Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE UNITED STATES AND PORTUGAL.

We have received from correspondent abroad
a copy OF the Courier de MarseiHe, of the 9Th
Of this month, in which we find, among the local
news some that will interest our readers. We
translate it as follows:
"The American fgate the Constitution, Capt. CosovER,
Of fifty -four guns entered our port Friday evening At
the she arrived, Mr.. HoDeE Consul IF the United
States repaired board where he received salute of nine
guns The morning the Constitution sauted our port
with twenty-one guns.
"This fgae constitutes part of the American squadron
anchored in the Tagus before Lisbon which composed Of
the gate Independence of sixty guns, having on board
Com. MoReAN, the frgate 81. Laurence ffy-four guns
the gate Cumberland, of 6fy-our guns, and the steam
fngate Mississippi, of twenty guns.
"Ths object of the presence Of this squadron in the Tagus
is support the demand Of indemnity of 100000 piasues
which the Government of the United States claims for Amer-
can citizens Mr. CLAY has sent to the Count ToJAL an
uimatum, by which he gives him till the llth OF July to
satisfy these reclamatons The Portuguese Government
Acknowledges itself be indebted the United States but It
hopes to reduce the debt to $4,000 pastre making up the
difference with the amount OF indemnity which reclaim
on its part for losses which experienced neutral nation
during the American war.
"I is more than probable that the pretensons of Portugal
will not be admitted. Mr.. CLAY has declared that if his
demands entirely complied with BY the lth Of July,
he will take his passports.
The American fleet has chosen the port Of Marseles
point Of rendezvous during its stay in the Mediterranean
The formidable character of this force is made
the ground of belief, expressed in other foreign
journals that it is intended to lombard or make
prisals upon Lisbon, in the event of Portugal not
having, by the time prescribed, satisfied the de-
msnds of the United States, preferred through our
Charge d'Affaires, Mr.. CLAY. Such an impress
sion is natural enough the part of those who are
not familiar with our institutions. But, all our
readers know, reprisals in any form could only be
made in such a case, however clear, by the au-
thority of Congress. The true motive of this ar
ray Of force is, we presume, substantially given in
the following extract from the semi-oficial Wash
ington correspondence of the New York Courier
and Enquirer:
"WAsHIsGToS, JULr "a, 1880
"Apprehensons seem be excited in the public mind
concerning our relations with Portugal which not just
fed by the The from the other side Of the
Atlantic greatly exaggerated viii readily be- by
candid representation of what the Government has done
expects do. Various and concliatoy efforts made
during the last and preceding Administrations procure
settlement. Of the well established and ongstandng claims OF
citizens Of the United States against the Government of Po.tu
GAL All these efforts resulted unsatisfactory and finally
from of evasion, Of hauteur assumed Find
ing that no arrangement could be effected Gen. TAYLOR in
structed Mr. CLAY, Charge flares, make peremp
tory and final demand, allowing twenty days for consider
alton When these instructions sent out orders
communicated the time to Com. MoRsAr, in COM
mand of the Mediterranean squadron attend Lisbon for
the purpose receiving Mr. CLAr became necessary for
him withdraw from the mission. No orders of hostile
character given could be given and this formal
thod adopted for the purpose of sgnyng to Portugal the
degree Of confidence which this Government repoed in its
diplomatic agent upon whom ndigniy had been attempt
ed II Gen. TATLon's intention, in the event of
fusa adjust the Claims submit the whole subject to Con-
gess for its advice and action nf all the foreign
speruaons relative to reprsals absurd and is aston
shing that British statesmen, pretending knowledge of
constitution, should have empoyedsuch arguments in Paa
ent when the power Of retaliation rests exclusively with
Congress- and could not be employed by the Executive with
out impeachment Conn., MoRe AN exercised his own dis
creon in taking vessels of but their presence had
other object than which have explained and such mis-
could have been conded safer hands than that
gallant and accomplished officer.