The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-20

There had been, IN TACT, no doctrine ad-
vanced in regard to the case of Com
mander Carpenter, nor was there any in
dication of an opinion on the subject of
salvage Mr.. Poussin, as if to make out
case for denunciation, assumed that
'sstrange doctrines" had been adopted by
the Executive, which compromised the
''dignity of our national marine"
In his note of May 30th, the French
minister speaks of his previous commune
cation dated 10Th of May in relation to
this subject, as one merely calling upon
the Government of the United States to
disavow the conduct of Commander Car
pender In point of fact, his note of the
18th of May not only demanded such a
disavowal, but insisted ''that severe blame,
at least, should be laid on those who thus
considered themselves empowered to sub
stitute arbitrary measures for Justice" The
Government might have accompanied a
disavowal of Commander Carpender's con-
/ uuCl Will d StNCit put a VISA
vowa of the principle OF salvage, or his
right to it, would not of necessity have
| implied severe censure. Mr. PoUSsIN's
note of the 18th of May was not under
stood, nor could it be interpreted, as
demanding merely disavowal of the
law under which Commander Carpenter
claimed salvage for his crew. To de-
mand upon the PRESIDENT to disavow a
law of the land, and the usages of nations
under the law of nations, it would have
been sufficient answer to have replied,
that it is not the province of the Execu-
tive to make or repeal laws it is his du-
ty to execute them as they actually exist.
Mr.. PoUssIN's was construed to charge
Commander CARpENpER with abuse of
authority in illegally OBTAINING the French
vessel.
1t will be observed that the defence of
Commander CARPENDER was placed in
the hands of the French minister with
the expectation of their being forwarded
to the French government and with the
hope, expressed by the President, that an
inspection of the papers would remove the
misunderstanding which existed in regard
to his conduct Mr.. Poussin did not give
the cabinet of France an opportunity of
deciding the case in its new aspect, but
Immediately denounced the commander,
without considering his defence, which he
regarded as matter of little interest IN his
eyes, when he had occasion to condemn
the conduct of an officer of the United
States. An imperious refusal to permit
an American officer to be heard in his de-
fence by the Government which accused,
was not made more palatable to the Exec
utive by the contemptuous sheer that &C
companied it. The United States Govern
ment had asked, as an act of common JUS
tice to meritorious and faithful officer,
that he be heard in matter affecting his
private and official character; and it was
natural to suppose that bis conduct in saw
ing French ship, and abandoning his
claim to salvage, would exempt him from
censure, though it might fail to receive
the appreciation of the French govern
ment 1t was felt to be due to Comman-
der Carpenter that he should not be con-
demned without evidence or a hearing;
and refusal of so common right was deep
y felt, as unjust, insolent, and rude. Mr..
Mason, the late Secretary Of the Navy, in
letter to Commander Carpenter, dated
November 2Sth, lS4s, had officially APP
proved his course in this very matter
there was no evidence adduced against
him, and yet Mr.. Poussin decides that he
had committed an act which derogated
from "the dignity of the national ma
rine," and proceeds to implicate the Anne
! rican Government in the discreditable con
duct Of IT. officer. He protests against
the action of The American Executive in
the name of the French government, thus
presenting himself before the Presidents and
his Cabinet as having been commissioned
TO lecture them upon what concerns the
dignity and honor Of our national marine.
On the receipt of this extraordinary let
ter, the PRESIDENT determined to submit
Mr.. PoUssIN's correspondence to the
French government, without assuming TO
prescribe the course which that govern
ment should adopt under such peculiar
circumstances towards a friendly power;
and Mr.. PoUsslN was duly advised Of this
determination. In coming TO this deci-
sion, the PRESIDENT was actuated by a
profound regard for the existing friendly
relations with sister republic, and sin
cere desire that those relations should
continue undisturbed. Accordingly, the
whole correspondence was communicated
to his excelIency the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of France, on the 18th Of July, by
/