[ Doc. No. 116. | by France has been provided by the Chambers, and placed at the disposa of the French Government for the purpose or beiny paid to the United States. But it is to be observed, that the payment of die money thus appropriated, is refused by the French Government, unless the United States will first comply with a condition not contained in t re treatv, and not assented to by them. 'Phis refusal to make payment is. m the view c>’ the United States, a denial of justice; and has nor only been aecompanie by acts and language of which they have great reason to complain, but the delay of payment is highly injurious to those American citizens who ar entitled to snare in the indemnification provided by the treaty, and to the interests of the United States: inasmuch as die reduction of the dime' f ried on French wines, in pursuance of that treaty. has diminished Lie public revenue, and has been, and yet is, enjoyed by Fiance, with all the other benefits of the treaty, without the consideration and equivalents b which they were granted. But there are other n.uional interests, and in the judgment of this Government. national interests oi' file highest order- involved in the condition prescribed, and insisted on by France, which it has Keen, by rhe President, made the duty' of the undersigned to Bring distinctly into view. That condition proceeds on the assumption that ■ foreign power. whose acts are spoken of by the President of the United States in a message to Congress, transmitted in obedience to his constitutional duties, and which deems itself aggrieved by the jn^gtuge rims hteld by him. may, as a mutter of right, require now the Government of rhe United States a rect < fhcial explanation of such F iw^e. to be river. .• such form, and expressed in such terms, asshail meet the requirements. an i satisfy the feelings. of the offended party: and may. in default of sucl .planation, annul or suspend a solemn treaty, duly executed by us consti union. 1 organ. Whatever may be the responsibility of those nations wimst- Fxecutives po. wss the power oi declaring war, and of adopting other coercive remedies wuhout ihe intervention of the legislative depart men.. foi' tie language hold by the 1 xecmive in addressing that departi c it is obvious that under (he constitution of the United States, which jv - lothe Executive no such powers, but vests them exclusively in the LegH- lamre. whilst at ihe same lime it imposes on the Executive the duty of lay ng before the Legislature the .Mate of the nation, with such lucmnmembii ■ as lie may deem proper, no such responsibility cun he admitted wk o impairing that freedom of intercommunication which is essential to the system, and without surrendering, in this important particular, the right ol self-government. n accordance with this view of the federal constitun lias been I he practice under it. The statements and recommei dations of :he President to Congress are regarded by this Government as a part » the pure ’domestic consultations held by its different departments—con snliatioiu in which nothing is addressed to foreign powers, and in wm i they cannot be permitted to interfere : and for which, until consummated and carried out by acts emanating from the proper constitutional organs the nation is nor responsible, and the Government not liable to a coum ' ’ other Stares. It will be seen, from the accompanying correspondence, thai when th ■ condition referred to was first proposed in the Chamber of Deputies, th insuperable objections to it were fully communicated by the America minister al Paris, to the French Government; and that he distinct!; informed it, that the condition, if prescribed, could never be complied with. The views expressed by him were aporoved by the President, and have
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