The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-01
politifal.
F,om Blair and Ripes's Globe.

From Blair and Riues's Globe
The French Minister and the United States.
We have been obliged 20 exclude several articles
from the Globe OF to-day, IN order 70 make room
for the correspondence relating 10 M. Poussins diff
6cultv with our Government, which (the abduc-
ton case being disposed of for the presently is now
the most important question TO be discussed-that
is of the questions having bearing upon our Tor
eign relations We do not, however, attach quite
as much importance TO il as some OF our brethren
of the press seem 10 do who are predicting, or at
least apprehending, nothing less than rupture be
tween the two republics-non intercourse and war
We fear nothing OF the kind, unless the diilcuiiy
should be complicated by injudicious management;
This is the danger. Our Government committed
error, think, from excess OF good lntehtiohs'
which was, TO send copy of the correspondents 70
the French government, without comment III
stead of this that government ought 10 nave oeeh
requested, most emphatcally, 70 recali W. roussih'
which il would have at once done, IL Is 10 DC pre-
sumed. Or, what would have peeh sun oe1'er elle
President might have kept the remedy IN his own
hands and have applied it, as at last he did, by
rendering the French minister his passports, glV-
inp AT the same time, notice TO the French govern
ment of what had been done IN the premises, and
ubv II had been done. Unluckily, the whole sub
iect was referred nj. de Tocqueville's discretion,
which was of course on the French side of the ques
ton. - .
The congSing of NJ Poussin Is not of itself an al
front offered the French, or even disrespect. No
government that respects the rights of others insists
upon any other governments receiving from 1t, IN
a diplomatic capacity, person to whom II has any
objections OF the reception, or of the continuance
of diplomatic intercourse, the government 10 which
the agent is accredited is absolutely and unquall
fedly the Judge. II is no very uncommon thing for
ministers to have their passports offered them as
they have been to the French minister, without the
slightest offence being taken by the powers repre-
sented by those ministers. A case has occurred IN
this country--that of the British minister, Mr. Jack
son, who was passported in 1909. The two nations,
thra. ftau .rH.
but that dismissal not one of the causes OF the
war. And ately-about year ago, we believe
the British minister at Madrid, Mr. Buwer, who
has been appointed to the United States, not only
received his passports from the Spanish Govern
ment, but was ordered to leave the capital within
twenty four hours; which he did, And yet neither
war nor rupture followed. There was some CONVEX
sation in the House of Commons about the affair;
which came TO nothing, and there the matter was
dropped Therefore nothing has occurred affecting
M Poussin personally and exclusively, which could
possibly lead TO war, or TO non-ntercourse, or 10
a misunderstanding, between the two governments,
or that should have affected stocks in the slightest
degree instead of causing fall OF about two per
cent. as happened in New York But how the diff
ficulty between Mr.. Clayton and NJ. de Tocque-
vile is 10 be settled Is much more serious ques
ton Mr. Rives will be passported also, we sup
pose by way of retaliation; and after suspension
of diplomatic intercourse, but not OF oflcial and
commercial relations, the high offended and offend
ing parties will get in good humour again, and
place our international intercourse upon the former
friendly footing. Nothing worse than this Will hap
pen, we trust In the mean time, however, says
the New York Tribune, no salary will be stopped;
for what may that is disaster that Will GER
tainly not happen. This we believe.
A few words to the merits OF the question: We
believe our Government to be decidedly in the right
and NJ Poussin to be decidedly in the wrong. II M
Poussins notes accuratey translated, we can
believe nothing less than that the insult offered was
intentional and studied, without imputing to the
Minister a degree of ignorance and obtuseness
which, in opinion, certainly cannot be justly
imputed to him He is permitted TO withdraw one
offensive note which is followed soon by other notes,
however, about as offensive as they could well be,
not to be couched in terms absolutely indecorous
and indecent. For this we know not how to &C
count unless il is that NJ. Poussin, being young
diplomatist and old soldier, lost his temper and,
forgetting the suariter IN modo, was betrayed into
display of military tusquerie, which might have
PASSED in French camp but could certainly not
mas AT our Department of State. He lectures the
Secretary, impeachcs the integrity OF the Govern
ment, Whites court-martlal composed OF honor
able and conscientious officers, abuses two offcers-
one of the army and one of the nayy-whose con-
duct the Secretary had approved calling the former
a calumniator, and saying, with respect 10 the lat
ter that he "called on the Cabinet Of Washington
10 address a severe reprooi 10 that oincer oil the
American navy in order that the which lac
has committed point involving the dignity OF
your Iourl national marine might MOI d peated
Really, uhis i high toned language, and alto
s~ther unbearabie according 20 our IDEAS Of diplo-
mstic propriety. ~ Poussin, whether he intended
10 be 30 OF not, is not whit less arrogant and Of
fensive than were Messrs. Genet and Jackson IN
their day
We much regret this occurrence, and regret that
NJ Poussin should be the man 10 cause amisunder-
standing between the two governments. He has
resided a long time in this country, In whose ser
vice he was, an officer of the corps OF Iopogra-
phcal Engineers; is said 20 be decidedly partial 10
The United States and % institutions, and u,
moreover, a good republican 30 thought 70 be,
From him, then, Of all the diplomatic agents at
Washington should we have the least expected, by
word or deed, departure from the rules Of pro-
priety and punctilio that regulate the intercourse
between the governments and the foreign agents
accredited 90 them.
We know not how this matter is 10 end; but come
what may the honor Of the country must be main
tanned.