The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-21

In sbroad in reference to an alleged difficulty be-
tween Mr. Poussin and the government OF the United
ia m sdI ohsswss have been withheld An al
tempt has been made 70 create the impression lnai ne
circumstances 10 which refer establish OF necessity
This Is not The case Every nation is al liberty dis
miss any foreign minister al ~ peasure On me occur
ence OF anything which is offensive TO IFS dignity Or
which il is ITSELF OF course, TO be the sole
Judge No nation sias undertaken 10 resent such
step as hostile unfrendly act The apprehensions.
therefore. which seem 10 have prevailed this subject
quite uncaled for; as some ulterior action on the
part Of France will be necessary 10 interrupt the amcable
relations which exist between her and the United States
Ga the 7th day Of February last Mr. poussin, in note
70 Mr. Buchanan, then Secretary Of State, alleged that
he was charged BY the French government with the pros
ecuon o. CLAIM against the government OF the United
states, brought by Frenchnan named A. PORT estab-
lished IN Mexico. for Naturalization for damages
tanned ~ him IRON the acts OF certain agents OF the army
Of the United States. His application was in the nature
OF an appeal from the sentence Of military court Of in
quiry 81 Pueba, which had made decision unfavorable
No answer was sent BY Mr.. Buchanan to this com.
~ Ms g brought 2 hs o attention
voted himself % s investigation, with the view Of graft
lying M. Poussn by speedy decision Within ten
announced % MI Poussn that Ss had arrived q Se
conclusion that Mr. Port had just to be dssatis
6sa with the award Of The military court Of inquiry
ca lad been regularly sanctioned Sa and approved by
Gen. Scott, the commander. in. chief
Dissatisfied with this decision, Mr. Poussin, on the 18th
which be reviewed the supposed grounds Of he decision,
and animadverted with some severity the testimony
Of distinguished officer Of the American army in Mex
lts obvious thai at this point Mr. Clayton might have
declined any further correspondence the subject but
out Of respect. on the 10Th Of April he replied 70 Mr.
cision, and respectfully controveng the positions Of the
minister On the 18th Of April Mr.. Clayton received
sno.her note from MI Pous.n in which the minister
highly offensive 70 the American government. The
rssPondence was Immediately submitted BY the Secretary
OF State to the President, who directed him to lose
time in requesting Mr. Poussin to repair to Washington
without unnecessary delay.
The offensive note was dated at Washington, while
Mr.. Poussn was absent in New York, upwards Of two
hundred miles distant from this CITY, Bearing on its face
an insult to the American government, deliberately given
in the very capital Of the United States, which, il not sat
that all correspondence with him as minister should
terminate without delay, made important 10 him
sell and government that he should lose time in
following !" The government Of the Uaiied States must
Dc convinced that Is honorable 10 ae9ut, diry,
debt contracted during Uar. under tie pressure Of nsees
SHY, than to eu1ds Is payment By eudeavoring brand
ne character of honest man." The same mole contain
ed attack upon high military officer, charging him.
attack upon the distng officers composing the
court who were charged with permitting that officer 'to
carry out without Interruption his string Of calumnes
lncredble closed with an nsnuaton that the State
Department had become the organ Of criminal accusa-
ton, without proofs, against Mr.. Port.
y was in reply to this communication that the 2Ist
Of April Mr. Clayton addressed Mr. Poussin the follow
ing note +e
DErAnrMENr OF STATE,
- Washington, April2i, 1919
SrRi On the afternoon Of the 18th instant communion
ton from yon, dated Washington. April - lsts without
showing The day which was wen was received at
Of Unsd sas and having had a
address you private noie, learn through the messenger
the Ssp a, a"a hs
period Of your return hher from New York quite
Under these circumstances aer perusa OF your
which was laid before ms this morning, lose not
ment In requesting you to repair to this city without
the honor 70 be. very respectfully, sir your obe-
JOHN M. CLAYTON. h
In the interview between Mr. Clayton and Mr.. Pous-
sin which followed this note. the latter gentleman
informed that his letter highly offensive, and
tanned language which our government could not admit
and that he permitted TO withdraw the offensive ex-
pressions The letter was accordingly Withdrawn, and
on the following day returned, expnrgaed Of the most
onsns,ve mailer AnT,ou: % maintain friendly relations
ter TO drop and the correspondence with regard to the
claim Of Mr. Port terminated Il hoped that there
would be no further cause of complaint
On the i2th day of May however, Mr.. Poussin, IN a
diplomatic note represented TO the State Department that
"Mr. Carpenter, the commander OF the American war
steamer Iris after Fastening TO the assistance OF the
French ship Eugene. OF havre, which had struck on
the bank OF Riso the anchorage OF Anton Lzardo
advanced claims wholly inadmssibe on account of re-
enumeration for his services and to their acquita
detained the Eugene for two three days. In
quence OF the energetic remonsrances OF NJ Lavalee,
and the honorable Intervention OF the consul OF the Uni
ted States al Vera Cruz, Commander Carpenter dsised
from his prefensonsv Mr.. Poussin proceeded to say
that "ihe Minister of Foreign Affair." Of France
him TO address TO the cabinet OF Washington the
Ious observations The sbuse Of authority committed
by this officer, in illegally OBTAINING the ship Eugene"
lie concluded his note with the following You
Will easily comprehend. Mr.. Secretary Of State, how i'm
portant II 10 that such should be re-
peated and that severe blame, at least, should be
laid on those who thus considered themselves EN-.
powered TO substitute arbitrary for justice and
doubt not that you will. without delay give satisfaction
10 the Just complaints Of the French republic" This
note, nnaccompaned il was by any testimony TO JUS
lily the charge against Commander Carpender was
promptly referred 10 the Navy Department for the pur-
pose Of asceaning the facts which his condemnation
was demanded. On the oath May the Secretary Of the
Navy, reply, transmitted 10 this department all The evil
dence in bis possession which consisted only OF let
tiers from Commander Carpenter himself Dated the one
New Orleans, the 10th November, 1915; the other New
York, The 10th May, $780, In the absence OF any evil
dence OF conflicting facts the President thought that the
character OF that oficer made IL incumbent on him TO
submit 10 the French minister the explanation given
BY Commander Carpenter, and 10 express az the same
time, the hope THAT they would any msappre-
hension which might exist on the part OF the French
government relative TO his conduct the occasion in
question: This note was respectful TO the minister.
The explanation which accompanied showed that the
commander, seeing the French baque Eugene and her
in imminent peril high up on the rocks OF Anton
Lzardo and being appealed 90 for succo FASTENED 10
her assistance with seamcn from the Iris; and that the
captain OF the French borque gave up the charge Of his
vessel on the reef. ia order that the American officer