The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-14
I H E R E ? U B Ii G.
WASN'T N GTON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER IA. 1919.
Case Of M. PoussiIi.

Sasc Oh foussih.
The leading article in the Union of Tues
day morning leaves the public no reason
to doubt of the quarter from which it draws
its inspirations. If France were our enc
my, the conductors of that journal could
well be convicted of reasonable adhe
renee to that enemy, on the evidence OF
that article alone. II furnishes abundant
proof of the nearest relations and the
closest intimacy between them and the
emissaries of M. DE ToCeUEvILLE and M.
PoUssIN. Towards our own Government it
breathes language of defiance and con-
tempt; towards its foreign employers it
speaks the language of apology and concil-
iation. We shall show, by the words of
the Union itself, the nature of the relations
and the intimacy which we have charged
upon it.
The French organ, in the first place,
suggests that the true state of this matter
has not been understood in the United
States. 'sThe French government do not
:" complain of the granting to M. PoUssIN
of his passports by Mr.. CLAYTON" How
do the conductors of the Union krao0 the
fact which they assert so confidently?
This has not been understood, it seems,
in the United States; SO the Union must
have derived its information from foreign
sources. Who has authorized it to speak
with this freedom of the sentiments of the
French government? Surely it does not
make these assertions at random, and vol
unteer to speak for parties without prompt
ing. "The French government" the
Union adds, ''though it might have felt
the irregularity of the proceeding, does
not complain, we understand, of his final
dismission. That course, it is admitted,
this Government had full right to adopt,
leaving the question of propriety TO be
discussed and settled afterwards; and
that IT is no Just cause of offence for one
government to dismiss the minister of an
other, or refuse to receive such minister
on the ground of personal objection to
the individual, is conceded. But the
French government take the ground that,
in this matter, the mode and manner of
proceeding adopted by Mr.. Clayton has
been violation of the rules of diplo-
matte courtesy and etiquette, and an af-
front to France; which, until some
amende honorable is made, will delay the
reception of our minister
Throughout this pal agraph the Union
speaks as by authority for the French gov
eminent II tells us what the French
government 'JeH"-on which point, we
apprchend, no one could instruct the
Union but some member of the French
government itself. That government has
made no publication of It's '4eelings," that
we have heard of, except through the col
umns of It's organ in this city. II tells us
further what's "admitted" by the French
government; what is "conceded;" and
the particular "ground' taken by the
French government in this matter. Now,
if all this is not sheer fabrication-f the
Union has not invented these minute and
special details as TO the ''feelings," the
admissions" the concessions, :" and the
"ground" Of the French governmental
Of which, we are informed, are not under
stood IN tie United Siafes-it must have
derived them directly from NJ. DE TocaUE-
VILE or NJ. PoUssrN, or from some ennis
/ sary Of the government who is the go-be-
tween of the parties. II these matters are
not understood in the United States"
! the explanation Of them necessarily must
have come from France; for how other
wise could the Union have been enlight-
ened in regard TO them'
But we have still closer proof Of the
conncxion between the Union and the mem
bers of the French government. II seems
that Mr.. CLAYTON sent his letter advising
NJ DE ToCaUEvILLE Of the dismissal Of NJ.
PoUssIN, "through the ordinary channel,
by the steamer, and it is said through
the post office, directed TO the Minister
{ Of Foreign Affairs. This mode Of com
{ munication, adopted under these pecu-
liar circumstances, and in this case Of a
: delicate nature, is deemed by VI. De
ToCQUEyILLE such manifest departure
from the observanccs and rules Of diplo-
matte courtesy, that, ,cithout some erDia-
nati0n, Mr.. RlyEs may not be immedi-
ately receiUed."
How happens it that the Union is 50
particularly well advised as to what els
deemed" proper or improper by NJ DE
ToCeUEymLE We should be pleased 70
know the precise channel by which the
Union learns all these special and private
views and feelings Of the French minister
Of foreign affairs, otherwise than by com
munications with an odor of treason about