The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-20
TIL E RE PU B Lie.
WASHINGTON:
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 20, Is4s.
The French Minister and the United state,

In consequence of the rumors and state
ments that have gone abroad, in reference
to an alleged difficulty between Mr.. PoUs-
SIN and the Government of the unlted
States, it becomes necessary to present
a narration of facts that might otherwise
have been withheld. An attempt has been
made to create the impression mat the
circumstances to which we refer establish
of necessity unfriendly relations between
this country and France. Tins is not the
case. Every nation is at liberty to dismiss
any foreign minister, at its pleasure, on the
occurrence of any thing which is offensive
TO its dignity or character-of which it is
itself, of course, to be the sole Judge. No
nation has ever undertaken to resent such
step as hostile or unfriendly act.
The apprehensions, therefore, which seem
to have prevailed on this subject, are
quite uncalled for; as some Interior ac-
ton on the part of France will be neces-
sary to interrupt the amicable relations
which exist between her and the United
States.
On the 7th day of February last Mr..
PoUssIN. in a note to Mr.. BUCHANAN,
then Secretary of State, alleged that he
was charged by the French government
with the prosecution OF claim against the
Government of the United States, brought
By Frenchman named A. Port, estab-
lished in Mexico, for indemnifcatioh for
damages sustained by him from 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 mill
tary court of inquiry at Puebla, which
had made a decision unfavorable to the
claim.
No answer was sent by Mr. BUCHANAN
to this communication. When it was
brought to the attention of the present
Secretary of State, Mr. CLAYTON prompt
ly devoted himself to its investigation,
with the view of gratifying Mr.. PoUssIN by
a speedy decision. Within ten days from
the time it was presented to him, Mr..
CLAYTON announced to Mr.. PoUssIN that
he had arrived at the conclusion that Mr..
PoRT had no just cause TO be dissatisfied
with the award of the military court of in
quiry. This award, we may add, which
rejected Mr.. PoRT's claim, had been reg
ularly sanctioned and approved by Gene
raj ScorT, the commander-in-chief.
Dissatisfied with this decision, Mr.. PoUs-
SIN, on the 18th of March, addressed a
note to the Secretary of State, in which
he reviewed the supposed grounds OF the
decision, and animadverted with some
severity on the testimony of dishn-
guished officer of the American army in
Mexico, who had been a witness before
the court at Puebla 1t Is obvious that at
this point Mr.. Clarion might have de-
clined any further correspondence on
the subject; but, out Of respect, on the
10th of April he replied to Mr.. PoUssIN's
communication, assigning reasons for his
decision, and respectfully controyerting
the positions of the minister. On the 18th
of April Mr. CLAYTON received another
note from Mr.. PoUsslN, in which the min
lister INDUCED in strain Of invective EVIL
IDENTITY intended to be highly offensive to
the American Government. The CORE
spondence was Immediately submitted by
the Secretary of State to the PRESIDENT,
who directed him TO lose no time in re-
ouesting Mr.. PoUssIY to repair to Wash
ington without unnecessary delay.
The offensive note was dated at Wash
ington, while Mr.. Poussin 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 satisfac-
torily explained or retracted, would have
required that all correspondence with him
as a minister should terminate without de-
Law, it was made important to himself and
Government that he should lose no time
in repairing to Washington. One often
sive passage was the following "Ihe
Government of tie United Suites must be
convinced that IL is more honorable 10 nc
gut, fairiy, debf contracted during war,
under the pressure Of necessity, Han 10
erade as payment By eodearoring TO Jrand
the character Of an honest man." The same
note contained an attack upon high mill
tary officer, charging him, in effect, with
perjury before the military court and an
attack upon the distinguished officers com
posing the court, who were charged with
permitting that officer "to carry out,
without interruption, his string Of calum-
MES Incredible II closed with an in
situation that the State Department had
become the organ Of a criminal accusation,
without proofs, against Mr.. Port.
Il ,,,ay - .,,,I,, a. tI.- 1T.