the uo-
lice of the Seuale the npproarh of tbe French
squadron of obscrvaiiou, aud to show that it
came because “ America had no force capable of
btirj- appvstd lo itIt was a su'Hiduary argu
incut, and a fair illustraliou of the dangers, uud
humiliations of a defenceless position, it should
stimulate us to instant and vigorous ucti»u; to
the ronccnt ration of all ourinouev, and all our
bauds, to the saered tusk cf uuiioual defeuce.—
t oi hiiuself, he did uot believe there wquld be
war, because be kuew there ought uot to be war;
but tha> belief would have no cflect upou his cou
duet. He went for national defence, because
that policy w:.s right iu itself, without tegard to
times nud cireutnstauces. He went for it now,
because it was tho response, aud the ottly re
sponse which American houor could give to the
visit of Admiral Mackud. Above all, he went
for it because it w as the way, and tbe only man
iy way of lettiug France know that she had com
mitted a mistake iu seudiug this fleet upou us. iu
conclusion, he would call for the yeas aud unys,
and remark that our votes would have to be giv
en uuder the guns of France, aud under the eyes
of Europe.
nor of the country may require.
Air. B. had already said much more tnaaLc in
tended when he rose. He would, however make
another remark before he took ins seat. He frit
felt a proper degree of confidence, lie might add,
a great degree of confidence iu die I’resideut ®f
the United States, lie knew him to be honest
*t*t-.'^ ** xx ***Dw *i"V rttv r v lilv AX AO t/1 iliL X A • - -rinsvcr* — T w A l \. tut Allll w x vr ———— ciowttt j /, , * p | ■
Government, iu perfect confidence that the state of friendly intercourse, if the GovernmT. rc“ “iujut am! aveyeTbwS 1
,... , . , „ ' —i , ’ , . . , . i resent ns injuries aud aveugc its ivtunes. Ho
difficulty was at an end, the fsecretary of State , of France shall reader us the justice that is J confessed lie had anticipated a message of a
ench Charge d’Af- due, and also as a preliminary step to stroxg-1 stronger c haracter, lie had siq
President's Special .message!
IN SENATE—Mondav, Jan. IS.
The following Message was received front
the I*resident of the U. States, by Mr DON-
received a call from tlie French
fairs at Washington, wiio desired to ~ read to
him a letter he had received from the Frencli
Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was asked
whether lie was instructed or directed to make
any official communication, and replied that
lie* was only authorised to road the letter, and I
furnish a copy if requested. The substance of
its contents, it is presumed, may be gathered
from Nos. 4 and (i herewith transmitted. It
was an attempt to make known to the Govn’t
of the United States, privately, iu what man
ner it could make explanations, apparently
voluntary, but really dictated by France, ac
ceptable to iter, and thus obtain payment of
the twenty-five millions of francs. No excep
tion was taken to this mode of communication,
which is often used to prepare the way for offi
cial intercourse, but the suggestions made in it
were, in their substance, wnoliy inadmissible.
Not being in the shape of an official communi
cation to tiiis Government, it did not admit of
reply or official notice, nor could it safely be
made the basis of any action by the Executive
or the Legislature; and the Secretary of State
did not think proper to ask a copy', because he
could have no use for it. Copies of papers
marked Nos. 9, 10 and 11, show an attempt
on the part of the French Charge d’Afiairs, to
a messy
appose ibaiagen.
er measures, should their adoption be render- crui uou-iutercoureo with Frauce would, atlewt,
ed necessary', by subsequent events. j have been recommended. But tbe recoutnieuda-
The return of our Charge tUAflaircs is atten- ' hop was confined jo tlie mere refusal to edmit
ded with public notices of naval preparations ’ p reuch ships or 1* reucb productions to eutcr our
on the part of France destined for our seas. PV rls ‘ h left Franco I t ee to receive her supplies
nr .i ‘ j • . - r.i . r e* coisuu from the U. Ctatcs, without which the
the cause and intent of these armaments 1 ...
have no authentic information, nor any other
means of judging, except such as are common
to yourselves and the public; but whatever
may be their object, we are not at liberty to
regard them as unconnected with the measures
which hostile movements on the part of France
moy compel us to pursue. They' at least de
serve to be met by adequate preparation on
our part; and I therefore strongly urge large
large and speedy appropriations for the incre
ase of the navy and completion of our coast de
fences.
