Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-09-26

graphic dispatches, parporting TO give the pariicu-
lars Of misunderstanding said to have arisen be-
tween the Diplomatic authorities of the United
States and France, the result of which is that Nj
Poussin, the Mns,erofF France to the United States,
has received from the Executive, through the De.
par,ment of State, direct ihtirnation that he is
no longer recognised by this Government in that
capacity.
| The tenor Of this information is we have reason
to believe. substantially correct. Nobody would
regret the circumstances more than we, die we sup
pose for moment that it involved, as some Of the
letters seemed to indicate, any serious misunder-
standing between the Governments OF the United
States and France, and still more lift threatened in
any way the peace happily existing between them.
There is nothing in the occurrence, we are per-
suaded, with the rational disposition which may be
presumed 10 be reciprocal OH the part of both Gov
ernments, TO justify the apprehension OF any thing
like rupture between tire two countries.
| The Washington Correspondent of the philadel,
phia North American in a DESPATCH dated Sep,em-
Der 18th, gives the following detailed statement of
the trouble in question
AS long ago as in February NJ Poissin, the
French Minister, presented to MIR. Buchanan, then
Secretary of State, claim in behaliof Nj. Porte,
Frenchman, residing in Mexico. Porte had pur-
chased To5acco, sold by the agents of the American
army, Knowing II TO be private property, and not
subject to the rules of war. The tobacco was re-
stored to its proper owner by Col Child, the com
handing officer, and the purchase money refunded
| TO Porte. Under these circumstances, acclaim was
sci up by the French Minister for damages, being
the difference between the prices at which Porte
had purchased and sold. court of inquiry was
held, and decided unanimously a.ains, the claim,
and the decision was approved by General Scott
Mr. Buchanan went out of Office without exam
lining the and then it came before the prese nj
Administration. The finding was re-; f1irIned by
MIR. Clayton, and in answer To nute of NJ Poussn.
the Secretary Of State sustained the verde, of The
Court and his own approval
NJ Poussin rejolned charging Col. Chds virtu-
| ally with perjury, and using other insulting Ian
guage. He WAS Invited TO Washington, being then
absent and the alternative of Withdrawing or adopt
ing his offensive note was offered. He withdrew
1t, eXpurgated the offensive terms, and then renew
ed the communication, which was accepted. Here
ii was supposed, all difficulty would end Suisse
quently, however, Poussn presented another note,
claiming the punishment of Commander Carpenter
under the following circumstances
Commander Carpenter, while forming part of
the biockadIng squadron the coast of Mexico
was called upon by the Captain of the French shin
Eugenia, TO rescue her from shpwreck He, with
his crew, succeeded, after much Labor, and after
wards requested the legal salvage. This was re-
fused--wherenpon Com. Carpenter restored the
vessel to her captain she haIng laid alongside the
iris for thirty hours. MIR. Clifford, the Minister al
Mexico, approved Of Carpenters conduct. When
this subject was submitted 10 MIR. Clayton il was
referred To Mr. Preston, who furnished Carpender's
statement of the facts. NJ Poussin, instead of re-
ferring the correspondence TO his Government,
wrote an insulting letter, in which he reflected
grossly upon the character Of the American marine
The President then directed the whole cores
pondence to be laid before the French Government,
expecting immediate and voluntary redress. In
stead of atonement, the French Minister of For
egn Affairs attempted TO incu pate our Government,
and to divide the responsibility. As soDn as this
Information was received, the President ordered no
further correspondence 10 be held with NJ. Poussin,
and his passports to be placed at his disposal.
The future is shrouded in doubt. NJ de Tocdne.
vile the Minister of Foreign Affairs, must resign
M Poussin must be kicked aside, and the French
Government must apologize, or rupture must
sue. The administration here will not advance an
inch or retract word !; and if France wishes war,
as there is good reason to suppose she does, the
sponsiblty is on her shoulders. This case admits
of no diplomatic co5bling. 1t is question of honor
IN which the United States cannot abandon its high
position. More particulars in my letter by mail.
The New York Courier of the 10Th instant saws:
1t is only just TO say that Maj. Poussin is gen
tleman OF ability, courteous and highly intelligent
having full share of French brusquerie in man
ner and In temper, and far more Republican in his
sentiments than the government which he repre-
sonts lie came to this country about the year 1915
and for fifteen years served in the u S. Corps of
Typographical Engineers, aid de camp of Gen
Bernard. and during that time made himself fanil-
lar with the character Of our country and became
warm adnlrer OF our institutions. He was engaged
on The chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and took great
! interest in all our public works Returning to
france he was actively engaged in Railways, Sc,
there, though from his well known dislike OF Louis
rhlllppe's government, he obtained no public en-
N a tiorS ha LII. u
became candidate in the Department du Nord for
the Constituent Assembly, with the understanding
that successful he would be appointed Minister Of
the public works but falling in this he was appoint
ed Minister to the u. States by the Provisional Go
yernment, and was continued in that position upon
the accession of Louis Napoleon. He is the author
OF works OF merit upon various political and other
subjects and has taken deep interest, during his
Official residence here in the Panama Railroad in
improving the Lighthouse system in the promotion
OF RECIPROCITY commercial treaties and in the devel
opineht OF American resources and institutions He
has secured the warm friendship of many of our
most estImable citizens, who will regret extremely
the lneXcusable conduct which has brought up
on him so signal rebuke
ouch are The circumstances, in detail, Of this
Startling affair. Ii will az once be seen that the
matter is one of very sefiuus moment Had it been
confined to the Minister himself. il would have been
comparatively unirhporiant. Hemigl1t have apo-
ogIzed Tor the offensive language he had used or it
| might have been disavowed and the Minister him
sell recalled by his government. Either course
would, according TO diplomatic usage and law, have
ended the difference and preserved the mutual re-
atlons of amiiy unmpared. But the French Go
yernment, by the action of NJ. de TocqueviIle, lis
Minister for Foreign Affairs; has made itself party
| To the offence and has added insult of its own If
Lonls Napoleon sees fit TO retain NJ. de Tocquevie
IN oce, and offers no reparaon for The aggravated
insults we have sustained is not easy TO see how
Serinns rnnfure can be avndeh II my ,t and ,roL