The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-01
THE REPUBLIC.


that Commander Carpenter seized the Eu-
genie to satisfy ga private claim" the
Union, in another part of the article from
which we made the above extract, says:
Captain Stringham is mistaken in his assertion
that the French vessel was abandoned by her COM
mander. The statement of Commander Carpen-
der dispoUes that assertion
The Union would bring its allegiance to
its foreign allies under suspicion, if it
showed willingness to believe any thing
that an American should say upon this
matter. 1t is out against Captain String
ham as well as against Commander Car
pender, and denounces one as asserting
what the other proves to be false. Yet in
the Union of the 25th September, Com
mander Carpenters statement is pub
lished, proving that Captain Stringham
told the truth. The following is an ex-
tract from that report
SAT about half an hour before sundown, an
chored off the island of Samadina. By this time
we could plainly the Eugenie' was high up
on the north side of the reef Ell Rise. The master
came on board from the schooner, and informed
me that the schooner hired by our CONSUL
Mr. Pommares, at twenty dollars day, to assist
in getting off the Eugenie,' but that the captain
of her was unwilling to risk his vessel outside of
the reef that night, he feared norther, in which
event he would have to run for Avarado. l then
ordered the to take the hired launch and the
| cutter, assisted by the boat from the Eugene, in
Va Nyae The tn ratn rhnra nd
cable in the launch, and go the assistance of the
'Eugenie.' directed him, when he got on board,
to ask the captain if he resigned the charge of the
vessel to him, and if So to every exertion to
save her, and if he could not her, to save as
much possible of the cargo. If the captain de-
cned placing this vessel in his charge, to ask him
what assistance he wished rendered. and be gov
erned entirely by his directions. In either case,
he might depend upon my sending the schooner
round at daylight in the morning, and of coming
myself in the steamer, if the water admitted of it.
The weather continuing pleasant, and thinking
| that might be of service myself on board the
Eugenie,' left my vessel at nine O'Clock in the
! evening, in my gig, accompanied by two custom
house officers, who came down in the schooner and
| went on board of her. On my arrival, Mr. Reilly,
| the master, informed me that he in charge of
| the Eugenie;' that the captain had hcsitaed at
first to give him the Charge but had given it, that
| he then repeated the question whether he resigned
the charge to him, and that the captain had again
done it without hesitation"
Here it is distinctly asserted that the
captain Of the Eugene abandoned the YES
sci to the charge of the salvors. She was
lawfully in Commander Carpenters pos
session. He had procured boats to be
hired for her assistance. He had gone
| himself to her assistance. The French
captain, unable to manage his ship, gave
up the command of her-and this is aban
doning her, in a sense applicable to that
| case. This is the transaction which the
| Union characterizes as a seizure by pub
lie vessel of merchantmen to extort &c a
private and personal claim"
For the service rendered the Eugene !;
for the labor and risk of taking her off the
reef, where she was so hard aground, and
in such imminent peril that her command
er delivered her over to Commander Car
pender-neither he nor HIS sailors, for
whom he claimed salvage, have received
any compensation whatever. The Amer
lean tars have gone unrewarded to this
day, and their commander has been re-
Quilted by the grossest ingratitude from the
foreigner whom he succored, and the most
heartless misrepresentation and rebuke
from the Locofoco press Of his own
country.