If this array of military force be really de
signed to affect the action of the Government
and People of the United States on the ques
tions now pending between the two nations,
then, indeed, would it be dishonorable to pause
a moment on the alternative which such a state
of things would present to us. Come what may,
tlie explanation which France demands can ne
ver be accorded; and no armament, however
powerful and imposing, at a distance or on our
place a copy of this paper among the Archives coast, will, I mist, deter its from discharging
of this Government, which for obvious reasons d* e high duties which we owe to our constitu-
was not allowed to be done; but tlie assurance
under the operation of this dial riininaiiug duty
our imports of French .silks liaVe risen from two
miliums of dollars per auuum to six millions and
* h**B * from Eitgliiiid lucy u*ve risen ir«m «
quarter of a inilliuu in litree quarters ; from Cbi
nn, they have sunk from three iiiiilious and
quarter to oue million aud a quarter. This dis
criiiiuialiug duty has loll between one* and two
millions of dollars iu ibe pockets of Frenchmen
besides the eiicuuragemcut to the silk manufac
ture vud trade. VV by ii.cn bus she sent tuts
squad rou to observe us first, aud to strike us e
vcutually ? She kuowsour pacific disposition to
wards her, uot only from our own words and iic
tious, but from the official report of her «>wu offi
ccrs ; from the very officer sent out last spung, in
n frigate to carry Hack tne recalled Minister.—
Here is his report, made to the Miuister of Ma
rine, aud eouimuiiicated to the Chamber of Dep
uties iu the mouth of April last. Ltsteu to it,
and seo how fully it establishes, uot only our pa
cific dispositions towuids Frauce, but the alfec-
tion df our citizeus for her, and ths solicitude of
our officers to honor her flag and gratify her feel
ings. . J
.... . , Bujjst, April4. 1835.
I havo tbe houor to inform you that the utig
dAssas sailed from New-York on the 11th of
March lust, at tho same time with the American
packet ship Albuiiy.iu which M. Scruritr and his
taipily are returning to France, at whoso disno-
■llioa your Ex.-tlicucv oiace.l ■ lift. ill.I
your Lvtlieucy placed me, did uot wish
to uexpaich nn. back until the risiug of Cuuenss,
which took piace oii Hie 4th of that month l)u
ring my s'ny at New York, I found among the
nrliftki .*111.1 ha.i «.i
_ ... ,■ ■ fheir hospiiaoie dis
pwiuons could suggest. Half an hour after mv
leaving the Last river, an Americau schooner o*f
War, knowing tho time at which I was to dentirt,
£ot undersoil; shocrossed my way about a league
7*® pl-tce of anchorage, ami hen about
» ca > es length from us, she hoisted the French
whf k° U ,lcr . n, .'*'"»'ast. aod fired sevcu'cuus
which were tmmadiately returned ; sho kept the
c« will have no fircc capable of being opposed lo
it." This is the reason. Our naaeduess, our
destiiuti.iii. nas drawu upon us the honor of this
visit; aull we are uow to speak, and vote, aud
sn deiiit-an ourselves, as men standi- g in the pre-
s'.-ii.e of a force winch they cannot resist, and
wbic ha i taught the ies-011 of submis-.iou to the
Tu. k, aud'ibe Arab 1 Auit here I change the
ti.e.ne; 1 turn trout Freuch iutuni'lntiou to A
niciit-au legislation ; aud ask flow it comes that
wo have uo force to oppose to this >qu idrou
w icii comes h>-re to take a positiou upon our
h .tiers, aud to -how us that it kuows the way to
Washington', as well as the Eugli-h 1 This is
my future ttieme; and I have to present the A-
.nericau senate, as the responsible party for
leaving out country in this wretched condition.
