On entering upon the duties of my station I found the United States an unsuccessful applicant to the justice of France for the satisfaction of claims the validity of which was never questionable, and has now been most solemnly admitted by France herself.  The antiquity of these claims, their high justice, and the aggravating circumstances out of which they arose are too familiar to the American people to require description.  It is sufficient to say that for a period of ten years and upward our commerce was, with but little interruption, the subject of constant aggressions on the part of France—­aggressions the ordinary features of which were condemnations of vessels and cargoes under arbitrary decrees, adopted in contravention as well of the laws of nations as of treaty stipulations, burnings on the high seas, and seizures and confiscations under special imperial rescripts in the ports of other nations occupied by the armies or under the control of France.  Such it is now conceded is the character of the wrongs we suffered—­wrongs in many cases so flagrant that even their authors never denied our right to reparation.  Of the extent of these injuries some conception may be formed from the fact that after the burning of a large amount at sea and the necessary deterioration in other cases by long detention the American property so seized and sacrificed at forced sales, excluding what was adjudged to privateers before or without condemnation, brought into the French treasury upward of 24,000,000 francs, besides large custom-house duties.

The subject had already been an affair of twenty years’ uninterrupted negotiation, except for a short time when France was overwhelmed by the military power of united Europe.  During this period, whilst other nations were extorting from her payment of their claims at the point of the bayonet, the United States intermitted their demand for justice out of respect to the oppressed condition of a gallant people to whom they felt under obligations for fraternal assistance in their own days of suffering and of peril.  The bad effects of these protracted and unavailing discussions, as well upon our relations with France as upon our national character, were obvious, and the line of duty was to my mind equally so.  This was either to insist upon the adjustment of our claims within a reasonable period or to abandon them altogether.  I could not doubt that by this course the interests and honor of both countries would be best consulted.  Instructions were therefore given in this spirit to the minister who was sent out once more to demand reparation.  Upon the meeting of Congress in December, 1829, I felt it my duty to speak of these claims and the delays of France in terms calculated to call the serious attention of both countries to the subject.  The then French ministry took exception to the message on the ground of its containing a menace, under which it was not agreeable to the French Government to negotiate.