The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-29

him the saver OF tho yeEse saved err oNetd ~ Il
keep possession OF her Unit his CANT rrei
were fully satisfied; but bis 0pniors have little in
duet.
called on the Cabinet at Washington, AIr Secretary
OF tate, In the OF the French Government. adj
dress severe reprooi TO that ofeer Of the American
navy in order thai the which he has Committed on
point in volving the dignity of your national
m hit not be repes ell hereafter.
| From your answer, M. Secretary Of State, am un
fortunately induced 20 believe your Govemnien NJ
subscribes 10 the strange doctrines proessed by Com
m1nder Carpenter OF the war steamer lrs; and have
only 10 protest, in the name OF roy Government sgans
these doctnnrs.
have the honor to be, with distinguished considera
GUiLLAUME TELL PoUssIs.
| Hon. J. NJ. CLAYTON,
| Secretary of State.
| There had been, in fact no doctrine sdvanc ed in
regard TO the case of Commander Carpenter, nor
| was there any Indication of opinion on the sub
lect OF salvage. Mr. Poussin, as if 10 make out a
case for denunciaton, assumed that 'istrange doc
trines" had been adopted by the Executive,
which compromised the "dignity of our national
In his note of May 30th, the French minister
| speaks OF his previous communication dated 18th
| OF May) in relation to this subject, one merely
| calling upon the Government OF the United States
| 10 disavow the conduct of Commander Carpenter.
In point of fact his note Of the IL of May not on.
| ly demanded such disavowal, but insisted 'that
severe blame, al least, should be laid on those
who thus considered themselves empowered 10
substitute arbitrary measures for justice" The
| Government might have accompanied disayowal
| of Commander Carpenters conduct with a severe
censuIe; but a disaYOwal OF the principle Of sal
wage, or his right 10 il, would not oinecessy have
/ implied a severe C. nsufe. Mr.. POussins note OF
| the 9Th of May wes not understood, nor could IL
| be interpreted, as demanding merely disavowal
| OF the law under which Commander Carpenter
claimed salvage for his crew. To demand upon
| the President 10 disavow a law of the land, and
the usages OF nations under the law Of nations, u
would have teen sufficient answer TO have re-
Piled, that il is not The province OF The Executive
10 make or repeal laws; il is his duty 10 execute
them as they actually exist NJ. Poussin's was
| construed to charge Commander Carpenter with
abuse OF authority IN illegally OBTAINING the French
| vessel.
Il will be observed that The defence of Com
mander Carpenter was placed in the hands of the
FRENCH minister with the expectation Of their be-
ing forwarded TO the French government; and with
The hope, expressed by the President, that an 10
| spection OF the papers would remove the misun-
Outstanding which existed in regard 10 his conduct
Mr.. Poussin did not give the cabneI Of france an
opportunity OF deciding the case IN its new aspect
but Immediately denounced the commander, with
out considering his defence, which he regarded as
matter Of lite interest ia Ais eyes, when he hal
| occasion TO condemn The conduct OF an officer of
| the United States. An impeTlOus refusal 10 per
NIT an American officer 10 be heard IN his defence
ny the Government which accused, was not INSIDE
| more pelatable 10 the Executive by The contempt.
nous sheer that accompanied II. The United
States Government had asked, as an act OF com
mon justice 10 a merilOrous aud faithful officer,
that he be heard in matter affecting his private
| and official character; and it was natural TO sup
pose that his conduct IN saving French ship, and
abandoning his claim 10 salvage, would eXempl
him from censure though il might fail TO receive
the appreciation of the French Government. II
Was felt 10 be- due 10 Commander Carpenter thai
he should not be condemned without evidence or
| a hearing; and a refusal OF 20 common a right was
deeply felt, as unjust, insolcnt and rude. Mr.
