The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-05-22
Diplomatic Perplexities.

The following account of some diplomatic per-
pexities of the the Government is given in the
Washington correspondence signed Observer "
of the Philadelphia Ledger:
Meanwhile there is some little business of
different nature occupying the minds of some OF
General Taylor's Ministers. Mr.. Clayton is just
now occupied with Baron Roenne, the Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from The
Central Government of Germany, and not exactly
on terms of the most cordial amity with him, from
circumstances arising out of a recent transaction
which am about to detail. While the difficulty
between Denmark and the German Duchies of
Schleswig Holstein and Lanenburg We're about to
be arranged amicably, and the Germans merely de-
sired to establish national navy, to put themselves
on a respectable footing with their maritime neigh
bors an application made 10 our Government
by Prussia, either to grant furlough to some OF
our naval officers, which these might employ In in
structing young German officers and midshipmen
in the duties and of their profession, or to
ter the German service altogether, at least for
limited period. Subsequently number of young
German officers were permitted to perform mid
shipments duty on board the frigate st. Lawrence,
with the distinct understanding, however, that in
case of the resumption of any difficulties the Ger
man officers should not have permission to stay
board. For their services they receive, of course,
no.compensation. This instance OF national comfy
on the part of our Government produced an admit
| rabe effect in Germany the King of Prussia ex-
pressed Ills u6ep ODIRdtiOI, dUu VI OuI
ships were participants of the hospitality of the
Court and people. Rut there was yet another good
| effect produced. Germany does not possess The
same abundance of materials for shp-building, and
| as vet no extensive dockyards for the construction
or preparation of vessels of war. Germany, there
FORE had TO purchase her ships, and the high repu-
taion of our shipwrighis, and the wellknown skill
of our naval officers naturally led the Germans E
select the United States for that purpose. The
steamship United States was accordingly pur-
| chased but as she was not armed, and was con-
| sequentiy in the position in which she had been
used for carving passengers and the mail, utterly
unfit for the purpose of the purchase, application
was made to the then Secretary of the Navy,
| whether the U. S. Government would not induce
| the commander of the Navy Yard at Brooklyn to
afford the purchaser the of fitting her for the
| service for which she was Intended This request
was granted, and the work was going on till the
vessel was very nearly ready for sea. Neither the
Danish, Russian, nor Austrian, nor in fact any
| foreign minister protested against this proceeding
especially as an armistice had been concluded be-
tween Denmark and Prussia, which rendered the
amcable settlement of their mutual difficulties al
most certain beyond doubt. This did not seem
to satisfy the Secretary of State VINO addressed
a sharp letter to Baron Roenne, the Minister from
| the Central Government of Germany, expressing
| his "astonisbment'' at the transaction. Baron
| Roenne has since come down here TO plead the
case of Germany personally, but with what effect,
am as vet unable to tell. The matter is an impor-
tant in regard to the principle which it involves,
| and its settlement one way or another cannot but
| produce deep sensation in the German Father
land. Thus matters stood, when Mr. Clayton took
the place of Mr.. Buchanan in the State Depart
ment, and Mr.. Preston that of John Y. Mason in
| the Navy. Mr.. c. at once considered the whole
transaction as ont of ORDER and opposed the rights
and obligations of neutrals. Mr.. Buchanan had
been of different opinion, and Mr. Mason, when
applied to by HIr. Clayton for explanation, made no
other reply than that the whole correspondence
| between him and the Prussan authorities on
record, and that he had not the slightest objection
to have it published"