The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-29
s.lvag.-oomn.na.r Carpenter,

noble maxim. NR nN AK
salvage Commander Carpsndsr.l
General Taylors organ persists in the assertion. that
we have denied the right of Commander Carpenter to
claim salvage by way Of compensation for the services
which he rendered to the French ship Eugenie. Being
unable to defend the considered and laundering
pursued by the Secretary of State, the Republic endeav
ors by false statements raise false issues order that
public attention may be diverted from the real point in
voved in the negotiations which led to the dismissal of
NJ Poussin The administration journal knows, as well as
we do that we have never denied the right of our ma
tonal vessels to claim compensation for services rendered
to the merchant marine Of foreign power Indeed, we
have never stated any distinct opinion upon the subjects
for we did not think il necessary to do That point is
not involved in the controversy with France We have
said that when naval officers render assistance to
merchantmen in distress, they do not peril their own
propenythey do not run the hazard OF FORGETTING pol
icy Of insurance by departing from the line Of their
voyage-and they do not endanger the value OF their
cargo by OBTAINING it from market Their flag, too, floats
proudly in the face OF the world-ful of glory, and
representing the dignity of the nationand we should
wish to its magnanimty and generosity equal to its
gaantry and its chivalry. We have, in consequence,
also ntimated desire that naval officers matter
what the law of salvage may be, would set an example
of iberay in this particular And we now say further
that claims for salvage by officers Should be discour
aged and discountenanced. We mistake the sentiment
of the American people, and mistake the spirit OF our
naval officers, if the practice is approved We not
what other governments may do we trust that our off,
will be satisfied for their personal efforts in behalf of
the distressed with the Communications of their country
men, and of the thinking Of other countries If
necessary, trust that the practice will be prohibited by
an act Of Congress
But the issue sought to be made by the Republic is
false ssuea fact of which that journal must be fully
aware The French government did not complain of
Commander Carpenter for claiming salvage Of the Eu.
genie II complained because he as naval officer of the
United States did not submit his claim to court of COM
peent jurisdiction but used the naval force under hisc
mand 10 seize and detan the Eugene within few miles
of her port OF destination, to satisfy private and per-
sonal claim Of his own and OF his crew. That is the
ground, and the only ground of the French complaint
and the apologsts and defenders OF the administration
their eager efforts to avoid that question, and consde
other and irrelevant issues prove that they do not justify
the incorporate excitement and weak laundering which
Mr.. Clayton has manifested in his conduct towards
France. Salvors have unquestionaby lien on the YES
sci and cargo saved but it does not follow that naval
officer Of the United States having command OF YES
sci. of-war can enforce his private lien for salvage,
by OBTAINING the vessel saved the high seas until his
his poage mefc6aSia III Snip pos nas .as sn ioI
ship, has his lien, and lien attaches to ship for repairs
but could Commander Carpenter if he had been applied
to by an American pilot, merchant or shpwright at
Vera Cruz have enforced such ien and by the use of
the military means at his command, seized and detained
vessel hypothecaed for ploage, ships stores, or re-
pairs, even for an houri We apprehend not; and we
cannot that he could enforce such lien in his own
favor unless he could enforce in favor of any other
American citizen II we understand the law rightly a
lien for salvage like any other len must be enforced by
resort to judicial proceedings and il in the case of the
Eugene competent judicial tribunal did not exist at
Vera Cruz at the time, the lien would follow the vessel
wherever she should SAIL until such power could be in
voked.
According to Commander Carpenters letters and state
ment, the consignee Of the Eugene at Vera Cruz
the port to which the Eugene was destined The
bank Of Rso. where the salvage service rendered.
but few miles from Vera Cruz. He should not have
detained her. but permitted her 60 Vera Cruz where
he could have had his claims legally adjusted without
taking the law into his own hands The Republic OF
yesterday contains letter from captain in our navy
which is conclusive this point We copy the letter
entire
BRooxLYs, N. Y, Sept 25 Isse
SR Having observed in the public prints that Mr. Pous
sin, the French minister, very much shocked that
Commander Carpenter should have claimed salvage for
getting French vessel off the reef near Vera Cruz after
she had been abandoned by her commander the lib
ery to inform the department that in the early part OF
$780, attached the United States sloop-ofwar
Peacock, and while lying at the island Of Sacrifcio
near Vera Cruz, In company with the French corvette
Ceres and English brgofwar Fairy daylight one morn
Ing discovered a vessel on one OF the reefs of
that port, with signal ofdisuess'nying Boats were i'm
mediaey despatched from the three vessels render assist
On arriving the vessel she proved be the Eng
lsh brig Ant, from London, bound to Vera Cruz Ancr
using every exertion could succeed in getting her
off, The captain of the brig, seeing that hopeless
abandoned her. and requested that should save
the cargo, II possible. We commenced the work, and
abored for three four days. The officers and men, with
the boats from the French corvette goods to the
amount OF $4,000 those from the English brig SIS 600
and those from the Peacock, over 100000. We all re-
ccved salvage the OF 83t per cent, awarded by
the court Vera Cruz.
II am, respectfully. your obedient servant
s. H. STRINGHAM,
Captain United States Navy
Hon. VIM BALLARD PREsroS,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, d. O.
This letter was furnished by Mr. Preston, we presume,
in order TO sustain after the OF the az post faeio
opinion Of Mr. johnson, the conduct of the Secretary OF