The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-29
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
OF THE
QUARREL WITH THB FRENCH MINISTER


The French Minister and the Uoited states
In consequence of the InmoIs and statement
thai have gone abroad, p reference 10 an sllege
difficulty between Mr.. Poussin aud the Govern
ment of the United States IL becomes necehsar
!, present a narration OF facts that might olhel
wise have been wilhheld. An attempt has bee
made 10 create the impression that the cHcun
stance 10 which we refer establish OF necessil
unfIieIdly relations between this country an
| france. This is not The case. Every nstion is a
liberty 10 dismiss any foreign minister, al It's pleas
ure, on the occurrence o! any tbini winch 10 Of
| teIsive 10 its dignity or characteI--ot which II
| i!selt, of couIse, 10 be the sole Judge. No n1tlo
has ever undertaken 10 resent such step as
hostile or unffendly act. The spprebensions
| therefore, which seem 10 have prevailed on thu
subject, are quite uncalied ior; as some ulteflo
&C ion on the part Of France will be necessary 4
interrupt the amicsbie relations which exist De
tween her aud the United States.
| On the 7th day of February last, MI Poussin, II
a note 10 Mr.. Buchanan, then Secretary OF State
/ alleged that he. was charged by the French Gov
/ eminent with the prosecution oil claim agalns
| the Government OF the United States, brought oy
| Frenchman named A. Port, established In Mexico
| Tor ineemnihcation for damages sustained by eti
| from the acts of certain agents OF the army OF tn
United States. Ills application was IN the nature
OF an appeal from the sentence OF military cour
OF inquiry al Putbla, which had made decision
unsavofsble to the claim.
c communication. when If was brought TO the al
! tenton of the present Secretary OF State, MI
CLAYTON promptly devoted himself 10 It's lnVesuga
lion, with the view of gratifying Mi. Poussin by
speedy decision. Within ten days from the time
| il was presented 10 him, MI Clayton announced
| TO Mr.. Poussin that be had arrived al the conelu
sion that Mr. PoIt had no just causeto be dissaiis
! fed with the award of the military court al in
quiTy. This award, may add, which rejected
Mr. Ports claim, had been regularly sanctioned
snd approved by General Scott, the commander
in.chiei.
Dissatisfied with his decision, Mr.. Poussin, OF
the 18Th of March, addressed note TO the SecTe
taIy OF State, in which he reviewed the supposed
grounds of the eoision, and animadveIted will
some severity on the testimony OF distinguished
officer of the American army in Mexico, who haC
been u witness before the court at Pueba. II l;
obvious that at tina point Mr. Clayton might have
declined any further correspondence on tho SUB
Isc; but, out of respect on the lOih OF April ne
replied TO Mr.. Ponssin's communication, assign
ing reasons Tor his decision, and respectfully con
Iroyeriing the positions of the minister. ia The
18th of April Mr. Clayton received another note
flon Mr. Poussin, in which the minister INDUCED
in strain OF inyective evidently Intended TO Dc
highly offensive 10 the American O0vernmeuL-
The correspondence was Immediately submitted
by the Secretary of State 10 the President, wh'
directed him TO lose no time il requesting Md
Poussin 10 repair 10 Washington without unue
cessary delay.
The offensive note was dated al Washington
while Nj. Poussin was absent in New York, up
wards OF two hundred miles distant from this city
Bearing on It's face an insult 10 the American Gov
eminent, deliberately given III the very capital Of
the United States, which, il not satisfactorily ex
planned or retIacted, would have required that all
correspondence with him minister should ter
inmate without DELAY, il was made important to
himself and Government that he should lose nc
time in repsiIing TO Washington. One offensive
~ ell me- Ff =
the Uaifsf States nust be eo1pin ced that IL rs lor'
honorable 10 atgiff, tliriy, a debt contracted d.
ing lrqr URdeT the pressure Of necessity, than q
Grade ats payment b eRdsIrOriHg 10 brand "a,
character Of an homes, mum The same note con
tanned an attack upon high military officer, char
ing him, in effect, with PERJURY before the militia
~ court; and an attack upon the distinguished
officers composing the court, who were charged
with permitting that officer ''to cary out, without
interruption, his string of caumnles incredible.
Il closed with an iusinlition that the State De
partuent had become the organ OF a criminal &c
cusatiou, without proofs, against Mr.. Port
Ii was in reply to this communication, that o.
the 2lst Of April Mr.. Clayton addressed Nj. Pous
sin The following note;
DEPARTMENT Or stats, I
WASHINGTON. Apul 81, 1919.
