Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-09-25

tarV OIL Inc Navy III Itpiy, uduSLultlCu ~ thiS
Department all The evidence in his possession,
mandcr Carpenter himself, dated, Tue one New
Orleans, the 10th November I84s; the other
New York, the l9!h May, lS49.
In the absence Of any evidence OF conflicting
facts, the President thought that the character
of that officer made it incumbent on him 10 sub
NIT to the French ministe. the explanation
given by Commander Carpenter, and 10 express,
at the same time, the hope s',hat they would
isl on the part Of the French government rela,
tive TO his conduct on the occasion in question:
This motto was respectful 10 the minister. The
explanation which accompanied it showed that
the commander, seeing the French bark Eugene
and her crew in imminent peril, high up on the
rocks Of Anon Lizardo, and being appealed 10
Tor succor, hastened 10 her assistance, with sea-
men from the Iris; and that the captain OF the
French bark gave up the charge of his vessel on
the reef in order that the American officer
might take the command, to save her. Al q
moment when no other aid could be procured,
and when a Gorther, so formidable TO seamen on
thai coast, was expected the American CON-
mander labored all night with his sailors, got
the French bark off the rock, aud anchored her
in safety alongside the Iris The commander
asked for compensation, in the nature o. salvage,
for his men who had saved the bark and her
crew from destruction. He was entitled TO
compensation. So it was decided BY Mr. Cliff
ford, our Minister 10 Mexico, (late Attorney
General Of the United Slates,) when the matter
was referred 10 him. Sucn also, we understand,
is the opinion of Mr. Johnson, our present At
torney General. But although be had asked
and expected to receive salvage, yet TO use his
own words) "thiriy hours having elapsed win
sout receiving an answer, he had already re
Solved 10 let The captain resume the charge oil
'her, when he received mole from the consignee
Saying that he could not act in The matter, as
'the vessel was not yet in port; and at the same
moment, the captain of the Eugene coming on
board, be returned the vessel to him." 1t was
under these circumstances that Mr. Poussin
wrote the note of the 30lh of May last, which
follows:
LEGATION CT FRANCE
Washington, MAJ 80, iS49.
Sir: received on the 18th Of May Inc noe
which you did me the homer 10 address me on the
same day, in answer 10 mine calling upon the
Government Of the United STATES to disayow the
conduct Of Commander Carpenter, Of The Amer-
can Steamship Iris towards Inc French ship Eu-
eenis, of Havre, which had run upon The bank OF
Riso, near The anchorage Of Anton Lizaldo
The explanations given by Commander Car
pender are not OF nature Mr.. Secretary OF State,
such as 10 dispel The discomfort which his pro.
ceeiinss have caused 10 my Government
He considered, ne says, aud h. still considers,
,ha, the case was one OF salvage; hat the rights
acquired by him as The saver Of The vessel saved,
empowered him TO keep possession OF her until mis-
eXtrayaganl preensions we're ully sali>het; hui
his opinions have lille interest in our eyes, when
we have occasion 10 condemn his conduct.
I called on the Cabin:. at Washington, Mr..
Secretary Of Stale, in The name of The French Co.
yefnmen, 10 address scYeIe repronf 10 lha! OIL
icer of The American navr, in orGer thallhe error
which has been commitei, on point involving
repea ed hereafter.
From your answer, MI. Secretary Of State,
am unfortunately induced To believe thai your
Government sutscribrs u the strange doctrines
profcssed by Commander CarpeLder, OF The war
steamer Iris; and | hav. only 10 protest, in the
name ofmy Government, against these doctrines.
have The honor 10 be, with distinguished con-
sideration, your most obelent servant,
GUlLLAUME TELL PoUSSlN.
Hon. J. NJ. CLAYTON, Secretary OF State.
