The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-20

| contained language which our Government
| could not admit, and that he was permit
| ted to withdraw the offensive expressions.
The letter was accordingly withdrawn,
and on the following day returned, expur-
gated Of the most offensive matter. Anx
ious TO maintain friendly relations with the
minister, the PRESIDENT here permitted
the matter to drop, and the correspond
ence with regard to the claim of Mr.
Port terminated. Ii was hoped that there
would be no further cause of complaint.
On the 18th day of May, however, Mr.
PoUssIN, in diplomatic note, represented
to the State Department that "Mr. Car
pender, the commander of the American
war-steamer Iris, after fastening to the
assistance of the French ship Eugene, of
Havre, which had struck on the bank of
Rise, near the anchorage of Anton Lizardo,
advanced claims, wholly inadmissibe, on
account of remuneration for his services,
and, to secure their acquittal, detained the
Eugene for two or three days. In con-
sequence of the energetic remonstrances of
M. Lavallee, and the honorable interview
ton of the consul of the United States at
Vera Cruz, Commander Carpenter de-
sisted from his pretensions. Mr.. PoUssIN
proceeded to say that 'sthe minister of for
eign affairs of France requested him to ad-
dress tot the Cabinet of Washington the most
serious observations on the abuse of author
ity committed by this officer, in illegally de-
tanning the ship Eugenie." He concluded
his note with the following remark: 'sYou
will easily comprehend, Mr.. Secretary of
State, how important it is that such occur
rences should not be repeated, and that Sc
we're blame, at least, should be laid on
those who thus considered themselves en-
powered to substitute arbitrary measures
for Justice; and doubt not that you will,
without delay, give satisfaction to the just
complaints OF the French republic" This
note, unaccompanied as it was by any tes-
timony to justify the charge against Com
mander Carpenter, was promptly referred
to the Navy Department, for the purpose of
ascertaining the facts on which his condem-
nation was demanded On the oath May
the Secretary of the Navy, in reply,
transmitted to this Department all the evil
dence in his possession, which consisted
only of two letters from Commander Car
pender himself, dated, the one New Or
leans, the 10th November, 1S4S; the other
New York, the 10Th May, lS49. In the
absence of any evidence of conflicting
facts, the PRESIDENT thought that the char
acter of that officer made it incumbent on
him to submit to the French minister the
explanation given by Commander Car
pender, and to express, at the same
time, the hope that they would re-
move any misrepresentation which might
exist on the part OF the French govern
ment relative to his conduct on the occasion
IN question" This note was respectful
to the minister. The explanation which ac-
companied it showed that the commander,
seeing the French bark Eugene and her
crew in imminentperil, high up on the rocks
of Anton Lizardo, and being appealed to
for succor, fastened to her assistance, with
seamen 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. AT moment when no other
aid could be procured, and when anorther,
so formidable to seamen on that coast, was
expected, the American commander la
bored all night with his sailors, got the
French bark off the rock, and anchored.her
in safety alongside the Iris The COM
nander asked for compensation, in the ma
ture Of salvage, for his men who had saved
the bark and her crew from destruction
He was entitled to compensation. So it
wa, decided by Mr. CLIFFORD, our minis
ter to Mexico, date Attorney General of
the United States, when the matter was
referred to him. Such also, We under
stand, is the opinion of Mr.. JOHNSON, our
present Attorney General. But although
he had asked and expected to receive sal
wage, yet ITO use his own words "thirty
hours having elapsed without receiving
an answer, he had already resolved to let
the Jc2tain resume the charge of her,
'when he recei,ed note from the con-
signee saying that he coulld not act in The
matter, as the vessel was not yet in
port and at the same moment, the cap
tain Of the Eugene coming on board, he
returned the vessel TO him." II was
under these circumstances that Mr.. PoUs-
SIN wrote the note of the 30th of Nav
last, which follows
LEGATtoS OF FRAScE, !
WAsmSGToS, May 80, lS4g.
Sm ! received on the 2sth Of May the note
which you did the honor 10 address to me on