The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-10-05
The French minister Difficulty.

"lndependent." the Washington
correspondent Of the North Amer
lean, and who is reliable authority,
speaking of the difficulty between
this Government. and the French
minister, says, by telegraph, this
morning:
sin FEBRUARY, Poussin, the French
minister, presented MIR. Buchanan,
then Secretary of State, claim on
behalf of Mons. Porte, Frenchman.
residing in Mexico. Porte purchased
some tobacco, sold by the Agents
of the American army, knowing it
TO be private property and not sub
ject to the rules of war. The tobac-
co was restored to its proper owner,
by Col. Childs, and the purchase
money refunded to Porte. Under
these circumstances, claim was
set up by the French minister for
damages-being the difference be-
tween the price at which Porte had
purchased and at (which it wa. sold.
A court or inquiry was held, which
decided, unanimously, against the
claim, and the decision OAs approx
ed by General Scott. Mr.. buch-
anan went out Of Office without ex-
aiming the case. When it came
before the present Administration,
the finding of the court was affirmed
by Mr.. Clayton, and in answer to a
note of NJ. Poussin, the Secretary of
State sustained the verdict of the
court, and added his own approval,
Poussin rejoined charging Col.
Childs, verbally, with perjury, in
rather insulting language. He
was invited to Washington--be-
ing then absent-on the alternative
OF withdrawing or adopting. his of.
fensive note. He withdrew it, ex-
plunged the offensive terms, 'and'then
renewed his communication, which
was accepted. Subsequently Poussin
presented another note, claiming
The punishment of Commander
Carpenter under the following cir
cumstances Capt. Carpenter, while
forming part Of the blockading squa-
dron on the coast of Mexico, was
called upon by the captain of the
French ship 'Eugenie," to rescue
her from shipwreck. He, 'switl, his
crew, succeeded, afterwards rcques
ted the legal salvage. This was re-
fused whereupon, Capt. Carpenter
restored the vessel to the captain
she having laid along side Of Car
pentrr's ship for thirty hours. Mr..
Clifford, minister to Mexico, ap,
proved of Capt Carpenters conduct.
When this subject was submitted TO
Mr.. Clayto it was referred to Mr..
Preston, who confirmed Capt. Car
penter's statement of the facts
Poussin, instead ofreferring the mat
ter to his Government, wrote an in
sulting letter, in which he reelected
grossly upon the character and hon
or Of the American Marine. The
President then directed the whole
correspondence to be laid before tho
French Government. Instead of a.
tenement, the French Minister OF
'Foreign Affairs attempted to incul-
pate our own government and divide
the responsibility, As soon as this
information was received, the Presi-
dent ordered no further correspond
ence to be held with Poussin. The
future is shrouded in doubt. De-
Tocqueville, the Minister ofForeign
affairs, must resign. Poussin must
be removed. The French Govern
m.nt must apologize, or a rupture
must ensue. The Administration
will not advance an inch or retract
n word, and if France wishes a war,
as there is good reason to suppose
she does, the responsibility is on heI
shoulders. This case admits of NO
diplomatic cobbling; it is question
OF honor, in which the United States
cannot abandon its high position"