The Charlotte Journal

THE PEOPLE against THE CAUCUS.

FOR PRESIDENT:
Hugh L. White, of Tennessee.

The "Special Message" is laid before the reader in our paper of to-day. Every one will doubtless read it attentively, and form his own opinion of it. Some of our contemporaries declare its tone to be much milder than they had expected. It may be "milder" than might have been looked for from the known temper of its signer; but for one we can see in it, we think, much more spirit than the present state of our relations with France seems to authorize. Its perusal has confirmed us in the opinion which we have entertained ever since the Annual Message of 1-31-35 made its appearance—viz: that Gen. Jackson is desirous of war with France. To prove the correctness of this opinion, let us refer the reader to the italicised lines in the first part of the Special Message, which the President says comprises "the nature of the act of explanation" which France requires from this Government. (The italics are made by the President himself, in the Message.) And after a re-perusal of those lines, let the reader say if he could desire a simpler plan of getting rid of the difficulties with France, than one here set forth by the French Minister himself? The plea of Gen. Jackson, that he could not comply with this simple plan, merely because France had "dictated the terms" of it, does appear to our mind to be ridiculous in the extreme—totally unbecoming the head of one nation in its intercourse with another. The President had already said, in his approval of Mr. Livingston's letter, and in his Message to the present Congress, much as the French Minister, in the lines above referred to, asks from him in a more official manner, in order to secure the payment of the indemnity and to restore harmony to the two countries. Then why, in the name of common sense, was he so fastidious as to withhold from the Minister what he had acknowledged to the world, unless it was for the purpose of embroiling the two countries in war—following up his refusal, as he does, with a recommendation to Congress to pass Acts of Non-Intercourse with France?

We say we are confirmed in the belief that Gen. Jackson is desirous for war. But we cannot yet believe that Congress will gratify this desire; and we trust they will not leave in his hands any discretionary power on the subject of offensive measures against France, to be exercised during the recess. The letter No. 4., from which the Pres't. compiles what he calls the obnoxious requirement of France, is dated the 20th of October, and addressed to Mr. Barton, then in France. It was laid before Congress, along with the Message; although the President has endeavored to forestall peaceable action on it by Congress, by saying that "these terms are such as that Government has already been officially informed cannot be complied with," still we cannot but believe that the good sense and patriotism of Congress will overrule his wishes, and save the country from the stain which he affects to believe has already been cast upon our National honor by France—but which would indeed be indelibly fixed there if we were to allow ourselves to be forced into a foolish war, apparently to recover a debt from France, but really to gratify the vengeance of a hot-headed individual.

The day has gone by, when the people can be led to war for the gratification merely of an individual.

We ask attention to the following paragraph of the National Intelligencer, in relation to this Special Message:

"The error of making Mr. Barton's return, his being positively ordered to return, the ground of this Message, we shall not now dwell upon, because it was a political solecism developed in the late Annual Message, from which we took, at its first appearance, nothing but a further embarrassment of the question between the United States and France. Nothing else could really come of it. The matter being now fully before Congress, we doubt whether we shall presume to trouble our readers with any further speculation or remarks upon the subject. Our opinion concerning the recommendations contained in the Message remains unchanged, that Congress will not act upon them—at least we hear what has been the reception of the President's Annual Message by the French government."

Foreign News.—In connexion with this subject we will here state the complexion of the latest news from France, to show what is going on in that country in relation to the difficulty with us. An arrival at New York, on the 12th inst., has brought Paris dates to the 15th of December inclusive.

The "Moniteur," the official paper in France, is authority for saying that the French Minister has intimated that "if the President should say, in his Annual Message, that he acknowledged and adhered to the explanation given by Mr. Livingston, this would satisfy the French Government."

It is well known to all that the President, in his Message transmitted to Congress on the 1st of December last, "acknowledged and adhered to the explanation given by Mr. Livingston." So we have, from this, the greatest reason to apprehend an amicable arrangement of the affair immediately upon the arrival of the last Message in France.

For further information on this subject, we refer to the following article from the "New York Journal of Commerce," from which it will be gathered that France is determined to act with wisdom and moderation in this matter:

Important.—We have had access to letters from France, written by persons holding such positions as entitle them to all the consideration of official organs.

They say that the French Ministry will not permit any degree of resentment or passion to enter into their measures with the United States, and will do nothing except for the promotion of the best interests of France.—

In direct contrariety to what has been so often said by the friends of Gen. Jackson, France will not commence hostilities on account of any measure on the part of the United States which is not actual aggression—not even a non-intercourse—and will under no circumstances strike the first blow.

Further, that even though Gen. Jackson should use insulting language, or recommend hostile measures on the part of our Government, of no immediate bearing on France, no notice will be taken of it until that be the indemnity money will be paid upon a compliance on the part of the United States during the receipt of the most liberal terms, even with any interpretation the administration should communicate—no proviso except of no ex- of the during reccipt and the of even with administration any interpretation the should communica- proviso no ex- of of.

In Jackson, the money will be remitted to this country immediately on the other on his hand successor the United States.

Should the United States commence a war, France will go into the combat letters from with from much evidently all more her President resources so anticipated than at the they opening The a will very find of Con- it to.

That the most intelligent French gentlemen feel no doubt that the message will be received as satisfactory.