[ Doc. No. 116. ] that of the 15th of January, 1836. Could these documents have been ithin the knowledge of his Britannic Majesty’s Government, the President does not doubt that it would have been fully satisfied that the disposition of the United States, notwithstanding their well-grounded and serious causes of e->mplaint against France, to restore, friendly relations and cultivate a good understanding with the Government of that country, was tin diminished, and that all had already been done, on their pan, that could in reason be expected of them, to secure that result. The first o these documents. ? dimugh it gave such a history of the origin and progress of the claims of he United States, and of the proceedings of France before and since the ucaly of 1831, as to vindicate the statements and recommendations of the message of the first of Decem >er, 1834, yet expressly disclaimed th > oFen- siw interpretation ail upon it by the Government of France; and while it insisted on the aci uowledged rights oi the United Si des, and the obligaj s of the treaty, and mi......lined the Junior and iml pmdenee of the American Guvermnem, evinced an anxious desire to do all that ionstitu- loi il duty and strict justice would permit, to removi every cause of irritation and excitement. The special message ot the 15th January last, being 11- d Ibi by the extraordinary and inadmissible demands of tin Govcrn- mmt of France, as defined in the last official communications ar Paris, and ' y 1 lie continued refusal of France to execute a treaty, from die faithfu performance of which by the United States it was tranquilly ei joying im- ■mtnm advantages, it became the duty of the Presidem to recommend such ue^mres as might be adapted to the exigencies of the occasion. Unwilling m believe that a nation distinguished for honor and intelligence could have ■ <fier nined perman miy to maintain a. groun 1 s- mdelensible. ai 1 anxious Midi to leave open the door of reconciliation, the President contented I im- s’df with proposing to Congress, the mildest of the remedies given by the law and practice of nations, in connection with such propositions for de- leuce as were evidently required by the condition ot the United States, and he attitude assumed by France. In all these proceedings, as well as in every stage oi these difficulties with France, it is confidently believed that me course of the United Stares, when duly considered by other Govern- lems and the world, will be found to have been marked, not only by a. pa- fic disposition, but by a spirit of forbearance and conciliation. Fi a a further illustration of this point, as well as for the purpose o presenting a lucid view of the whole subject, the undersigned has the i on or to transmit to Mr. Bankheed copies of all that part of the message of December 7 th, 1835, which relates to it, and of the correspondence ■ eferred to therein; and also copies of the message am accompanying rm 11 meats of the 15th of January. 1836: and of another message of the I Sth of the same month, transmitting a report ot the Secretary of State, and certain documents connected with the subject. These papers, while they bring down the history of the misunderstand- ng between the United States and France, to the present date, will also emove an erroneous impression which appears to be entertained by his fitanic Majesty's Government. It is suggested in Mr. Bankhead’s note, that there is no question ot national interest at issue between France and the United States; and that, there is no demand of justice made by the one party and denied by the other. This suggestion appears to be founded on the facts, that the claims of the United States have been admitted by a treaty concluded between the two Governments, and that the money due
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=