The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-05


We publish below an extract from letter
ceved in this city yesterday, which gives perfect
ly satisfactory solution OF the heretofore unex
planned mystery IN regard 70 the conduct OF the
French government in declining TO recall M. Pous-
sin. Without this key, no one can understand the
attempt of M. de Tocqueyie TO apologize for,
rather to justify, M. Poussin's insolence by imph
eating our own government in the of discour-
teous language which is to be found only in the
correspondence of the French minister.
This explains, TOO, the repeated declarations of
M. Poussin, published in the newspapers, that
he had used the language of his instructions in the
letter which insults our government. M de Tocque-
Vile fail TO feel the full force Of the sarcasm
justly introduced into Mr., Cleyton's reply:
New YoRK, Oct. 2, 1919.
MY DEAR L*@***.:
A singular development has been made here
within the last twenty four hours. will not
trouble you with my source of information, but a
French gentleman of our acquaintance has ascer-
tanned the facts, and ! know you may rely on
them.
He says that the reason for M. de Tocquevile's
letter to Secretary of State is, that he was de-
Tending his own Instructions to M. Poussn-that
the rupture with M. Poussin was the result OF M
de Tocqueville's own ignorance OF the law OF sal
vage-and that he could not dismiss M Poussin
without dsgracing himself
He says he has seen the instructions of M. de
Tocquevlle to Poussin in the of Carpender and
that they direct Poussin to address to govern
ment a protest against the law of salvage and
sequently against the seizure and detention of the
EngSn;e as oinvolvine the dignity of the American
marine and that there is not an insulting express
sion in the letter of Poussin for which he inter
commun;cated which Is NOT Ia he fo,,nd in almost
tba verv same words in M de Toconeville,s in
structions, except that in which NJ Poussin went
out of his way to sneer about the little interest
Frenchmen felt, when they had occasion to con-
denim an American officer in anv thing he could
snv In self defence 80
He saws also that NJ de Tocuuevillc who is no
t;ralxr
nj Tie law of salvage existing in Mexico and sent
documents IN Ponssin from Which he inferred two
GREAT errors: First. that salvage could never be
Claimed unless a vessel was b ed: and second that
,.lvaoa could never he claimed nv a national vessel
ar man. of war asked him how M de Tocoue-
v;lIe Ga mo N be az rnisled-I sa " msled because
hear thai there il no difference of opinion among
the iurists here who all concur that Carpender was
lrIy nt;ted m salva ge md had RIGHT 10 detain
the ycsse not merely Under the general maritime
law Of lien hut under, the settled law of Mexico
which allows the salyor to detain the vessel saved
untl hond ;s g;ven far the ma vment of the SALVAGE
IN he assessed NV the MEXICAN judicial tribunals He
ga VS. that M de Tocoueye read the violent attac ks
made in the Mexican papers upon Lieutenant Car
member and mon this country in the autumn of last
year in which thew charge that the American peo-
ME were nation Of punderers and pirates-that the
Euprnie WAS seized and forcbly detained by Car
pender who as thew said was not entitled to sal
yage: first because the vessel was not bilged and
.econdJ, hecanse the demand of "a Iva ore nv man.
&c war was q Disgrace To the American marine and
no other nation Claimed il The frat abusive arti-
Gle ON the subject WAS pubshed bv the editor of the
otcial ORGAN in the citv of Mexico who has a deem
hatred for our country on account of the Mexican
yar He further ga US thai the French Charge d. AZ
fres ~ MIC sent ali these violent articles home
N his own government and Joined in the hue and
crv about the sez,1re,, of the Eueenie for salvage
-. d;sarace IN The 4 AMERICAN pove1nment and neo-
ME Tfnon these documents nj de TocoueyilIe act
ed and instructed NJ Poussn to demand the dis
Of anita ndar not