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Subject Area: Political Theory

GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. - Albert Gallatin, The Writings of Albert Gallatin, vol. 2 [1879]

Edition used:

The Writings of Albert Gallatin, ed. Henry Adams (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1879). 3 vols.

Part of: The Writings of Albert Gallatin, 3 vols.

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GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS.

No. 147.

Paris, June 9, 1820.

Sir,—

I had the honor to receive your letter of the 7th of March, signifying to me the wish of the President that I might remain in Europe for the present. I will use my best endeavors to fulfil his views, and wait with anxiety for the instructions respecting our commercial relations with France. The hope of succeeding in making a satisfactory arrangement will, however, be but slender if nothing shall have been done by Congress on that subject. Nothing has taken place here in that respect since the date of my last despatch.

Mr. Pasquier told me, and I felt it was true, that during the present crisis of affairs in this country it was impossible for the Ministers to attend to any subject of secondary importance. There is now a prospect that this crisis will terminate in a manner less dangerous to the tranquillity of France than had been apprehended.

The renewal of the laws of exception, and the attempt to change the law of elections, created a general disaffection. After a long and most animated discussion, the leading principle of the plan proposed by government, and by which the right of electing was in reality placed exclusively in the hands of the 18,000 individuals who pay the highest taxes, was adopted in the Chamber of Deputies by a majority of five votes. The feeling of the people on the occasion burst out with much warmth. For three successive days one of the members of the minority had been carried home in triumph, and accompanied by cries of Vive la Charte! On the succeeding day (the 3d instant) a number of young royalists, principally body-guards, attacked those who uttered those cries and who refused to join in that of Vive le Roi; and they also insulted several of the deputies belonging to the minority as they were leaving the house. The ensuing day, being Sunday and that of the Fête-Dieu, was quiet; the body-guards were put under arrest; troops were stationed in several places on the Monday, and a police order was issued forbidding all collections of people. This did not prevent a vast number assembling and parading through the streets with cries of Vive la Charte! It is probable that many of them were actuated only by resentment against the body-guards. Meeting with no opponents, they committed no acts of violence, but refused to disperse until compelled by the cavalry, and several were wounded in the affray. It is not impossible that malcontents mixed with the groups and attempted to create more serious disturbances. It is certain that some half-pay officers were amongst them, and a number even of general officers have been arrested. The collections of people were not dispersed till late in the night, and some, though less numerous, took place the ensuing day.

These tumults, and the well-known state of the public mind here and in many other places, created great alarm, and led to serious reflections. The most moderate men on both sides, fearing the consequences and supported by the Ministers, have made a compromise. The projet of law seems to be abandoned, and, instead of this, a plan has been proposed which, preserving the old mode of election with respect to the present members of the chamber (amounting to 258), adds 172 new ones to be elected by the 23,000 electors who pay the highest taxes. It is believed that this amendment, which has the approbation of the King, though opposed by some violent Ultras and by all the warmest Liberals, will be adopted by a large majority. It is impossible to conjecture what effect this change in the law of elections may hereafter produce, and how far it will conciliate or destroy public confidence; but peace and order will at least be preserved for the present.

In Spain, the elections go on regularly, and the constituted authorities seem to prevail against both those who would oppose the revolution and the leaders of the dangerous club known by the name of the Café Lorenzini. Mr. Forsyth seems still to think that the appearances are in favor of the ratification of our treaty by the cortes.

Being yet without instructions on the subject of our claim for indemnity, I acquiesced in Mr. Parish’s wish to lay the Antwerp cases before the Department of Foreign Affairs, and have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter which I wrote to Mr. Pasquier on that subject.1

I have the honor, &c.

[1 ]This letter will be found in American State Papers, vol. v. (Foreign Relations) p. 299.