The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-28
NAVAL SALVAGE.

NAVAL SALVAGE.
Case in point-Command d r Carpenter and
the Opposition.
We had hoped to be spared the neces-
sity of defending the conduct of gallant
officer, already assailed by foreign min
lister, from either direct or implied re-
proach from the press of his own country.
The American side of the correspondence
between the American Government and
M. Poussin was so impregnable to the
shafts of satire or the captiousness of crit
icism-the dispatches of the United States
Secretary Of State were so unexception-
able in tone and inoffensive in language
that the Opposition have been compelled
to conjure up devices to draw off public at
tention from the main point of the case,
and In their desperation have actually
taken sides with Nj. Poussin against Cap
tain Carpenter. If the course pursued by
the President was as exceptionable as they
pretend it was; if, indeed, as they con-
tend, Mr.. Clayton should have sent for
M. Poussin every time he chose to insult
the Government, and begged him to with
draw his offensive language, they would
have confined their attacks to the papers
which have been published to the world.
/ They have failed, and long may the apol-
oglsts of foreign superciliousness continue
to fail, in persuading the American people
that the Government of the United States
should brook more than two direct insults
from any quarter before making its resent
ment felt.
Without presenting the slightest proof
of any wrong act committed by Com
mander Carpenter, upon mere complaint
of captain of French vessel which was
saved from destruction by him and his
crew, NJ. Poussin demands his disgrace.
Without asking an investigation of the
case, without submitting any documents
relating to it, the abasement of an Ameri-
can officer is peremptorily urged; and
when Mr.. Clayton laid before the French
minister statement containing all the
facts in possession of this Government, he
is answered by NJ. Poussin with a haugh-
ty refusal to submit the defence 10 the
French governmeht-a refusal made more
poignant by the declaration that Com
mander Carpenters statement had little
interest in French eyes when French
minister has occasion to condemn his con-
duct
The Union, since it has become the or
gan of foreign governments, as against the
Administration of General Taylor, 'the
southern Shareholder" may Justify the
French minister in disdaining TO consider
Commander Carpenters statement of the
least interest; yet to us, who do not look
upon this transaction through French eyes,
the attempt TO bring reproach upon dis
tInguIshed officer of the United States
navy, about transaction in which that Of
fcer and his crew risked themselves in
saving the lives and property of strangers,
>. without permitting him to offer word in
his own behalf, appears proceeding as
much at war with the instincts of human
ity, as the proposition upon which il is
based is repugnant to the law Of nature
and Of nations. The people of the country
are called upon by the Opposition to accept
an erParte statement of captain of a
French merchantmen, as good grounds to
Justify demand for the reprimand Of an
American commander who saved the
Frencbman's ship from destruction; whilst
they are required to regard the report of
their own officer, the only meritorious
party to the issue, as Of little interest in
explaining what Frenchman finds it his
advantage to complain of 1t was all
right in NJ. Poussin to require Commander
Carpenters humiliation, upon the COM
plant Of French captain whose interests
with the underwriters predominated over
his gratitude for the preservation of his
J ship and cargo; but for Mr.. Clayton to
exhibit Captain Carpenters statement,
explaining how he happened to save the
e ship and cargo, was a terrible blunder.
! But what will the Union say if French
! man-oi-war demanded and received sal