Fi.s, there is the three millions appropriation
winch was lost by the opposition of tlie Senate,
aud which carried down with it the whole forti
fication bill to winch it was attached* That hill,
be-ioes tlie three millions, contained thritecn spe
cific appropriations lor tho works of defence, pait
originating iu the House of lfepreseatative^, aud
part iii tne f*euate, and the particulars of which
he would re«d. Mr. B. then read.
For tbe litrt on rit. George’s Island, - $15,000
For the repairs of fort Independence, - 8,000
F r fort Adam*. - - - - 100,000
Fo tbe fori .at Thregsncck, - - 30,000
Kcp iring fir) Gglumbus, - - 13.0n0
Itebuii.nog fort Delaware,
Fur Iortilicatious iu Charleston I labor,
Fort at Cockspur islaud.
Fort at I’cus.icola, ...
Fort on Foster’s hank, ...
Repairs of Fort Miffim,
Armament of fortifications. - 100.000
Cootingeiicies, - - - - 10,000 x to
A 1 these specific appropriations, continued Mr. '
l o the Senate and House of llepresrntativcs.
Gentlemen : In my message at tlie open
ing ol your session, I informed you that our
Charge a’Affairs at Paris, had been in. iructed
to ask tor the fmal determination of tile French
Government, in relotion to tlie payment of the
indemnification, secured by the treaty of the
4th duty, ISdl, and that when advices of the
result should be received, it would be made
the subject of a special communication
iu execution of this design, 1 uow transmit
to you tlie papers numbered from 1 to 13, in
clusive,^'containing among other things, tho cor
respondence on this subject betweeu our Clt’g
d’Afiairs and the French Miuister of Foreigjt
Allans, from which it will be seen, that France
requires, as a condition precedent to the exe
cution of a treaty unconditionally ratified, and
to the payment of a debt acknowledged by all
the branches ol her Government to be duo, that
certain explanations shall be made, of which
she dictates the terms. These terms are such
as that Government has already been officially
imormed cannot be complied with; and, if per
sisted iu, they must be considered a deliberate
relusal ou tlie part of France to fulfil their en
gagements binding by tlie laws of nations, and
J50 000 , held sacred by the whole civilized world. The
20 000 t ualure o f '•»* act witicii France requires from
Bzio 0 j Bus Government, is dearly set forth in. the let-
20 (HtO j ter ol tlie French Minister, marked No. 4. We
75.001 > ' will pay tlie money, says he, “ When thetUoc-
- 75,000 ' eminent oj the United States is ready on its
part, to declare to ns, by addressing its claim
to as othciallu, in writing, that it regrets the
b ««. I..,-,. u» ai.rasrs.'sn: ;i« i «** *•
opposition of the Semite lo the threo mi lions. * inn muntrif *? thnt /Aim mu*]»*%**
belore giveu was repeated, that any official
communication which he might he authorised
to make in the accustomed form, would receive
a prompt and just consideration. Tne indis
cretion of this attempt was made more manifest
by the subsequent avowal of the French Charge
d’Afiairs, that the object was to bring the let
ter be ore Congress and the American people.
If foreign agents, on a subject of disagreement
between their Government and tiiis, wish to
prefer an appeal to the American people, they
will hereafter, it is hoped, better appreciate
their own rights, and the respect due to others,
than to attempt to use the Executive as tlie pas
sive organ of their communications. It is due
to the character of our institutions, that the di
plomatic intercourse of this Government should
be conducted with tho utmost directness and
simplicity, and that in all cases of importance,
tlie communications received or made by the
Executive, should receive the accustomed offi
cial form. It is only by insisting on this form,
that foreign powers can be held to full respon
sibility; that their communications can be offi
cially replied to; or that the advice or interfe
rence of the Legislature can, with propriety,
be ihvited by tho President. Tiiis course is
also host calculated, on the ouehand, to shield
ents, our national character and to tlie world.