SIN. On the afternoon OF the IS ms ant, COmmuni
cation from you, dated sshnsipn, Apt- 1919. (wiih
out showing the day which II vas written was re
Ceired at this Office, ealve 10 the oAm o. M fott oi
had eatiun 10 address you privAto note, I,ASa
thrrh I,e me ger " no was despatc he'd 20 deliver Il
,h1i v0 ave reeu Tor the last two weeks Arse from
Washington. and that the period OF your re urn hiihe
from New York was quit. uncertain
Uuder these circumstances after peTasa OF your not
wbith was laid before this moTniu &. lose rot mo
in req esng you TO repair to this cry Without IN
necessary delay.
rave tn honor to be, very respectfully, sir. Jou
JOIN NJ. CLAYTON.
NJ. WILLIAM TELL PoUssIS.
In The interview between Mr. Clayton and Mr.
Poussin which followed this note, the latter gen
tleman was informed that his leiteI was highly OF
| f.nsiye, and contained language which our Gov
eminent could not admit, and that he was permit
! ted 10 withdraw the offensive expressions. In,
letter was accordingly withdraw, and on the FOL
I1winE DAY returned, expuTgaied OF The most oaen
siye matter AnxiOus 10 maintain friendly Tela
lions with the minister, the President here permit
! te4 the matter 10 drop, and the correspondence
" IN regard TO the claim of MIR. Port terminated
l. was hoped that there would be no further cause
| OF complaint.
On tie 10 h day Of MAY, however, mr. Poussin
| in a diplomatic note, represented 10 the STATE
| Department that "Mr. Carpenter, the commando
of the American war-stenmer Iris, after hastenin,
/ TO the assistance of the French ship Eugene, o
/ Havre, which had struck on the bank OF Riso
near the anchorage Of Anton LizlIdo, advance
I claims wholly inadmissbe, on account OF Temu
neraton for his services, and, TO secure thel
acquittal, detained the Eugene for two or Three
| days In consequence OF the energetic Tsmon
! STANCES of NJ Lavallee, and the Honorable inter
venlion OF the consul OF the United States at Ven
! Cruz Commander Carpenter deesIed from I'm
| preiensiuns" Mr.. POussin proceeded 10 say tina
.'the minister OF foreign affairs of france Ieques
! ted him 10 address 10 the Cabinet OF Washington
/ the most serious observations on the abuae o
authority committed by this officer, in illegally
OBTAINING the ship Eugenie.' he concluded HI
/ note with The following remark: "Nou will casil
/ 81 Sat- hpu inn nt
| tanI IL ia that such occurrences should not be re
| peaied, and that severe blame, at least should b
/ laid on those who thus considered themselve
| empowered 10 substitute arbitrary measures 10
Justice; and doubt not that you VIII, without de
law give satisfaction 10 the Just complaints OF n
| French republic" This note, unsccompanied a
it was by any testimony TO justify the chang
against Commander Carpenter, was prompt
referred 10 the Navy Department, for the purPos
Of ascertaining the ACTS on which his condemns
ton was demanded. On the 24ih May, the See
re,ary OF the Navy, in reply, transmitted to TIL
Department all the evidence in his possession
which consisted of two letters from Commando
, Carpenter himself, dated, the one New orlesn'
The 10th November, lS4S; the Jther New foTl
. The 18Th NAV, 1S49. In the absence Of any ev
dence of conflicting facts, the President thoue'
that the character of that officer made II lncun
| bent on him 10 submit 10 the French minister IN
. explanation given by Commander Carpenter, an
10 express, al the same time, The hope that The
would remove any Misrepresentation which mig
. | exist on the part of the French government rel
: tive 10 his conduct on the OCCASION
This note was respectful 10 the minister. III
, exclamation which accompanied IL showed III
the commander, seeing the French bark Eugen
and her crow in imminent peril, high mp on Il
4 rocks of Anton Lzardo, and being appealed TO {
:, succor, fastened 10 her assistance, with seam'
: from the Iris; and that the captain of the Fren'
bark gave up the charge OF his vessel on the rec
b N order that the American officer might tai
the command, TO save her. At moment when
other aid could be procured, and when nofthe
so formidable to seamen on that coast, was e
/. oected, the Americas commander laoored all mig