Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-09-21

18th and Nth Mr. Polssn has returned TO yVasb;noon
Dispatches from Florida say the Indian Warts at an end
The Seminole Chiel discaimng all connection with the
late ourages; council Of officers was called bv Cen
Iwlggs at Charlotte Harbour. News from the Norman
valley to the 5oh July states that l5O 900 egrants had
passed there, and 5000 would winter there
From the Washington Republic of TAursdau.
THE FRENCH MINISTER AND THE UNITED
STATES.
In consequence OF the rumos and statements that have
gone abroad IN reference to alleged difficulty between
Mr foussln and the Government Of the United States il
becomes necessary to present narration of facts fiat
might otherwise have been withheld An attemnt has
lue 70 create me impression that the circumstances
to which we refer establish of necessity untiendy relations
between this country and France This is not the
Every is at liberty dismiss any foreign minister at
Its pleasure, the occurrence any thing which ia often
sve to its dignity characer-of which if ia itself of
be the sole Judge No nation has ever underta
Ken TO resent such step as hostile unrendly act
apprenenslons therefore, whchseem to have prevailed
on THIS SUBJECT are quite uncaed for as some uerior az
ton on the part OF France will be necessary to the
acable relations which exist between her and the United
States ~ ~ N'
IN the 7th day OF February last Mr. Poussin in note
to Mr. Buchanan, then Secretary of State alleged that he
was charged py te french government with the prosecu-
ton oil claim against the Government of the limited
States, brought by Frenchman named A. Port estah-
llshed IN Mexico Tor ndemnlcaton for damages sustain
ed by him from the acts of agents of The army of
the United States. His application was in the nat,re Of
an appeal from the sentence oil military court of INQUIRY
claim 0"''0 " TIC
No answer was sent by Mr. Buchanan to this commu-
ncaton When was brought to the attention of the
present Secretary OF State Mr. Clayton promptly devoted
self to Its investigation, with the of gratifying Mr.
roussn by speedy decision Within ten DAYS from the
time was presented to him. Mr. Clayton announced to
mr [ossn that he had arrived at the conclusion that Mr.
Fort mad no Just cause to be dissatisfied with the award Of
inc military court Of inquiry. This award we NAV add
which rejected Mr. Ports claim had been reoariv sane
in chief. - oei7
DISSATISFIED with this decision Mr. Poussin on the 1911,
OF March, addressed note the Secretary OF State in
Whch ne reviewed the supposed grounds Of the decision
and animadyerted with some severity on the ast;n
distinguished officer OF the American army in Mexioo
who had been witness before the court at Puebla # il
OBVIOUS that at this point Mr. Clayton might have do
cned any further correspondence the subject but ont
OF respect, on the 10th OF April he replied to Mr. Possns
COMMUNICATION, assigning for his decision and
On the 18th of April Mr. Clayton received another note
from MIR. Poussin in which the minister indnloed in a
slan OF lnvectlye evidently intended be highly often
slVe 10 the American Government The correspondence
was Immediately submitted by the Secretary of State to
the PRESIDENT who directed him to lose no time in
ing Mr. Poussin to repair to WASHINGTON without nna
sary delay. '-'eoe
The offensive note was dated at Washington, while
mr.. Poussn was absent i'll New York, upwards of two
hundred miles distant from this city Bearing on its face
an insult to the American Government deliberately oven
IN the very capital OF the United States which if moi sat
sactory exp AIMED or reaced would have required that
all correspondence with him minister should lermi
nate without delay, was made important to himself and
Government that he should lose no time in renane to
w ashngon One offensive passage was the following:
Tie Government of the United States must be conpinced
that II IS more honorable TO acqut fairly debt con-
dctea during aoar, under Tie pressure of necessitv
am 10 eoaae ats payment by endsaoorng to brand the
characterot an honest man" The same note contained
an attack upon high military officer, charging him. in
enee with perjury before the military court and an attack
upon ahe dsngusied officers composing the court who
Were charged with permitting that officer "to carry out
Wnout interruption, his string OF caumnies incredible
1t closed with an insnuaton that the State Department
nau become tne organ OF criminal accusation, without
proofs, against Mr.. Port.
