The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-19

| Ployed.
Such, then, as we have described, was
the Executive policy of WASHINGTON and
MADISON, under the threatened violation
OF our neutral relations; though, in the
first instance, that policy was pursued at
the risk of giving offence to our revolution
airy allies--the citizens of republican
France; and, in the latter, when the Span
ish provinces of South America were en-
gagged in their great struggle for the attain
ment of independence and institutions
like our own. Such as we have described,
also, has been the legislative policy Of the
United States stringent, vigilant, eau
tious, jealous even of the federation of any
act which might disturb our neutrality or
implicate us in the warlike controversies
Of foreign nations.
In view of all these neutral traditions,
what ought to have been the course of the
late Administration on the state of facts
exhibited by the official correspondence on
file in the Navy Department, some weeks
before Mr.. Secretary MASON handed over
| his trust to his successor! On the Oath
of January, lS49, Captain FoxALL PAR
KER, of the United States Navy-the
propriety of whose European mission we
do. not now propose to discuss-wrote to
MIR. Secretary Mason, from Frankfort
on-the- Main, that he found "little or
nothing had been done for the creation of
a navy, Gin Germany J no laws passed
for its government, and no one seemed to
understand what would be the plans to
prevent the blockade Of their ports, in the
event of renewal Of the war with Den
mark, although that seemed to be the Ta'in-
cipal object NTH ALL"
Under date of Washington, February
Is, 1S49, Baron RoENNE, the German
Minister, addressed letter to the late
Secretary of the Navy, informing him that
the German Government wanted to pur-
chase large war-steamer for its service,
and requested that the u. S. Government
would designate an officer of the navy to
| assist in selecting such vessel, and in
the event of purchase to take command,
to "superintend the arming and equip
ment of her, to engage crew and the ne
cessary number of competent officers and,
when ready, to take her to Bremenhaven,
and there to receive the further orders of
government"
On the 18th of February Commodore
PERRY wrote to Mr.. MASON, from New
York, that he had that moment seen Baron
RoENNE, and that it was ''of the highest
Importance that the steamer United States,
purchased by him for the German navy,
should be pat to sea NTH the greatest possible
despatch. She is to be armed and equipped
here" He added suggestion that it
would be highly desirable that some facili-
ties to this end should be rendered at the
navy yard. Prompt to reply, with none
of the hesitation and reluctance which
embarrassed the ordinary operations of his
Department, Mr.. MASON Immediately ac-
guessed in this request, and enclosed to
Baron RoENNE a copy of his orders to
Captain M'KEEvER, directing that the
desired facilities, Gin the preparation of
the United States as war-steamer, and
in equipping her," should be afforded in
the navy yard under his command.
At this time, Mr.. MASON was fully adj
vised that state of war existed between
the German Empire and Denmark that
the principal object of interest with the
German functionaries was to prevent the
blockade of their ports and that the Ger
man Minister deemed it of the highest
importance that the steamer purchased for
/ Ills NC ulltu Out DIS d
war steamer with the greatest possible
despatch. Whence the importance of that
DESPATCH To what end was the war
steamer to be fitted out Was it for a
pacific cruise' Was the destination of
this vessel any the less obvious because
she was to proceed, in the first instance,
to Bremenhaven, and there to receive her
final orders If il was a matter of sur
prise to Baron RoENNE, is it not clear
enough to every one else that this war
steamer was "designed to be employed by
the Central Power of Germany in the
contest with Denmark 20
Did not all the circumstances concur in
this case, which operated to induce Presi-
dent WASHINGTON to promulgate the rule
of 1882 Was not this fitting out and
srminu-an nripinaI arminU and eounDin or