Tlie House of Representatives, at the close
of the last session of Congress, unanimously re
solved that the Treaty of the 4tli July, 18-31,
should btf maintained, and its execution insist
ed on by the United States. It is due to tie
welfare of the human race, not less than to our
own interests and honor, that this resolution
should, at all liaxards, be adhered to. If, alter
so signal an example as that given by the Am
erican People during their long pfotracted dif
ficulties with France, of forbearance under ac
cumulated wrongs, and of generous confidence
in her ultimate return to justice, site shall now
he permitted to withhold from us the tardy and
imperfect indemnification which, after years of
remonstrance and discussion, had at length
been^solcmnly agreed on by the Treaty of
183E and to set at naught the obligation it
imposes, the United States will not be the only
sullerers. The efforts of humanity and religi
on, to substitute the appeals of justice and the
arbitrament^ of reason for the coercive reme
dies usimhy resorted to by injured nations, will
receive little encouragement from such nn is
sue. By thq selection and enforcement of such
lawful and expedient measures as may bo nc
cessary to pic vent a result so injurious to our
selves and sitefatal
man ttl.iclurt rs of that country could uut vxul—
Tiiis was wise, it was prudent; it ielt to franco
to judge for herself, if this uutiutur.il euulcst 'till
combine, nliether she would close fair (> irL a-
guinstour vessels and our producliuus
lo the spring of Jd3'-, (Hr. B. did i.ut recoiim
precisely the time,) Congress passed an act to
carry into effect our pail of the treaty. Under
this treaty, the w;ues of Frauce had ever smcc
been admitted into tile United States upou tile la
v-arable terms thereiu stipulated, tier silks Here
imported Jicc of duty, in -ontrauistiuctiou to
those which came from beyond the Cape oi Good
Hope, .'site had for years been cnjoyiug tluse
privileges. Nothing milder then, could possibly
Ue recommended tliuu to withdraw those iiilvau-
lages from her, and to exclude her vessels ami
her productions from our ports.
Seiuiatole llVir!
From tlie oavanuaii itepultlican- J
Extract of u letter to tne Editor, dated
Camp Charley Umatiila. 1
alPicolatu, 13th Jan. JtS3(> )
'1 his will inform you that on i hursutiy ingbt
last one of the Bed gentry, came dodgnig about
our Garrison, uo doubt to see it there was aaj
chance to catch us napping , he came about oue
hundred aud fifty yarns of Sentinel No 2, olio
did not hail him, expecting he would couie utsr
enough to him to shuot. About this time th*
horses iu Ihe stable made a great noise, "Iudi
caused him to alter his course: lie crawled un
his hands aud knees into a thicket, and disappea
red for a short time, when he (or perhaps -auo:b-
er appeared within about the same distinct
of No. 4; he then took a direct course totiaidj
No. 1, who spied him some consulcrtdc distance
otf, (the iiiocii shining very bright)—No 1 wailed
until he came up to a large Fine, about sixty-five
yards off, an 1 as soon as he stepped from behind
tlie Fine, half bent to the ground, the S’celiuel
fired, and Mi. Indian made off with liimself—bot
1 think, uot without being pretty well peppered,
as wc examined the tree where lie was staudinj,
and one of .he shot (our gnus were loaded with
buck shot) cut tiie side of tlie tree, very ue;tr tho
spot, and about (he right lieigtii to do mischief-
VV'e remained under arms nearly all night, expec
ting a visit from a larger party of them, lutt d**J
did not tfotne.
On Friday night, r e had two alarms. It being
pretty dark the early part of the uight, we were
kept up some time, but retired to bed \vsth«u: a
light. Since, we have bcett convinced of die
fact of the Indians being but a fotv miles of us,
we have not been so comfortable ns before, hav
ing to sleep with clothes and belts 0:t the greater
oart of the time. Our men behaved with g real
winch were attached to it by the House of Kcp-
restuiiauvcs He, (.Mr. 11.) was not a incinbe;-
ot. tbe conference committee which had the disa
greement ol the two Houses reinmittcd to its
charge, uud couid go tuto ho detail as to what
happened m that conlereuce; iic took his stand
upon the palpable gronnd. that the opposition
winch the Senate made to the three millions, the
speeches whit h denounced it, ;,ud tho prolonged
invectives against the Fresideut which inf] med
the passions, aud consumed the precious time at
the I ist momeut of the session, were the true
causes of the loss of that bill; and so leaves the
responsibility for the loss tin the shoulders of the
Senate.
