FRENCH INDEMNITIES: BRITISH MEDIATION: INDEMNITIES PAID.
The message of the President in relation to French affairs had been
referred to the Senate's committee on foreign relations, and before
any report had been received from that committee a further message
was received from the President informing the Senate that Great
Britain had offered her friendly mediation between the United States
and France--that it had been accepted by the governments both of
France and the United States; and recommending a suspension of all
retaliatory measures against France; but a vigorous prosecution of
the national works of general and permanent defence. The message
also stated that the mediation had been accepted on the part of
the United States with a careful reservation of the points in the
controversy which involved the honor of the country, and which
admitted of no compromise--a reservation which, in the vocabulary
of General Jackson, was equivalent to saying that the indemnities
must be paid, and no apologies made. And such in fact was the case.
Within a month from the date of that message the four instalments
of the indemnities then due, wore fully paid and without waiting
for any action on the part of the mediator. In communicating the
offer of the British mediation the President expressed his high
appreciation of the "elevated and disinterested motives of that
offer." The motives were, in fact, both elevated and disinterested;
and presents one of those noble spectacles in the conduct of nations
on which history loves to dwell. France and the United States had
fought together against Great Britain; now Great Britain steps
between France and the United States to prevent them from fighting
each other. George the Third received the combined attacks of
French and Americans; his son, William the Fourth, interposes to
prevent their arms from being turned against each other. It was
a noble intervention, and a just return for the good work of the
Emperor Alexander in offering his mediation between the United
States and Great Britain--good works these peace mediations, and as
nearly divine as humanity can reach;--worthy of all praise, of long
remembrance, and continual imitation;--the more so in this case of
the British mediation when the event to be prevented would have been
so favorable to British interests--would have thrown the commerce
of the United States and of France into her hands, and enriched her
at the expense of both. Happily the progress of the age which, in
cultivating good will among nations, elevates great powers above
all selfishness, and permits no unfriendly recollection--no selfish
calculation--to balk the impulsions of a noble philanthropy.
I have made a copious chapter upon the subject of this episodical
controversy with France--more full, it might seem, than the subject
required, seeing its speedy and happy termination: but not without
object. Instructive lessons result from this history; both from the
French and American side of it. The wrong to the United States came
from the French chamber of deputies--from the opposition part of it,
composed of the two extremes of republicans and legitimists, deadly
hostile to each other, but combined in any attempt to embarrass
a king whom both wished to destroy: and this French opposition
inflamed the question there. In the United States there was also
an opposition, composed of two, lately hostile parties (the modern
whigs and the southern dissatisfied democracy); and this opposition,
dominant in the Senate, and frustrating the President's measures,
gave encouragement to the French opposition: and the two together,
brought their respective countries to the brink of war. The two
oppositions are responsible for the hostile attitude to which the
two countries were brought. That this is not a harsh opinion, nor
without foundation, may be seen by the history which is given of the
case in the chapter dedicated to it; and if more is wanting, it may
be found in the recorded debates of the day; in which things were
said which were afterwards regretted; and which, being regretted,
the author of this View has no desire to repeat:--the instructive
lesson of history which he wishes to inculcate, being complete
without the exhumation of what ought to remain buried. Nor can
the steadiness and firmness of President Jackson be overlooked in
this reflective view. In all the aspects of the French question
he remained inflexible in his demand for justice, and in his
determination, so far as it depended upon him to have it. In his
final message, communicating to congress the conclusion of the
affair, he gracefully associated congress with himself in their
joy at the restoration of the ancient cordial relations between
two countries, of ancient friendship, which misconceptions had
temporarily alienated from each other.