The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-28

Lamarune loI the mission ana not OF Louis Napoleon
ties or national sympathies Mr. Poussins thorough rad
icasm, and undlsguised regard for the republican indie
pendence OF the Papa States, was SO obnoxious to tn
present government, that his diplomatic residence
Washington has long been regarded as matter of mer
sndurance-subnilled 10, but not desired Popular il
France, and identified with the Mountain party, 10 hav
superseded him without cause would have given grea
dissatisfaction His recall therefore, may be said to hav
only awaited some plausible pretext and a very small
proyocalon would answer the purpose. That provoca
iion was evidently furnished, in what regarded
his undgnifed compliance with Mr.. Claytons psremp
tory request that he should repair from New York Il
Washington 'toitota unnecessary delay and assigning
no reasons whatever Tor making such auhoritativ,
requisition The note OF Mr.. Clayton OF the 2lst O
April Is believed 10 have been without precedent any
where and uenched largely and Extensively upon ths
dignity and independence OF public minister; and Nj
de Tocqueyille, plainly regarding such requsiton as
public indgniy, was manifestly ncensed against Mr.
Poussin that he had not displayed proper resentment
upon the occasion In M De Tocquevllle's note to Mr.
hqsh, he scarcely conceas his resentment at the aron
offered to France through this peremptory requiston
upon her minister. his deep dissatisfaction and dis
pleasure al the ready and obsequious compliance with
which had been acceded to- and no doubt but he would
have insisted on explanations from this government had
II not been already compromised In speaking of that
note and balancing against Mr. Clayons exceptions
has giDen pretty signal proof Of his coaeii,aiory spi,
IN a6saia,ng from animaduson upon an expression an
NE ansicr addressed 10 him BY that munster Me 2lst OF
APra arhich. estimated nth certain degree of sscepti-
bffy, might hare seemed 10 be rather iperous sum
mons than diplomatic inpaaion-yery plainly mean
ng mat i was 50 obviously aaoniiye on the part Of Mr.
clayton, that had MIR. Poussin received such inhalation
with proper degree oil susceptibility, il have been
promptly and Indignantly resented and declined
ms view OF the matter will be surprisingly confirmed
when is considered what earlessly assert plain
deduction from the proofs, that when M De TocquevIe
ied his note TO Mr. Rush, he had not the remoes
cePton Of the real motive Of Mr. Clayton in causing the
correspondence to be laid before the French government
ms viii seem strange, because all of knew it. But
how did we know il Solely through his letter to Mr..
Rush. schtch M DE IoeguepiLie nerer satv 1t may be
said indeed that the exceytonabe matter was obvious
and potent upon the face OF Mr. Pousss note of the 30h
OF May. ! may have something to remark about that
hereafter; but what have say is that obvious as
II may have been 10 OTHERS it is plain IRON his own
Clayton had in view The whole object as he under.
stood Il. was to lay before him the manner in which Mr.
Poussin had conducted his share Of the correspondence
upon NJ Portes claim and to show him that the expla
nations which he offered to Mr. Poussin touching the
forsble detention OF the French barque Eugene, were
such as should have been accepted, or have been
transmitted TO him to Judge Of them These the sole
matters he touches IN his note to Mr. Rush, without
ausion to what Mr. p had said about the honor OF our
national marne He dsposes of the first matter by re.
garding 1t as already settled-as any Of
have done-by satisfaction having been rendered and re-
ceived and OF the second by observing that the matters
shaving hitherto been discussed at Washington, iee
they are 70 be concluded, 1t is not my province TO examine
their merits"
Here, then, have the extraordinary spectacle of the
prime ministers OF state OF two OF the leading powers OF
the world brought into collision neither understanding
the views of each other the ends aimed at by either
while third partya minister ptenipotentary Of great
ndion-que as ignorant as they OF their wishes de-
Signs, and wholly innocent of all intentional offence. sud-
denly hnds himself the victim of deep public Disgrace
mat he has been tried, condemned, and punished by
foreign power, without being notified OF what he was
charged with, confronted in any wise with his &C.
cuser, aTaigned for any offence. or allowed hear
ing But II Mr. Clayton failed TO make known 10 Mr.
De Tocqueville why he caused the correspondence
to be laid before him-or of what he compained--or
what he wished done--why did not Mr. Poussn inform
NJ De Tocqueville Of the objectl Ay there's the rub
whole matter; and that is that Mr.. Potssin did NOT in
form him, because he did not knor The object himself!
How so' Did not Mr. Clayton inform him Of the object
No, indeedneiiher directly BY inference; for the
most plausible inference must have been Tor least il
evident ne thought sol that Mr. Clayton had rendered
him satisfaction for the sfront offered to the French
nag, through the explanations OF Commander Carpen-
der and as he had undertaken 10 decline its acceptance
without submitting il TO the judgment OF his own gov
eminent, MIR. Clayton had concluded to do !, for
him. The note OF Mr.. Clayton acknowledging the
ce OF the note of the Both Of May 10 have fur
nished him with clue Indeed it would strike any
one, that far from displaying the least resentment or
ter, it siudiousy calm and respectful But here il is
Let every one judge for himself:
DEPAKTAEsr srATE,
Washington. June ., 1919.
Sra, The which you addressed 10 me on the 3Otb
ult ack owlsdgng the receipt OF my leer you OF the
e aendng The ,.cne OF the French shin
Eu2enie OF Havre was duly received, and will be commu
nicated together with the rest Of the correspondence
tons to submit 10 the consideration Of the French
eminent
have the honor to be- very respectfully oseden'
Mr.. WV. TILL PoussIs, &c.
The fact. moreover, that Mr.. Poussin was wholly un-
conscious OF having given any offence, that any Of
fence imputed TO him by Mr. Clayton, or that be
was upon his trial for any, was Overwhelmingly con-
rmed, no, only in the profound surprise and unfegned
regret with which he expressed himself receiving the
dngs OF his dismissal but in that steady attachment to
the American people, and enthusiastic admiration OF their
Institutions which the public journals OF all parties in this
country have 80 amply atesied
II is further confirmed in the overture said 10 have
been made to the Department OF State through Mr..
Champion, Che British charge faaires) and based upon
that he had design to give offence, that he
unconscious OF having given any, and ready 10
Withdraw whatever was excepted TO. Taking this 10 be
true, and 50 far France concerned such course,
ofir has dismissal, will doubtless be regarded undg
nifed and offensive 10 his government But did IL
magnanimous dealing with the public minister OF a
friendly power and rob il Of all Justification
for perstng IN the doom Of disgrace and deep wrong II
had inflicted, after being fully satisfied must have
been, that no oente could hare beca designed that the
construction pUi upon his expressions you'd be entirely
d,saUoired,p and that oil TRACE of he impado roud be
sIPunged from The paper upon tct,eh II trds oarged7
la all American sentiment Intention is OF the very es
sence OF public wrong. This sentiment pervades It's
whole body OF law, and illustrates aRd adorns the
minstraons OF all IFS sanctuaries Of justice. Where
no offence has been designed, and the motive OF
giving any is dissvowed, and the whole conirover.
81 is about words-in the Judgment and actions OF
men and nations, real offence Is gwen and all sup
posed offence aoned forI shall be greatly mistak
II our government shall not stand in need Of the appca
ton OF this doctrine in the appreciation and Judgment of
all other nations when France shall press her demand
for Satisfaction for the public afont offered 10 her flag in
the forcibe detention OF the Eugene while under the