Of this threo million appropriation, Mr. B.
said, the country hail heard much, but there was
another material appropriation lost in the Senate,
ol winch nothing had been said : lie alluded to
the stun ot $5U0.0(J0, which originated iu the
Senate’s Committee ou Military A flairs, and
which, as the ch iirm >u of that committee, nnn
uuder its direction, he had recommended in
Report, aud proposed as an amendment to the
same fortification hill, which was afterwards sunk
uuder tbo three millions. The Report was made
ou the I8,|, of February, and lie would road it.
Ihe. Senate’s ( ominittee on MiJitaty Affairs,
which has had the subject under eonsideraliuu
.report: v
.** k 11 expedient to iucrenso tho appropri
ations heretofore made fo the national defeuco ;
and that, iu addition to tbe sums now cootaiuea
other to subject this portion of his acts to pub
“fie scrutiny; aud if occasion shall require it, to
constitutional animadversion. It was the more
accessary to. adhere to these principles in the
instance in question, inasmuch as in addition to
other important interests, it very intimately
concerned the national honor; a matter in my
judgment, much too sacred to be made the sub
ject of private aud unofficial negotiation.
It will be perceived that this letter of the
the t/co countries; that this misunderstanding! Frenbli Minister of Foreign Affairs was read to
is founded on a mistake; that it never entered f the Secretary of State on the 11 th of Septem-
into its intention to call in question the good i her last. This was tho first authentic indicat-
faith of the trench government, nor to take j ion of the specific views of the French Govn’t,
a menacing attitude towards Jb'rance;" and liereceived ,by the Government of the United
adds, “»/ the Urovcmmcnt of the United States States after tlie passage of the bill of indcinni-
does not give this assurance, we shall be obli- j fixation. Inasmuch as the letter had been writ-
ged to think that this misunderstanding is not' ten before the official notice of my approval
the result of an error." In the letter marked of Mr Livingston, s last explanation and remon-
tfatal to the hopes of the pliilau-^ coolu^s, ami I do think that our htdccompauy
that officer from unjust suspicions, and on the j thropist, we shall therefore not only preserve ! earnestauy'set of incm”' I he 'fatigue and
tlie pecuniary interests of our citizens, the in- | loosing rest goes a little hard with some of them
dependence of our Government, and the honor | | )Ut they will get isc to it after a while. You-havs
of our country, hut do much, it may be hoped, \ no doubt heard, ere this, of the engageineut fit'
to vindicate the faith of treaties, and to pro- i tweeu General Cliucb and a parly of Indians new*
No. ti, the French Miuister also remarks, "that
the uovemment of the United States knows,
that upou itself depende hencefaward the exe
cution of the treaty of July 4,1831.”
Obliged by the precise language thus used by
the French Minister, to view it as a perempto
ry refusal to execute the treaty, except on
terms incompatible with die honor and indep
endence ol die United States, and persuaded
diat, on considering the correspondence now
submitted to you, you can regard it in no other
light, it becomes my duty to call your atten
tion to such measures as tbe exigency of the
case demands, if the claim of interfering in the
communications between thedifierent branches
of our Government be persisted in. This pre
tention is rendered the more unreasonable by
the fact, that the substance of the required ex
planation has been repeatedly and voluntarily
given, beforp it was insisted on as a condition
mote the general interests of peace, civilization
and improvement. ANDREW JACKSON.
Washington, Jan. 15, 1836.
