The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-03
THE R Z P U BLIC.
w ASHIN GTON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3. 1919.
Commander Carpenter.

DER. IL drops the question vi salvage
. and of detention. 1t no longer assails
5 the meritorious officer who has been the
subject of its hitherto harsh censure. 1t
has not word to say against Mr.. CLIFF
l FORD, or Judge Mason, or Mr.. CLAYTON,
or Mr.. JOHNSON, in this behalf Is it con-
vinced that it has been in the wrong9 II
yea, why does it not admit it at once, and
relieve Commander CARPENTER from the
imputations it has cast upon him of sordid
and unofficer-like conduct?
! The rightful claim Of salvage the French
organ now admits. Does it know how
there came to be any question on the sub
iect. after 1t was waived by Com'"onder
CARPENDER? We can inform it. There
is paper in the city of Mexico quite as
virulent against the existing Government
of the United States as the French organ
in this city. When the facts connected
with the relief Of the Eugene became
known at Mexico, the paper to which we
refer made it the subject of an embittered
attack upon Commander CARPENDER. 1t
arragned his conduct in the same terms
that have since been employed by the
French government, the French minister,
and the organ of both in this city. 1t con-
demned the demand of salvage by ma
tional ship. 1t denounced Commander
BARTENDER as behaving in manner un-
becoming the dignity of the naval marine
of the United States. The editor Of the
journal knew little or nothing of the law
which governs this subject-but he pre-
scented it in light which persuaded the
French Charge in Mexico that great out
rage had been committed. This outrage
he no doubt made the subject of despatch
to M. DE ToCaUEvILLE; and it is prob
able enough that the French secretary, in
communicating with M. PoUssIN on the
subject, made use of the same terms
which had been employed secondarily by
the French Charge in Mexico, and in the
first instance by the Mexican journal
which attacked Commander CARPENDER
So much for the origin of the charge
against Commander CARpENDER, as far as
the claim of salvage is concerned. Then
as to the detention. Assuming for the
: was detained, we say that she was right
fully detained by virtue of the lien of the
! salvor, and his right to compensation out
! of the thing saved. We say further, that
! by the Mexican law Commander CAR
FENDER was authorized to detain the YES
sci and cargo, until the owners had executed
bond of indemnity, by way of mortgage,
to secure the remuneration of the salvor.
1t was no doubt his duty TO have retained
the vessel until such bond was executed,
and the only just ground of censuring this
) deserving officer is that he omitted to ex-
act this instrument. Commander CAR
FENDER yielded too readily to the sugges-
, tons OF comfy and courtesy. As far as
, he was himself concerned, he had right
to be guided by such considerations; but,
E as far as his crew are concerned, they
were entitled to compensation for their
, services-and it was the commanders
duty TO protect their rights.
Then as to the suggestion that the Com
3 mander erred in not taking the Eugene to
Vera Cruz. There is Mexican ordi-
nance, as we understand, against the en-
try of foreign ships Of war into Mexican
harbors. He could not, therefore, take
the Eugene into port.
The censures cast upon Commander
, CARPENDER by the French organ in this
city, therefore, are altogether unmerited
= He has behaved throughout this business,
e not only with great propriety and courtesy,
7 but he has even erred on the side of undue
Difference to his national character. And
: yet his conduct has been made the subject
Of the most wanton criticism. The Un,on,
not merely by implication, but in express
terms, sustains all the charges against him
Z Of NJ. PoussrN and the French govern
4 ment; and shows determination to sacr-
fice the character OF a mertorlous officer,
a TO shield the impertincnce and insolence
, OF foreign government. Not once mere
+ ly, in the heat of discussion, but repeated.
!, ", on dellberation, day by day for week
! together, it has labored TO divert public in
h dignaton from NJ. PoUssIN and the French
: government, and to divert it against Com
t mander CARPENDER. II has seen fit to Gre
" gret" that this officer demanded salvage.
/ lthas seenmuchreason forthe complaint
n Of NJ. PoUssIN. 1t thinks that national
, vessels ought to be governed by higher and
/ more dislnterested views than the com
: mercIal marine. II thinks that the - de-
Z tention" Of the Eugene was illegal and
unauthorized. II thinks and asserts, in
short, that the American Government was
altogether IN the wrong, and that the
: French government was altogether III the