There had been, 10 iau no doctrine advanced
in regard to The case Of Commander Carpenter,
nor was there any indication Of an opinion on
he subject Of salvage. Mi. Poussin, AS il 10
make oil, case for dsnunciaton, assumed that
"strange doctrines" hat been adopted by the Ex.
eculiye, which comprG nsed the "dignry OF cur
national marine"
In his mole Of May ;0h, III, French Minister
speaks OF his previous communication (daled
18th OF May) in relaron TO this subIec', as one
merely calling upon III. Government Of Inc Uni
led states 10 disayow lie conduct OF Commander
Carpenter. In point o fact his cote II the IL
Ui MAY, not only demanded such disavowa,
bur insisted 'thal severe blame. al Ieas', should
he laid on those uho iars considered themselves
empowered 10 substitute arbitrary measures ior
Justice" The Government might have accom-
panied disavowal oil Commander Carpenters
conduct with a severe ccLsnre; but disiyowal
OF The principle of salvage, OF his right 10 IT,,
would not of necessity have implied severe
censute. MIR Poussin's not Ci The I'm OF May
was not understood, nor ceui il be Interpreted,
rs d .manding merely di,avowal ui The law IN
der which Commander CarPrnd 'r claimed sal
wage icr his crew. To lcuard npon The Pre-
sidcnl 10 disavow law at Inc land, and the
usases VI nations unde; he law If nations, II
would have been sufficient answer 10 haze re-
piled that il is not The province Of the Executive
10 make or repeal law:; il is his dny to execute
them as they actually exist MIR. Poussn's was
construed 10 charge Commander Carpenter with
abuse ,f authority in illegally detaining the
French vessel.
Il will be observed that tn defence of Com
maLder Carpenter was placed in The hands OF the
French minister with The expectation OF their be-
ing Forwarded to the French government; and
with the hope expressed by The President, that an
inspection u The papers would remove The mis-
understanding which existed 10 regard 10 his con-
duct. Mr. Poussin did not give the cabinet OF
France an opportunity OF deciding The case in its
new aspect; ba! Immediately lie nuunced The COM
mander, without considering his defence, which
he regards as mater oflitle inerest in his eyes
Wien he had occasion 10 condemn the conduct
OF an officer OF The Unied Siacs. An imperlous
refusal Ia permit, an American flee. 10 he heard
in his defence b. The Government which accu-
sed, was moi made more paIaabe 10 The Execu.
tive by The coniempluous snee. that accompanied
il. The United States Government ad asked
as an act OF common justice To meriluTious and
faithful officer, that he be heard inla mater affec
ting his private and officisl charac'cr; and IL
was natural TO suppose hat h;s conduct in sa
wing French snip and abandoning his claim
to salvage, would exempt him from censure
though il might tail 10 receive The appreciation oil
The French government Il was felt 10 be
due 70 Commander Carpenter that he should not
be condemned without evidence or hearing
and refusal OF SO cominon right was deeply
fel', as unjust insolepi, and rude.
MIR. Mason, the late Secretary of the Navy
in a letter to Commander Carpenter, dated No.
vember 2Sh 1913, had officially approved bis
course in This very matter; there was no eyi.
dencc acducri agains, him. and yel Mr.. Poussin
d.ci.ies lha, he had committed az act which &c.
rosaied from "ihe dignity OF the national marine,
and proceeds 10 mpcale the American Gov
eminent in The discredilabie conduct of its ofil
Ger. lie profess agains! The action oil the Amer
lean Executive in the name of The French Gov
eminent, thus presenting himself before Ihe
President and his Cabinet as having been com
missioned to lecture them upon what concern:
the dignity and honor OF our national marine.
On the receipt OF this extraordinary letter. TIT
President determined 10 submit MIR. poussin'
correspondence 10 The French government, with
out assuming 10 prescribe The course watch iba
government should ADOPT under such recuid
circumstances towards friendly power; an'
Mr.. Poussin was duy advised OF this deterfni
nation. In coming TO this decision, the Presi
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