The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-03
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
wEDNEsDAY MORNING OCTOBER 3, isAs.
sussiing plomaey.-Anethsr view Of the French
"a c9a 49, ~ 4 onsstsea.


discharge the duties Of the Office Of Secretary Of State
His whole course Of diplomacy far, TO have
been continued series Of mistakes, errors and down
right blunders We do not now propose to go into
view OF the manner in which he has generally conducted
the foreign intercourse Of the country for that would
quire time and space than we at present devote
70 such subject We shall reserve ii for another time
II Is sufficient say that department Of foreign
relationship which we mean not only the Office Of the
Secretary Of State at home but our missions abroadwas
never in condition 50 dsorganized. inefficient and
tifying.
But our purpose, when commenced this article was
to present some views in relation to Mr. Cayton's man
agement Of his quarrel with the French minister, M
Poussn which have not yet laid before readers
We believe i is conceded general principle in d.
plomacy that one nation not obliged have intercourse
with another. il il 20 prefers And we suppose too that
nobody will deny but that nation may also object to-
and refuse hold intercourse with any minister or agent
representing another if he is in any respect
personally offensive to the nation declining intercourse
with him.
Now. in the event that foreign minister has rendered
himself obnoxious the government TO which he is
accredited, that they are unwilling to hold further in
ercourse with him, in what he to got rid of
How is the aggreved nation 10 relieve itself Of inter-
course with him, without offence to the government
which he representa- We believe that in such cases.
the law and practice Of nations have provided for and
sanctioned two modes by which the object may be
plished. a
First, his own government may be asked to recall
him or, I'll sSs
Second. he may be dimissed by the government 10
which he is accredited.
Ineither case. understand the matter, the gov
eminent to which the minister is accredited upon its
own discretion and assumes the whole responsibility
We think these positions well understood, and
90 mpregnable that even the asute dipomatst the
head Of the State Department viii not contovert them.
Overwhelmingly for Mr. Claytonand itmay be unfor
unae for the countyhe adopted neither the the
other of these alternatives in dealing with NJ Poussn
Notwithstanding they stood in bold relief before him.
as the law and practice Of nations They are plain
and 30 well understood, that even tyros in diplomacy
would deserve censure and rebuke if they were Igno-
rant of them.
Mr.. Clayton took neither of these alternatives, but
pursued middle courses and has thus as we shall show
hereafter involved the question between him and the
French minister in almost inextricabe difficulty and
embarrassment
In his letter Mr. Rush of the 5h of June last he does
not direct that minister to ask for M Poussins recall He
merely directs Mr. Rush submit the papers in the case
to the French government and expresses the opinion
hat the language objected to- and the temper which
Poussn has not been able to conceal must necessarily
tend to obsruct diplomatic Intercourse and are essentially
calculated 10 embaass rather than to promote friendly
discussion of questions that the honor and inter-
ests Of the two republics"
What then, is the course of M de Tocqueviles With
diplomatic tact and adrotness to which Mr. Clayton APP
pears to be utter stranger he, his to Mr. Rush
of the 9th Of August considers the question pre-
scented to him for his opinion the merits and decides
however enormously, that neither Mr.. Clayton M
Poussn is clear of blame. The amount of it is, that
he boxes the ears of both of these petulant diplomats
he 10 regard them, and then proceeds invite
M Poussn, in his future intercourse with the United
States not deviate "rom the obseyances and forms OF
benevolent courtesy" And we suppose he expected
that Gen. Taylor, the accomplished and experienced
statesman and dplomas the head Of the government
ofthe United States, would invite Mr. Clayton to observe
the same benevolent courtesy"
But what is the next step which Mr. Clayton takes
after this decision OF the umpire chosen by himself
Does he abdei does he flare upl He flares up, and
without notice to the government of France, he proceeds
on the l4h of September summarly to dismiss NJ Pous
SIN. and announce TO him tina, the government Of the
United States can hold no further correspondence with
him as the minister Of France.
We think at this stage of the controversy Mr. Clayton
got into the pinch Of the game In our view il is by far
the most embarrassing part Of the case because by his
bungng diplomacy, he had induced the French govern
m<n 10 commit itself upon the merits Of the quarrel And
thus he has made that which ought TO have been an a
fair simply with the minister, important question BE-
fpsen The taco governments.
Now, IL Mr.. Clayton had, on the 9Th Of June last,
asked the French government TO recall NJ Poussn, this
would unquestonably have been done for such course
would have been in conformity with the law and prac
tce Of nations which we stated the beginning OF this
article, and 90 far as our information goes nations have
rarely departed from them. 1t is very seldom that
a nation refuses 10 recall its minister on the re.
quest OF another il he has in any respect become per
sonay offensive; and IL Mr.. Clayton had pursued the
only which il proper for him to pursue under
the circumstances, would have committed neither the
French minister nor his government Ministers are
abroad promote friendly relations and intercourse
between natons and IL from any cause, whether the
fault Of the minister not he to be able to &C
eompsh the object for which he is sent. he is recalled
the request OF the government to which he is accred
ted The rule applies in this case that the interest Of the
minister must yield to that Of the whole people OF the
two nations But such recall, as we understand the
matter 90 far from implying that the minister has acted
inproperlv in the opinion OF his own oovernuoent in