Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-10-05
RICHMOND VA FRIDAY MORNING. OCTOBER s. ls4e

The inconsidera'c language OF Mr. Poussin.
Mr. Clayton, viii knowledge OF Nj Rive
strong language 10 The French Government
thought him fiji miaiser Tor France to receive
he Mr. Clayton certainly should mol have bee
excited By similar course on. The part OF Ii
French Minisle;, !. his orcible expulsion lroI
his mission. Moreover, Mr. Poussn, in promp
ly Withdrawing The offensive lang uase in his fiji
notes. had exhibited conciiialory spirit whE
would have, doubtless, been carried ou', ha
Mr. Clayton frankly explained to him The OF
jeclions ard allowed him 10 make The amends
The Union she"s c"nclusvely, that had Nj
Clayton either al ~nce demanded The recall {
N Poussin as Mr. Jefferson under Gen. Wash
pglon did Genet, r promptly diamissed him, a
MrSmilh under Nj Madison, did "Copenhas gen
Jackson, The difficulty svnd have been seilled; 70
nation has a right 10 take either mode u rid
ding herself Of al excepiionabe Minister, with
out giving offence TO his Government. Blu
in his laundering diplomacy, Mr.. Claylol
thought proper 10 make he French Gouernm.n
party TO The controversy by laying The pomssil
correspondence before il TOR it, opinion as 10 th
meris-ihat government thus became involved
in The matter, and il serious consequences en-
sue, our hobbling Secretary Ut State will hav.
done The business.
Tie Timts will see, from the above, wha
course we would have advised the Regency tc
pursue-a course which would have prevented
the ridiculous stock panic that was excited; and
which would have saved b, counlry from silly
diplomatic blunder, and Would have cemenled the
friendship between The Two nalions-but al the
same lime would have cut OF The foolish chance
Of making capital for the Regency, by allow
ing Them TO SHOW heir boasIed love Of "pcace'
in belliccse and swae serins fourishes about the
ihonor OF the county" The Charleston Memu.
nv his Of The awkward ,rickslers in good slyle
as follows:
ALI IN TIE WaoSo.-Diplomacy never va,
more completely mud'!ed Than in the hands oil
Mr.. Clayton. The genius CT confusion seems
to preside over all Ms enterprises. He raanol
take step without reading on his own or some
body else's heels. And While he has the faculty
in perfection Of bunde:ias into difficulties, be is
altogether wthou, ihar scFerning good luck that
helps some people 10 b.cgser oul OF Them. Why
is all the world buzzing aosrilv about the Secre-
lary Of Slalel Even Billy Bow!egs could moi
stand his rule; the Cumarohes, for The FIRST time,
brave the Uniled States; France could not even
discuss question OF io;-icco, and salvage on a
li,lle merchant vessel, VII him, but there musl
be talk OF war, and stocks 60 down FIVE per cent
4, all. - t.
the beginning Of he end. The Gillian Minister
has been put outet temper, and they say that 100
is a grave mater. Besides, the King Of the
Mosquitues has hen lecturrd about the navga-
lion OF The San Juan RIVER, and Great Britain,
as patron has alen up The mater in a high key,
which makes tbs perhaps, Inc very worst OF
all Mr. CiaytoI's affairs. All This in six
months
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE OF THE DIPLOMA
GY OF 1881.
For he Uhion.
Mr. RIVES IN FRANCE.-The following
extracts from The public documents, printed by
order OF Congresi may serve 10 throw some ligh
on the question Il diplt malc courtesy and Ell
queGe involved in the affair between Nj. Poussin
anaa d. I G!ayIon. They may b. rfat,l"eneatna
gsrmain TO The ~. ~s'e ~:,.-aIty between The
Ffcnch minister and MIR Clayton, inasmuch as
Ia y are taken from The correspondence between
Mr. Rives, The ambassador Of The present admin
isrralion 10 Franc. Ii would seem that Mr.