II was in reply this communications that on the 21s
OF April Mr Clayton addressed Mr. Possn the following
note. H
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WAsHINGToN, April 81, ls49
pr on the afternoon OF the 18th instant, commune
cation from you. dated Washington April = l849. with
out showing the day on which wrtten wasrecei-
we'd at this office relative the claim of Mr. Port on the
Government o. the United States, and, having just had
occasion 10 address you private note, learn through
the messenger who despatched deliver it. that YOU
have BEEN Tor the last two weeks absent from Washing
ton, and that the period OF your return hther from New
DIRK was quite uncertain.
Under these circumstances aera perusal of your note
which was laid before this morning, lose not n
necessary delay.
have the honor to be, very respectfully sir your ODE
~, W. JOHN NJ CLAYTON.
Mr.. WILLIAM TELL. PoussIN
In the interview between Mr.. Clayton and Mr. Poussn
which followed this note the latter gentleman was inform
Gu 'i ms etie was iSly offensive, and contained Ian
guage which our Government could not admit and that
ne was permitted to withdraw the offensive EXPRESSIONS
The letter was accordingly withdrawn and on the follow
ing day returned, eXpurgaed of the most offensive matter
Anxious to maintain friendly relations with the minister
the here permitted the drop and the cor
with regard to the claim of Mr. Port termi-
OF complaint. ~
On the 18th day Of May however, Mr. Poussin, in a
note represented to the State Department that
Mr. carpenter, the commander OF the American war
steamer ls alter Fastening the assistance of the French
ship Eugene of Have, which had struck on the bank of
filso, near the anchorage OF Anton Lzardo advanced
clas wholly lnadmissibe account of remuneration
Tor his services, and to secure their acqtta detained the
Eugene tor two or three days. In consequence of the
bic intervention OF the Consul OF the United States at
Vera Cruz Commander Carpenter dessted from his pre-
@ mr. foussn proceeded to say that the Minister
the Cabinet OF Was hngton the serious observations
on the abuse OF authority committed by this officer in il
legally OBTAINING the ship Eugene" He concluded his
nend, Mr. Secretary OF State how important it is that
such occurrences should not be repeated and that severe
oame at least should be laid those who thus consider
"a themselves empowered to substitute arbitrary measures
Tor Justce and doubt not that you will without delay
give satisfaction to the just complaints of the French Re-
oublic This note, unaccompaned as it was by any tes
mony to justify the charge against Commander Carpen-
ier, was promptly referred to the Navy Department. for
ne purpose OF ascertainng the facts which his con-
,retary OF the Navy, in reply transmitted this Depart
nent all the evidence in his possession, which consisted
only OF two letters from Commander Carpenter himself
lated the New Orleans, the 10th November 1913:
he other New Y ork, the 18th May, 1919,
In the absence of any evidence Of conflicting facts the
resident thought that the character Of that officer made
incumbent him to submit to the French minister the
explanation given by Commander Carpenter, and ex-
press, at the time, the hope that they would re-
move any misapprehenson which might exist the part
'i the French government relative TO his conduct on the
occasion in question:. This respectful to the
minister. The explanation which accompanied it showed
hat the commander seeing the French bark Eugene and
Ter Deri HIGH m the rocks Of
zardo and being appealed to for fastened to her
assistance, with from the Iris and that the cap
ain OF the French bark gave up the charge OF his vessel
the rect in order that the American officer might take
he command, to her. AT moment when no other
nd could be procured, and when norther so formidable
seamen on that coast, expected, the American COM
nander labored all night with his Sailors got the French
ark of the rock and anchored her in safety alongside
he Iris. The commander asked of compensation in the
OF salvage, for his who had saved the bark and
Ter crew from destruction. He was entitled to compen-
So if daGded hu Mr. ClH;,rd