The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-26


they terminated by an armistice, which, though
limited to the 18th of March, 1s49, there was every rea-
son to hope would be followed by peace between
those neighboring kingdoms This hope continued
without any reason to dstrust It's realization until late In
February last
The fruit OF the revolutionary movements in Austria,
Prussia and other States of Germany the formation
of the Germanic Confederation, with prince OF the
house of Austria at its head The Baron Roenne was
accredited as its minister to the United States Whatever
may be the fate of the effort whether ii SHALL be success
full or fail from the inherent difficulties which surround
ed it, none can doubt that it entitled to the best
wishes of every friend of liberty the United States for
its complete success and this feeling might be entertain
ed and expressed without just cause OF offence to any
other European power. Mr. Donelson was accredited as
the diplomatic representative of the United States 10 'he
government of the Confederacy at Frankfort, One OF
the first measures determined on by the Confederate
government was to establish a navy-not win
view to the relations between Denmark and Prus-l
sia but as permanent means OF maintaining nauohai
independence To accomplish this result application
was made to the United States for the temporary
service of some of naval officers to aid IN building
up a navy This application, strongly recommended by
our minister received by the President with the re-
spect due to the source from which it emanaed and to
the motives and feelings which prompted it. Commo-
dore Parker despatched TO Germany to obtain precise
information on the subject especially to the number
of officers required and the of the service which
they expected perform. The letters OF the late
Secretary of the Navy Commodore Parker OF the 10th
December last and the Baron Roenne of the lst OF
March, show the views of MIR. Folks administration on
this important subject, and show, beyond the possibility
of doubt that while the compliment TO our country and
its institutions most sensbly felt, and with every
disposition to evnce respect for Germany and sympathy
in her effort to form united government which prom
sed to establish enlightened institutions on the basis OF
liberty the administration would not involve our happy
country in European difficulties, disregard neutral
obligations
But grave CHARGE contradcted by this entire series of
measures, and the correspondence concerning them has
been based the purchase of single steamer, fitted
passenger vessel and her necessary alterations to adapt
her to government purposes This steamer was pur-
chased by the agents of the German government of c
zens of the United States; she became by the purchase
the property of the German government; and, SO far as
has been shown, whatever refragabe proof there uay
be in reserve was wanted as model vessel for general
government purposes without reference to the suspended
hostlities between Prussia and Denmark Mr. Clayton
in his despatch of the 9Th of May says that zone de-
partmen of the executive branch of the government
whilst under the administration OF Mr. Mason, oho prob
ably had good reasons the time for thinking, the
German minister certainly did, that the then eristing
betcee, Germany and Denmark coud be terminated nth
the armi,tice gave as is stated its direct sanction by
authorizing the commandant of the yard al New
York to afford all the necessary facilities for fitting out
N a xpara andth he honorable
tary argues with this concession that the act lille
gall and the alteration and fitting out of the steamer was
in violation of the treaty with Denmark and the act OF
Congress OF 1918.
What has the head of one of the Executive depart.
mens done incur this official denunciatlon He
had refused to receive Prussan officers board an
American frigate If scar existed He subsequently re-
fused to recommend that authority should be asked OF
Congress that officers should be permitted 10 enter the
service of Germany, because the German government
stated that they wanted for active war Service lest
our neutrality should be violated What. then, were the
measures which give foundation for this grave charge
First he gave Baron Roenne private letter to Com.
Perry We feel assured that it was nothing more than
letter of introduction unofficial in its character, which
any one gentlemen might give to another requesting that
this officer would give the Baron his opinions as to the
qualities and necessary alterations of any steamer which
he might propose to purchase. 1t imposed no duty
on Com Perry and that gallant and distinguished OH
cer in bis official report of his unofficial conduct, under
date of March 10, ls49 expresses the opinion, that $50
far no breach of law OF neutral obligations as ecog-
Missed by former practices, has yet occurred"
In the second place, the Secretary of the Navy directed
the commandant of the navy yard to afford facilities in
the preparation and equipment of the steamer United
States as war steamer This order amounted to nothing
MORE and we are confident intended to be no more,
than an act of national courtesy due to the German govern
men and would have been readily extended TO the Dan
ish government In the public dockyards of every naval
power we believe that similar courteses have been
extended, without complaint, and without censure.
During the war between the United States and Mexico,
the United States steamship ofwar Princeton was re-
"a red and retted at Toulon without being driven in by
stress of weather. While Spain and Mexico were in
state of suspended hostes, war steamers were built
armed, and equipped in the harbor OF New York, and
went to sea without hindrancc belonging, by purchase,
to the Mexican republic. About the same time OF this
purchase two steamers of the Cuna line purchased
by the German government, and converted into wal
steamers in England.
But it is insisted that the purchase and equipment OF
this single steamer was clear violation of the treaty
with Denmark and of the act of 1918. We are not aware
of any provision of the treaty with which it conflicts.
The act of 1918 alone has been referred to by the Aor-
ney General, in his opinion of the 2sth of April On this