CLAYTON, il he coIsdeied The question, Gid not
regard The character OF Mr. Rives' letters 10 The
Ffench government, when formerly miGiser oil
the United States there, as afording any just
cause OF offence 10 the French people by Mr
Riyes or be woudcerainly have courselied Ge-
reral Taylor haih his appointment might be pre-.
judicial TO The interests OF the United Slales, and
disturb the harmony OF cur relations with France.
1. is presumed Gen. Taylor had moi distinct
knowledge Of the occurrences between 1893 and
1886 touching our relations With France, and is
iunc oeu! OF anything worse Than want OF such
knowledge. Surely il could not have been The
desire of this peace loving administration, and
espacialy OF its peace.loving head, 10 excite and
provoke The French people 10 amnesty to-
wards and difficulty with The United States, by
sending as minister 10 them gentleman who
h id in their view in.ulltG them BY The en-
ploymenl OF discourleous, undiplomatic, and or
iensiye language towards their government. And
vel Mr.. Clayton's course towards M. Poussin in
wolves The administration, or al least Mr. Clay
len, in this dilemma. We express no opinion Of
our owr as 10 III. terms employed 10 the CORES
ponde OF Mr. Rives. is mol necessary thai
we shsaid do so. But all must be struck viii
the extraordinary similarly oil language, and the
close identity vi the sccusatory insinua!ioh
against The administration or rather against MI
Clsy,on. in M Poussins letter, alleged 10 be
grossly offensive and insulting 10 the U. Sales
and that contain in MIR. Rivcs's letters to the
French Ministry in TIE extracts we quote. Sc
remarkable is The identity, Thai i! allows the in
ference that M. Poussin hat Mr.. Rives's letters
before him when he wrote his n3,es to Mr.. Clay.
tor; and, in faci, may have borrowed the terms
used by him from them. IT, further, il should
turn Out that the impolicy AID improperly oil The
appointment OF MIR. Riyes 10 France was sug
ees;ed 10 MIR. Clayton by Mr.. P, and especially
II il should appear Tia, Mr.. c. was not inclined
10 regard the style and character OF Mr.. Rives'
correspondence with the French governmsht al
afIcrding any just ground Ct objection TO Mr
R, BY the French Government, his conduct 10
wards M. Poussin 10 employing nearly the same
langua &c 10 the Unred Sales, and in flying Inlt
.uch nniignifi:d passion on account oil II, Is no
merely Inconsistent, but IL may be that MT
Clayton has committed blunder that will al
ford he French government decided advantage
over him. The people OF The United Siaes viii
demand to know The facts as 10 the selection
Mr., r, and whether Mr.. G. was forewarned 81
Mr.. P. Of The probable unpleasant result oil !
and it would be interesting 10 know also u sue
EXPIRE. sion was induced BY inquiries OF MT c.
or voluntarily made by The French minister, a
there are rumors both ways. II voluntarily OF
the par, of Nj p, and unsought for by Mr.. G.
still, under the slrctest rules of diplomatic &c
corum they were proper and unobjecIionable.-
We doubt mol thai the Flench government, as
demonstration OF It's desire 10 have amicable re
arions with The United States, has, in the frs
instance, overlooked The objection as TO MI
Rives's former correspondence, and that he ia
been received. II, however, en- the information
OF M. Poussin's dismissal BY MIR. Clayton, III
French government should send Mr. Riyes hi
passports, placing him in precisely the same cat
esory as MIR. Clayton has placed Mr. P, AM
give his former letters as one cause, and as a
ADDITIONAL ground his letter OF July, 1881, 10 Nil
Livingston, Mr.. Clayton Cannot complain win
out suhjecing himself TO ridicule. He will b
eslopp,d by hrs own act as 10 M Poussin. 10
deed We should moi be surprised il. after all, NJ
CLAYTON and Mr.. Rives should be exhibited
The victims OF the superior diplomatic tact an
address OF M. de Totaneville and NJ, Poussil
and OF course adopted 10 show lae improPTle,,
Of Mr.. Rives's appointment in an unmlstaSeaol
m amer.
1t will be recolecIed thai Mr.. Rives was sci
a. minister 10 France By President jackson
la,q whpn Charles x was on The throne. TheI