A messige was also received from the Fresi
dent of the United States, by Mr. DONELSON,
his secretary, transmitting, iu compliance with a
resolution of the Senate, a report from the Sec
retary of State, relative to a letter written by the
1‘reneh Minister, the I ’ukc de Broglie, to M. l’a-
geot, the French Charge d*Affaires in this conn- _
have*a full sway, and nothing to opposs’
... . , The Volunteers from Tallahassee aud outer?
coiiutry, Mr. &erruricr, which contained excep- ! of Florida, have every ni«tu of them, gone i”
tiouable expressions, and was therefore not com-' ' - ... -
inuiii-. ated to Congress, together with the corres
pondence that took place on that occasion.
Mr. CLAY moved tint tlie messages, with the
accompanying documents, he referred to tho
Committee on Foreign liclatious. VV hereupon,
VIr. BUCll ANNON said that be had been so
much gratified with liis Message which had just
edby Powell m which the General lost sixty 011 *
killed and wounded, and the Indians about <>°°
hundred. The state of attaint in Florida are
awful. General Clinch is picketed iu al tamp
King. With only one liundtr* d aud ninety nicu*
exclusive or a small detachment, who left n e
yesterday under command of Captain IJre®
who had come on for provisions for Ulinrii*
having only six barrels ol flour when the dcia°
trient left. His force is now so small Jte is core?
to remain w ithin his enclosure. The lo **
a litem-
stranco could have reached Paris, just ground
of hope was left, as has been before stated, that
the Frencli Government on receiving that in
formation, in the same manner tlie alleged of
fending message had reached them, would de
sist from their extraordinary demand, and pay
the money at once. To give them an oppor
tunity to do so, and, at all events, to elicit their
final determination, and the ground they int
ended to occupy', tlie instructions were giveu to
at tho commencement of the nrcsent session of ' ? , ,- v , * ‘ l .‘ iv,1, 8 st ®"\ am ' officially ap-t volunteers come on ny »** “y** ,. vC nty
“ u cement oi me present session ol proved by the President of the United States, j convinced that wc would not leave, here ttvcu^
ti
been read, that lie could not, and he thought he
ought uot, at this, the very first moment, to re
(rain from expressing his entire approbation of
its general toue aud spirit. Ho had watched
with intense anxiety the progress of our uuforiii-
naic controversy with France. He had hoped,
siiicrrlv hoped, that the explanations which had
Congress. The result, as you have seen, is a
demand of an official written expression of re
grets, and a direct explanation addressed to
France, with a'distinct intimation that this is a
sine qua non.
Mr Barton having, in pursuance of his inst
ructions, returned to the U States, and the
and the whole dependence of Cltuihs
for subsistence, guarded by only forty yoluii
from Savannah. It is truly distressting ®.
tho poor men, women aud children- neeius
homes with what little the\ can carry, an
i:tg to onr Garrison foe protection- ~° \ c .
lows and .Mr. Colt, are now moving all 1161
gioes and other property here, and intent •
main themselves; they live about lo nn c
this, the uegroes will he of some service o >
digging a ditch arouud our Garrison an 1
other little improvement. I think tho » 10 t
will return hr the next boat, as our cn >
will have expired; by that liuie. R wd it ™ nber0 f
sar
Vo!
ill havo expired; by that time, it tviii f
ry for tho safety of Ficolatn, that a n- ^
nlunteers come on by the next boa < «.
would Imve picved satisfactory to the French j four hours before the place would bo
G overament. In this he had found his hopes to unlessihere were a sufficient number Ielt w 6
be vain. After this effort had failed, he felt a de- it. The most of us would be wdhng to jW
gree of coufideucc, almost amounting to moral much longer, but our business calls aud *
assurance, that the last Message to Congress made up our minds <o return by tho nex
^Ouid have been haned by I* i«*iiicc, as it was by | should wo be spared,
the American people, as the olive branch which : * —; j anu aty
would have restored amity and good understaud-
a condition the moro humiliating because it is] led, all diplomatic intercourse between the two I {h^, b “eTeared b^aragSwdoomed^o bo disap.'
Fro:- the Jacksonville (E- F.) C° ur ’
INDIAN AFFAIRS- !aC »
Tho mail rider, Green Bnsb r kavt r
