Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 525 DECEIMBER, 1834.] The President's Message. [SENATE. binding on the United States for ten years, the French bill was read, and referred to a committee, but there Government abandons the reclamations which it had was no further action upon it. The next session of formed in relation to the 8th article of the treaty of the Chambers commenced on the 26th of April, 1833, cession of Louisiana. It engages, moreover, to estab- and continued until the 26th of June following. A lish on the long staple cottons of the United States, new bill was introduced on the 11th of June, but which, after the exchange of the ratifications of the nothing important was done in relation to it during the present convention, should be brought directly thence session. In the month of April, 1834, nearly three to France by the vessels of the United States, or by years after the signature of the treaty, the final action French vessels, the same duties as on short staple of the French Chambers upon the bill to carry the cottons." treaty into effect was obtained, and resulted in a reThis treaty was duly ratified in the manner pre- fusal of the necessary appropriations. The avowed scribed by the constitutions of both countries, and the grounds upon which the bill was rejected, are to be ratification was exchanged at the city of Washington, found in the published debates of that body, and no on the 2d of February, 1832. On account of its observations of mine can be necessary to satisfy Concommercial stipulations, it was, within five days there- gress of their utter insufficiency. Although the gross after, laid before the Congress of the United States, amount of the claims of our citizens is probably greatwhich proceeded to enact such laws favorable to the er than will be ultimately allowed by the commissioncommerce of France as were necessary to carry it into ers, sufficient is, nevertheless, shown, to render it abfull execution; and France has, from that period to solutely certain that the indemnity falls far short of the the present, been in the unrestricted enjoyment of actual amount of our just claims, independently of the valuable privileges that were thus secured to her. damages, and interest for the detention. That the The faith of the French nation having been thus sol- settlement involved a sacrifice, in this respect, was emnly pledged, through its constitutional organ, for well known at the time-a sacrifice which was cheerthe liquidation and ultimate payment of the long- fully acquiesced in by the different branches of the deferred claims of our citizens, as also for the adjust- Federal Government, whose action upon the treaty ment of other points of great and reciprocal benefits was required, from a sincere desire to avoid further to both countries, and the United States having, with collision upon this old and disturbing subject, and in a fidelity and promptitude by which their conduct the confident expectation that the general relations bewill, I trust, be always characterized, done every tween the two countries would be improved thereby. thing that was necessary to carry the treaty into full The refusal to vote the appropriation, the news of and fair effect on their part, counted, with the most which was received from our minister in Paris about perfect confidence, on equal fidelity and promptitude the 15th day of May last, might have been considered on the part of the French Government. In this rea- the final determination of the French Government not sonable expectation we have been, I regret to inform to execute the stipulations of the treaty, and would you, wholly disappointed. No legislative provision have justified an immediate communication of the has been made by France for the execution of the facts to Congress, with a recommendation of such treaty, either as it respects the indemnities to be paid, ultimate measures as the interest and honor of the or the commercial benefits to be secured to the United United States might seem to require. But with the States; and the relations between the United States news of the refusal of the Chambers to make the and that power, in consequence thereof, are placed appropriation, were conveyed the regrets of the King, in a situation threatening to interrupt the good under- and a declaration that a national vessel should be standing which has so long and so happily existed forthwith sent out, with instructions to the French between the two nations. minister to give the most ample explanations of the Not only has the French Government been thus past, and the strongest assurances for the future. wanting in the performance of the stipulations it has so After a long passage, the promised despatch vessel solemnly entered into with the United States, but its arrived. The pledges given by the French minister, omissions have been marked by circumstances which upon receipt of his instructions, were, that as soon would seem to leave us without satisfactory evidences after the election of the new members as the charter that such performance will certainly take place at a would permit, the Legislative Chambers of France future period. Advice of the exchange of ratifications should be called together, and the proposition for an reached Paris prior to the 8th April, 1832. The appropriation laid before them; that all the constituFrench Chambers were then sitting, and continued tional powers of the King and his Cabinet should be in session until the 21st of that month; and although exerted to accomplish the object; and that the result one instalment of the indemnity was payable on the should be made known early enough to be communi2d of February, 1833, one year after the exchange'of cated to Congress at the commencement of the presratifications, no application was made to the Cham- ent session. Relying upon these pledges, and not bers for the required appropriation, and, in conse- doubting that the acknowledged justice of our claims, quence of no appropriation having then been made, the promised exertions of the King and his Cabinet, the draft of the United States Government for that and, above all, that sacred regard for the national instalment was dishonored by the Minister of Finance, faith and honor for which the French character has and the United States thereby involved in much con- been so distinguished, would secure an early executroversy. The next session of the Chambers com- tion of the treaty in all its parts, I did not deem it menced on the 19th November, 1832, and continued necessary to call the attention of Congress to the subuntil the 25th April, 1833. Notwithstanding the ject at the last session. omission to pay the first instalment had been made I regret to say that the pledges made through the the subject of earnest remonstrance on our part, the minister of France have not been redeemed. The treaty with the United States, and a bill making the new Chambers met on the 31st July last; and alnecessary appropriations to execute it, were not laid though the subject of fulfilling treaties was alluded before the Chamber of Deputies until the 6th of to in the speech from the throne, no attempt was April, nearly five months after its meeting, and only made by the King or his Cabinet to procure an nineteen days before the close of the session. The appropriation to carry it into execution. The rea