The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-24
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS.
Our Washln8to. Corrssps nAe .se.

We have at length the whole Of the correspoA-
dence published this mornin IN the columns Of
the Enteligeaesr and also the Republic, disclosing
the various matters between Nj. Poussin and Mr..
Clayton. II is a very absurd and ridiculous quar-
rel about a few dollars all through on the
lace of the official correspondence there is good
deal OF room for the remarks made upon it by the
French Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The real
cause OF this fuss, however, has never yet been
disclosed TO the public, or submitted to the action
Of unbiased opinion. | will endeavor to supply
this omission, in addition to what have already
said.
Soon after the Inauguration Of General Taylor,
it may be remembered that grand entertain
ment was given TO the foreign ministers resident
in Washington. In getting up this entertainment
with proper attention to etiquette, several menu
bers Of the cabinet were called into the councils
| of the White House Ii was proposed, usual
| that all the ministers, with their secretaries, In
| GLIDING their ladies, should be invited 10 that
grand diplomatic fets, with tho exception Of ths
! French ambassador IL appears that M. and
| Madame Poussin had previously both called on
the President, the minister presenting his lady to
| the family OF the President, and everything passed
| of laGy-like. This & preliminary step in So
cia diplomatic etiquette; but, for other reasons,
| it was proposed TO give an invitation to M Pous-
sin without including Madame Poussln. con-
siderable debate took place in the cabinet on this
point, and Mr. Clayton was of opinion that Nine.
| Poussin should not, and could not, be invited
| with the minister. The same rule was observed
| with regard to NJ. Marie and his lady. The rea-
sons assigned for the exclusion of these ladies',
were the position which, according TO rumor, they
had occupied in Paris--lhe one had been go
verness, and the other grt,etts; but forbear TO
mention anything else
On M. Poussin receiving his note of invitation
for the Presidential dinner al the White House,
without including Madame Poussn, he felt very
indignant, but did not seem 10 know what course
to take. He learned that Mr.. Clayton was the
person who brought about the exclusion of his
lady, and his feelings became emblttered to an
extraordinary extent against him. Instead, how
ever, of demanding explanation, winch he
| might have done, from the President and his ca
binet, NJ Poussin swallowed the exclusion and
| the dinner, and very anwlsely allowed his feelings
| to escape IN diplomatic correspondence with Mr..
| Clayton on other and more important matters con-
nected with the Interests Of the two countries.
IL is probable that all these preliminary facts, in
| Guiding the note OF invitation, will come out in
due time The bad temper and ascerblty, origi-
natlrg IN that note OF invitation, increased and
ranked throughout the whole OF the subsequent
| cofrespondence, which is now before the country.
Mr.. Clayton has kept his temper better than nj.
P9ussn, but both the American Secretary and
| the French minister, In their diplomatic inter-
courre, deserve, TO certain extent the crlticisn
pronounced upon it by M de Tocqueville, tbs
| Minister for Foreign Affairs in Paris.
! Mr.. Clayton calls in MIR. Harvey, and details to
HIM the facts In The whole difficulty. They are
written out; and, doubtless at the instigatOn of
Mr.. Clayton, odsus beH is made of them in the
North Amerrcan. The cabinet will stand as firm
| as rock: Somebody, however, must back out
Stocks fell. People on the streets began TO count
| our resources for squsbble with Louis Napoleon;
and, Tor tweniy-tour hours, the belllcoss semi.
| official statement and commentary Of the North
Ancica,i, led the I0bbers the belief that We
were TO have fine field for steamships and loans
al ten per cent.
The wore feature Of the whole affair is the agency
OF klr Cliytsn In getting up the warke articles in
the North AmTican and other newspapers. 1t was
In bad taste, N any event. bat answering the rela-
tons Of Mr. Clayton to the North AmUicsw. II was
exceedingly indehcate, a. piece OF private stock
| Jobbing with the secrets OF the government Ii
was the Investment frcm the public archives, by
public sflicer, in private speculation. Mr.. Clay
| ton has loaned large sum OF money to the North
| american, which is invested IN the paper. Upon
The success OF the paper depends the return Of the
| funds GIVE the paper a semi-e official character,
| and you enhance its value as party organ, and
increase its capacity for redeemna oblg aiions.
| Has not this been done IL not Mr.. Clayton
thus changed the functions of the State Depart
| ment INTO the bus ness Of a brokers' Office Has
he not in effect cold the Of the government
for value TO be received in dollars and cenNsf Has
|
| by stoopirg to an experiment in penny-a-lining
| Introduce this system OF Jo5bing into the seve-
| ial Departments, and how long will the govern
ment stand 1t would not hold together nli ;hs
| meeting OF Congress. The official papers Of tho
| departments would be put up at auction, and the
government would be regularly sold out under the
| hammer.
What will the country saw to all this noise about
| nothing The diplomacy Ut Mr.. Clayton and the
cabinet has been sgnallsed Tor It's stuplditIes. and
ITS contracted views of the policy Of the Ame-
\ AT rl.xt L
clarafion OF peace as the ground work Of their &C
ton; and after siding with the monarchlss Of Eu.
rope ~ every form, MI public opinion Is resolng
upon them, they ready for the extrene (f il M
not all humbug) OF driving the ma hon to war upon
| shallow punctilio. How stand the factsi
| When mere was prospect that the people of
Canada were about TO strike tor Independence last
! spring, the cabinet caused its hostility to Amsr-
can sympathy IN the enterprise to be publs,hsd,
and all for the sake Of neutrality and peace. When
the German people, moving IN q body for liberal
| seameD AIR. Clayton held them under bonds TO
| keep the peace " III the despots. When the GAL
| liant liungarans. in their noble struggle for na-
tionalty, appealed offer defeating Austria 10 be
recognised as an independent people, as we had
| recognized France as We had recognised Greece,
and Mexico, and Texas, MIR Clayton admonshed
them to wait awhile, and VI they should succeed in
crushing the swarm of Russ sent to annihilatc
| them, and come out with flying colors, then the
American cabinet would be happy to scknow-
| ledge the lact But u was a dangerous business
| al tioig hhidhCc on the uespOfs.
u might compromise our neuiralty, you know.
When the Creoles of Cuba, oppressed with the
worst forms Of military espionage, and taxatIons,
and penalties, were about striking for justice, aud
when organizations were supposed TO be on foot In
the United States TO help them, the cabinet promp.-
" called the navy INTO requisinn. 10 secure To the
II anlsh queen the Obedience Of her subjects Of tho
| island All this was for the rake OF peace and
neutrality. Don't forget that.
Public sentiment did not approve these extreme
proceedings in favor Of monarchy and against free
Institutions. The summer elections told their YER
Dict against the cabinet, and the independent press
sustained the public judgment, and forsshadow-
| Cd il.
In this state Of things, with the foreign policy of
the cabinet thus illustrated, and thus rscoiling back
uTon them, Mr.. Clayton was suddenly seized with
the CONVICTION that timidv not popular and that
come bold was demanded torecovrr lost ground.