The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-10-04
EXCITING NEWS FROM WASHINGrnN

EhNll I'M NENS FhOM washington
DIPLOMATIC Relations WITH FRANCS AT ANryn
1.-The news which We give from Washington
received by telegraph yesterday evening, viii
take the country by surprise No one suspected
that negotiations OF such grave import Were go'
ing on between the American Secretary of Sta,e
ana the causes OF complaint lying at the bottom !,
this difficulty, were altogether unknown onSide
oil the diplomatic circles. Had such negotiations
occurred under either Of the preceding Admin.
istrations, the wiicle affair would have hesn
known long since. But Gen. TAyLog's Cabne
know too well what is due TO their station
and 10 the CAVITY Of the interests com.
mitted to their charge to expose secrets Of hi,
character. Even before the country Is advised
OF any difference between the two countries, An.
Administration have decided upon the course
which the honor Of the nation requires TO be a.
dop,ed. Diplomatic relations are at an end. and
France may choose the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
backing out from the position in which she is
placed by the acts Of her Minister, or Of ado piny
Interior measures.
The Washington correspondent OF the Baltimore
Sun says: "Some weeks since, NJ. Ponssip, IA.
French minister. addressed an impairment note
to the Secretary OF State, whereupon the Presi.
dent addressed note 10 The French Government.
demanding his recall. This not being done The
President offered M. Poussn his passports, which
he accepted
.lndependent,' the Washington correspondent
of the North American, and who is reliable an.
thority, speak ing Of the difficulty between This
government and The French minister, saws. by
telegraph this morning:
'.In February, Poussin, the French minister
presented Mr.. Buchanan, then Secretary q State.
a claim on behalfo Of Mons. Porte. a Frenchman.
residing in Mexico. Porte, purchased some TO-
haeco, sold by the agents oil the American army
knowing II to be private property and not subject
70 the rules of war. The tobacco was restored 10
the proper owner, by Col Chiles, and the purchase
money refunded 10 Porte. Under these circum.
stances, claim was set up By the French minis.
ter Tor damages--being the difference between
the price al which Porte had purchased and at
which it was sold. court OF inquiry was held
which decided, unanimously, against the claim,
and the decision was approved by General Sect.
Mr. Buchanan went out Of Office without examin.
ing the case. When il came before the present
Administration. the finding Of the court was az.
frmed BY Mr.. Clayton, and in answer to a note
OF NJ. Poussin, the Secretary OF State sustained
the verdict of the court, and added his own appro-
val. loussin reJoined- charging Col. Chiles,
verbally, With perjury, in rather insulting lam
gnage. lie was invited TO Washing on--being
then absent-on the alternative Of Withdrawing
OF adopting his offensive note. He Withdrew il,
his communication, which was accepted Sub
sequenily, Poussin presented another note, claim
ing the punishment OF Commander Carpenter,
under the following circumstances Capt Car
penter, while forming paft OF The bloekading
squadron on the coast OF Mexico, was called up
onby the Captain OF The French ship sEagene,'
to rescue hertrom shpwreek. He, with his crew
succeeded after much labor. aud afterwards re-
qaested the legal salvage. This was refused
wherenpon, Capt. Carpenter restored the vessel
TO the Captain she having laid alongside Ca,-
pen'er's ship Tor thirty hours Mr.. Clifford min
lister 10 Mexico approved OF Captain Carpenters
conduct. When this subject was submitted TO
Mr.. Clayton, it was referred 10 Mr.. Preston, who
confirmed Captain Carpenters statement OF the
facts. foussin, instead Of referring The matierto
his Government, wrote an insulting letter, in
which he reflected grossly upon the character
and honor OF the American Marine. The Pfesi-
dent then directed the whole correspondence 10
be laid before the French Government. expecting
immediate and voluntary redress Instead Of
atonemen,, the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs
attempted TO inculpate our own Government and
10 divide tie sponsibiliy. As soon as this In
fo nation was received, the President ordered no
further correspondence TO be tleld with Poussin,
and lis passports TO be placed al his disposal =
The future is siirouded doubt. De TocqaeYille,
the Minister Of Foreign Affairs, must resign
Poussin must be removed. J he French Govern.
ment must apologize, or a rapture must ensue.-
The Admin.sti ation will not advance an inch or
retract word. aad If fIrnce wishes var as there
is good reason to suppose she does, the response.
bility is on her shoulders. This case admits OF
no diplomatic cobbiing il is question OF honor,
in which he United States cannot abandon is
high position"