Nilsson, the late Secretary OF the Navy, a letter
10 Commander Carpenter, dated November 18th.
lS4S, had officially approved his course in this
very matter; there was no evidence adduced
against him, and yet Mr. Poussin decides that he
had committed act which derogslsd from ''the
dignity OF the national marine" aud proceeds 10
implicate the American Government in the dis
credtable conduct OF its officer. He protests
against the action of the American Executive in
the name of the French Government, thus pre-
sentng himself before the President and his Cabi-
net as having been commissioned TO lecture them
upon what concerns the dignity and honor OF our
NATIONAL marine.
On the receipt of this extraordinary letter, the
President determined 10 submit Mr. POussin's cor.
respOn3ence 10 the French gOveTnm nj, without
assuming 10 prescribe the course which that gov
eminent should adopt under such peculiar circun
stances towards friendly power; and Mr.. POUssln
was duly advised of this determination. In COM
Jug 10 luls OtclhlQn, me EErelUtHl WIS dEkurAtG
10y profound regard fox the existing friendly rela.
tons with sister republic, and sincere desire
that those relations should continue undiatuTbed q.
Accordingly, the whole correspondence was com.
municated 10 his e,celleucy the Minister Of For
eiGn Ahars OF france, on the IN ctJuly, 10y Nr
Rush.
Atlength finding it apparent, that The French
Government wholly refused 10 redress the wrong
inflicted by the French Minister the Presiden, ie.t
hmsPlt CONSTRAINED 10 terminate Mr. Fuusslu's Of
Eaia nj fpfaV -fFh =
p:eclude an opportunity which might be again
abused.
The relations thus terminated between the
Minister Of France and the American Government
Go not Imply or necessarily lead q a cold hos
| Tile intercommunication between the two gov
enmCnts la the case OF Dir. jackson, Minister
OF Great Britain, whose relations with this gov
eminent were terminated by MI. Madison in lSU9
IA more peremPioTy manner, and idT less pointed
insult, no difficulty arsse between this cOuCty
and England Az another time we may refer 10
that misunderstanding more at length; but suffice
IL to say for the present, that, unless FGauCe is
| emulous OF difficulty with this coulty-of which
We have no evidence in anything that has hitherto
trPnspired-no disturbance OF the i@ndly relations
between this and that country can possibly occur.
In putting end TO the official relations of MIR.
| Pouissin with the United States, The Executive
has informed both the government Of France aud
the late minister OF France, that any cOmnunira-
ton through any other channel will be respectful.
| ly received ard considered.
We make room for the latter part Of the cor
resPondence in this affair, which we take from
the official publication:
The Sc1rersy q STATE % tie Minister d ne JHiiei Sai,'
at PGr7s
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHISGroN, June D, lsi9 I
en-. w., ,r;II ron, ;yn ,,;,b die r,soatcb conv
| of correspondence that he's recently passed be-
tween this Department and NJ. Poussin, the tone OF
which the Minister'S part, is regarded Us often
sive 10 the American Government and cannot, II
| is presumed, meet the appreciation Of the Govern
ment of the republic which be represents.
Prom these papers you Will learn that, If October
of Iast year, Commander Carpenter, of the United
States Navy, commanding the United States wal
steamer "lis," had the good fortune 10 Tcscue the
| French barque "Eugenie," Of Havre, which had
| struck on the bank of Riso, near the anchorage o.
Anton LizaTdo, on the coast of Mexico. Under the
belief that the case was one which justly entitled
I his officers and men 10 salvage, the commander
| caused the rescued vessel 10 be moored IN safety
| near the "lIis," until he could communicate witt
| the cOnsgnee, Senior Coma, al Vera Ctuz; but
after waiting thirty hours, aud receiving no an
aver from the cOnsignee, he determined to deliver
and did deliver the barqne over TO the charge Of
her captain. In the opinion be entertained re
! speeding the right TO salvage, Commander CaTpen
der was supported by Mr.. Clifford, our Minister II
Mexico. and his whole conduct was approved e!
that Minister.
On the l2lh ult. NJ Poussin, under instruction
from his government, addressed representation O
this subject in note 10 this Department, complain
ing, in strong terms, OF what he considers to be al
birary and illegal conduct On the part OF the com
mapder of the Iris; suggesting that that ottce
should be severely blamed, and asking that speed
satisfaction should be given TO the just complaint