Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-05-15
THE TRUE VERSION.

Some time since the Wing published
Washington letter in the New York Cou
rier, grossly charging President Polk and
Judge Mason, the Secretary of the Navy.
with "usurpation Of power" aud violation
Of the comfy and neutral rights OF ma.
,ions, on the subJec. Of the fitting out the steam
ship United States. observer" of the Pnia
dclphia Ledger, generally well informed, sets
forth the following circumstances, which we
have reason 10 believe are substantially correct,
and which, so far from throwing blame on The
late Secretary Of the Navy, place him on high
ground. If Judge Mason, ..ssailsnts are not
satisfied, lei his CORES ondence with the Prus.
sian authorities be published-let the whole
truth be known:
Since the disastrous result of the vrginia's
elections TO the party nov in power, two spe
cies of reasoning have been put forward, one to
check, the other TO drive the administration in
regard to appointments and removals.
Meanwhile, there is some little business Of
different nature occupying the minds Of some Of
General Taylor's Ministers. Mr. Clayton is
Just now occupied with Baron Roenne, the En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotcnliary
from the Central Government of Germany, and
not exactly on terms Of the most cordial amly
with him, from circumstances arising out ol
recent transaction, which am abou, to detail.
While the difficulty between Denmark, and
the German Dutchies Of Sleswig Holslen and
Lunenburg were about TO be arranged AMIGA.
bly,, and the Germans merely desired TO eslab.
lish National Navy 10 put themselves on a
respectable footing with their maritime neigh
bors, an application was made 10 our Govern
ment by Prussia either TO grant q furlough to
some of our Naval officers, which these might
employ in instructing young German officers
and midshipmen in the duties and arts Of their
profession, or TO enter the German service alto
gether, at least for limited period.
Subsequently, number OF young German ni.
fcers were permiled 10 perform mIdshpman's
duty on board the frigaIe 81. Lawrence, with the
distinct understanding, however, that IN case OF
the resumption OF any difficulties, The German Of
scers should not have permission 10 stay on
board For their services they received, Of course,
no compensation This instance Of national
comfy on The part OF orr e vernment produced
an admirable effect in Germany; the King otPfus.
STA expressed his deep obligation, and the officers
OF our ships were participants of The hospitality
Of the Court aud people.
But there was YET another good effect produced.
Germany does not possess the same abundance
of materials for ship building, aud as ye, no
extensive dock-yards for the construction or pre-.
paration OF vessels of war; Germany, there.
lore, had 10 purchase her ships, and The high re.
pulion Of our shipwrights and the well known
Skill of our naval officers naturally led the Ger.
mans 10 select the Unied States for that purpose.
The steamship United States was accordingly
purchased; but as she was not armed, and was,
conse quenly in The position in which she had
been used Tor carrying passenges and the mail,
utterly unfit tor the purpose Of the purchase, az
plicaiiou was made TO the then Secretary OF h
Navy, whether the United States Government
would mol induce The commander Of the Navy