ers, Berreyer and others, in
which the Texas question, and the position of France, in the
event of war between the United States and England, upon the
Oregon question, was warmly debated. The minister, Guizot,
alleged that in all the negotiations with Texas, France had
sought commercial relations in consequence of the advantages
offered of markets for French goods. He declared that it was
his policy to interpose _an independent State in the midst
of the United States_, and _that he believed it to be
advisable to multiply the number of secondary independent
States on our continent_, as the commercial and political
interests of France would suffer materially by the
foundation of a governmental unity in America. He watched
our progress with a jealous eye, and he considered the
policy of the United States in refusing to be the _ally_ of
any European power both right and wise in our view of the
question.

M. Thiers, the former minister, replied to M. Guizot; and,
after asserting that Texas had been annexed to our Union "to
the great displeasure of England, and, as far as could be
discovered, to the great displeasure of France," he declared
that it was the true interest of his government to place
Texas under the patronage of a powerful nation like ours
rather than to abandon it to the influence of England. "You
are aware," said he, "that _Texas is of great importance to
the United States_, and that its possession was anxiously
desired by that power: _I will add that never was an
annexation made in a more regular manner_. For more than ten
years Texas had been separated from Mexico, and all the
powers, including France, had recognised it." He regarded
the union of England and France in diplomacy between Mexico,
Texas, and the United States, as adopted only to redeem the
faults of the French cabinet during the last five years, and
as a truckling peace-offering for its conduct on the
question of the "right of search." But, of all the French
orators and statesmen, none denounced the conduct of the
cabinet with more zeal than the eloquent Berreyer. He proved
by facts and documents that it was at the instance of
England, and in subservience to her, that the French
government interposed, (as will be