Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-27
WAR---ON PAPER.


granting even that both nations are ready for
fight which is not true now, and may 1t never
be true.
The n. Y. Courier 81 Enquirer of Sept. 10Th,
contains the particulars.
Durng the progress of the Mexican war
Frenchnan in Mexico named Porte purchased
quantity of tobacco which had been seized and
sold by agents Of the American army, knowing
It to be private property, aud us such subject to
the1ules Of war. The facts Of the purchase COM
ing to the knowledge Of Col Childs, the com
mondiDg officer, he immediately caused the TO
oacco to be restored To its proper owner, and the
and the purchase money to be refunded to Porte.
commission was immediately appointed, com.
posed Of officers of the army, to investigate the
matter, and having done so it sustained Col.
Chllds in the action he huG taken. This decis-
ion was sent to Gen. Scott, by whom it was con.
fmcd.
This ended the matter at that time. But in
February last Major Puussin presented to Mr.
Buchanan, then Secretary of State, a claim on
behalf OF Porte for damages, to the amount OF
the difference between the price at which lie
had purchased, and that at which lie had sold,
the tobacco. A Court Of Inquiry was inmedl-
aleiy convened, before which Col. Chids was
summoned as witness His testimony was the
main evidence before the Court, and decision
was rendered unanimously, that tie claim was
uhtounGed. This decision was transmitted to
lie state Department, but before any final nc
ton was taken upon The case, Mr. Buchanan went
out oil Office. Mr.. Clayton rave il his attention
very soon after taking his seat as Secretary of
Stute, und 0iier due examination. fiirmed the
decIslon' ana IN answer to Il note Of inquiry from
Ihe frcnch Minister, conveyed to HIM his appro
val OF The verdict aud his refusal to allow the
claim.
To this letter Major Poussn replied in very
naughty tone, charging Col. Chllds, as he had
frequently done before in conversation, with the
oasest motives, lhtlmaling that he had pe,jured
himself under their Influence, and using other
most offensive and Insulting language. AT the
time this letter was received at the State De.
parlment, Major Poussin was no, in Washington
but IN New York. He was Immediately an
pissed by The Secretary Of State that his pres.
eHce at Washington was necessary. On reDair-
lhg ,hitaer, and calling ut the State Department.
us Iet'er was produced, and he was told rhat,
d"Eough such privilege was entirely out of The
ordinary course, and was to be deemed n snecinl
'aNor, prompted by the earnest desire of the Gov
erl"ent oil the United States TO prevent nny
with the French Minister
ne vas at liberty to Wiih3rGlo or to modify The
uocuheht-or to replace II in the archives the
olate ijeparlnent--as he might see ft. He of |
ieted 10 argue the matter and to defend the pro. |
prlely OF The changes he had made and The Ian
suaSe he mad used but he was Informed by the |
secretary That the President did not deem the !
point one for argument nj MI /, WINS ,",,,n,
Of etiquette and he Ind orlv to d,c,Ia uL,,t
he would withdraw his letter mr. r,r,,'i, :, ,,L'
re, laced on file MDior pnuss,n ,Io, ,.;,ti.
The letter md erased so,ne of tho ,,,os, orT;..c
expressions. He then o,ain trans,,i,,oJ !, "
the Sale Department arf !, yyos Ned 90 O.,
And here it was supposed Inn, nil diff;crI,, rnIJ
end.
Soon. however. another case occurred in which
lc ac,ion nj tho Fron,h Vinis,ar 100, i
don, tina, the ,liscorr,osv ,y,b ,yticl Io ia ,s,
led our Government WAS n", eyrns,blo "r y" ,hn
pround of INDIFFERENCE Tho circn,os,, 1rcs IS
=hs cpsn werc thosn. -
Durinp the Mexican war co,,ro,lor ,,.,,,
ter in ,Lo command ,r ,L n -, -.
forminr nar, If The II 8 h,ocLado u'''I. M
The l,prbor of Worn Crn1 ,vos cnloa ,p',, H. . I
ranlnin ot tho Frcnch L'rr,, - ppm .! 'iie
her from yli,wroct os yra haJ e, '", w. ' ,se.'e
reef A0er s,renutns and Iybnr,o,,s o,a,,'.a
The par, of himself and his crow ta snccoa',o',
in donr 50. and presented IN Tho co,tain (.ciI,o
Eugenla his claim for the leyol omdun, Of s,I
vn6o. The cnntoin reG,scj e, ""'ou' W SUI SUI
mnnder Cnrnenrcr ,baro,,, w. puy ~ anu ION
when Inc b,d Jr,n,n c,,,n t.'p ,essc
her rescue Inn, ti;r,, my VI clec'l
L NHN
claim. HIS cordur, ~ ,ha - 'iiS "''
decided onnr,Ia,in,, ~ s1n %"'a. eI'".u ue
,an AIinist,r IN uIn, ',no'", '.iG n,I'tti'
ed Tho L,och Ca",a;, Ia "',e, "uiu sGD'IIl
# The treain'er, 70 wL,oh I ~, %
,ern .,I;oct h., ,ha hC,a', 40 a"u us teSIG, r'"u
NJ mister addressed notn ~ ,ha snc,,,as.,
state. renresen,inr ib,, ,Io FronnL H.! ~
rrosslv insuItnd e,d u iius u ~ oeo
5v dismissal ~, o,I,s..;"' '"' Pu'',9""C"
Dou,or. Mr. Clov,,n io' ~ Co','''auuel Oa'-
for The oc,i N nj Inc No. ',"s ."o mater one
il TO Air. prcsinn Tho S P"'''lI"'' Io'erre9
rom goro,nnndar Carnorta. Ny procured
of all the tac,s of ,ho casa
with the accomponving y;Tono, "'S S,"ao''Ie:''
ted by MIR. CayIn1 ,n tba ~ 10" sf uans'.lis
companled by note &C.
would be seen from ,Ln Goc,,,o '''u 'T Ia .'at
fence was intended md ,l., ''la' ~ OF
trely satisfactory To- ,bc Fr ot C"",u prove e"
Ins,o,J ~ wi! ~ ''c 'ehch government.
French GVvornrnr '''',s ''ivse uocumenls 10 tue
Secretary of STATE c,or ' u; T'o'e W .ne
erlzed The nctinn 81 to I,a -, ""I1n "o 1"a'dc-
oc, IN b;ch1v ", t'o department Oh 'he SUD
was verv soryv ~ Gn1E ''LI'S' anu sara INIT ne
20 uiierL ;nscnsIa ~ ~ 't"'e, ,Id" government
p,f ofiH, ;nJer"sta - "a "I otS"'N ana so tgnor-
sbo,pn TqcjCto he =; 10 .'1a,"e Sere'ce as " haa
10 Ills insnl,;, "' ' ''',a "am'aeato".
the prnslIen,,. ,7,aa,; S, "o 'ePly was "iaue' by
deucn VIVA ,,,,noSi",o J,on 'iio "noe c9rreSpoh-