394 



FINANCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



policy in general has never shown much sym- 

 pathy with the national movements in Europe, 

 she endorsed the views of the French Emperor, 

 and assured him that Spain would participate in 

 the Congress either at Paris or any other point 

 that may be selected for deliberations. The 

 letter of the Queen (date'd November 30th) 

 says: 



I agree with your Majesty that the treaties of 1815 

 are attacked by the debility produced by time and use, 

 besides the forced influence of serious events, which in 

 many cases have resulted in notorious and capital in- 

 fractions of their letter and spirit. 



I also agree with you that if war has always been a 

 great calamity for peoples, it would be still more so 

 now, on account of the disastrous perturbation that it 

 would produce among nations every day more closely 

 united oy the community of their moral and material 

 interests. 



Spain, with a view to her aggressive policy 

 in America, even expresses the hope that the 

 Congress might be instrumental in consolidat- 

 ing peace and concord in the new as well as the 

 old world. 



The Germanic Confederation declared them- 

 selves disposed to accept the invitation, but 

 thought that they could not cooperate with any 

 hope of success in the realization of this pro- 

 ject, if the treaties which have established the 

 Germanic Confederation, as well as the politi- 

 cal edifice of Europe, were not considered as 

 the basis of negotiations. 



The Kings of Bavaria, Saxony, Wurternberg, 

 and Hanover, declared themselves favorable to 

 the project, but made their final decision some- 

 what contingent upon the decision of the Fed- 

 eral Diet. 



The Pope, in his reply (November 10th), con- 

 curs in the project of a Congress, and will use 

 his endeavors in order that the principles of 

 justice, unrecognized'and trampled under foot, 

 may be reestablished, and violated rights vin- 

 dicated. The Pope also states that he should 

 especially demand the reestablishment in Catho- 

 lic countries of the real preeminence naturally 

 appertaining to the Catholic religion as being 

 the only true faith. 



The sultan replied, on December 5th, thank- 

 ing the Emperor for the sentiments of sincere 

 friendship expressed in his letter, and assuring 

 him that these sentiments were reciprocated. 

 By his order, the Turkish ambassador at Paris 



communicated to M. Drouyn de 1'Huys a re- 

 port of the verbal reply given by the sultan to 

 the French ambassador who presented the Em- 

 peror's letter, to the effect that the sultan ac- 

 cepted the conference, and was willing to at- 

 tend the Congress in person in case other sov- 

 ereigns of Europe did the same. 



On December 8th, M. Drouyn le 1'Huys ad- 

 dressed a new circular to the heads of all the 

 diplomatic missions of France in Europe, giving 

 a review of the replies of the several European 

 governments. He said : 



The refusal of England has unfortunately rendered 

 impossible the first result that we had hoped for from 

 the appeal by the Emperor to Europe. There now 

 remains the second hypothesis the limited Congress. 

 Its realization depends upon the will of the sov- 

 ereigns. 



After the refusal of the British cabinet we might 

 consider our duty accomplished, and heneforth, in the 

 events which may arise, only take into account our 

 own convenience and our own particular interests. 

 But we prefer to recognize the favorable dispositions 

 which have been displayed toward us ; and to remind 

 the sovereigns who have associated themselves with our 

 intentions, that we are ready to enter frankly with them 

 upon the path of a common understanding. A-coinci- 

 dence of views and of action among the principal Pow- 

 ers of the Continent who understand as we do the dan- 

 gers of the present, and the necessities of the future, 

 would have a great influence upon future events, and 

 prevent alliances or resolutions from being left to 

 chance. 



When a general Congress was in question, the Em- 

 peror could not, without changing the part he had 

 traced out for himself, draw up a programme, or concert 

 with some of the Powers, in order to submit afterward 

 to the others a plan prepared beforehand, and com- 

 mence thus with a negotiation distinct from the deliber- 

 ations in which he had decided to present himself with- 

 out preconceived ideas, and free from special engage- 

 ments. But as this reunion cannot now oe completed, 

 it will not have the arbitrary authority belonging to a 

 European Congress. We feel, therefore, that before 

 meeting, the sovereigns should instruct their foreign 

 ministers to agree upon the questions to be discussed, 

 in order that the Congress may have more chance of 

 leading to a practical result. 



By the end of the year no arrangement for 

 the meeting of a limited Congress had been 

 made. Italy had replied (December 24th) that 

 she was quite ready to take part in a limit- 

 ed Congress, expressing, however, at the same 

 time the firm hope that the Congress would be 

 instrumental in annexing to Italy Venetia and 

 Rome. 



F 



FINANCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 

 Whenever a Government adopts new measures 

 relating to its finances, or is compelled by its 

 necessities to seek for means beyond those ob- 

 tained from its usual sources of revenue, its 

 movements are always sensibly felt in the 

 financial affairs of the country. If its demands 

 are limited in amount, the enterprises of indi- 

 viduals are soon modified to meet the new 

 circumstances which have occurred. When, 





however, it becomes involved in a great war, 

 and stands forth having upon its hands the 

 greatest enterprise in the country larger 

 than those of most of the citizens combined, 

 that of subduing its enemies the financial 

 movements of individuals must always fol- 

 low and become subject to this great necessity. 

 Its needs override all personal considerations ; 

 its wants take the force of law to all its 

 citizens. But while it is considered that a 



