The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1852-02-26
ExErge. (N Il lFebrnary |. 1859

EXETER, (N II February I. 1852
DEAR SIR: have received your letter nr the
l27ih oi january, informing me that Won had call
ed Tor The correspondence relative iu the snppns.
ed di'fcuIt.s which occurred on board the Mis-
sl-sippl. under NV command. with Kossnih al
Maseilles, for the purpose Of yindicatius the dig
nlty OF this navy, and 10 sustain lne as commaH.
der" &c.
While the circumstances which gave nccasinn
to the honorable intentions meniicnei in your
letter are 10 me mhiu'r "f deep regret allow me
!" express 10 you my thanks for your readiur.s
To vndcaie the dignity nj the navy. as we'll as In
sustain the character Gf an officer whrse abest IF.
i'rtS IN the dischare Of his duty have met with
unnerited reprnach.
II should be remembered by the American
people that IN the discharge Of tue delicate duty
"i remnving knssuth and his COMPANIONS In this
country, could have been actnatrd by no motive
lint Tn do il III snCh man er as would make them
happy and myself respectable To have treated
any oi hem with rudeHess Or neglect would have
been lnhospitable. ss they were then on board
ship under my immediate commaud 1t would
have been nhuman for they were objected and
snrrowiu at the failure Of their exeriions to give
lreednm to their nation. They were exiles with
the cnmpa' sion well as the respect of mankind
I The prominent charge against me is rudeuess
IN Kos'nth at The time we were off MarseilIes
From the first moment saw him 10 the hour of
our separation ! spared no pains To render him
aud his assnciaies happy. When he first came on
board, he aud his companions were received by
me ana the officers aud inen under my command
with every expression OF welcome which Ian
sihge and cheers could afpid. On my part their
welcnme was sincere; my own apartments were
resigned 10 promote their comfort and empluy
ed all the means in my power to divert theirst-
tention from the gloom which seemed 10 have
settled on their prospects.
! Ny position at Marseilles was peculiarly per.
picking aud Responsible but did not intend tn
be, and was not, disrespectiul To Kossuth. either
in my language or manners. My conduct was
such that m review Ol it I canuot regret and
wuuld not alter it.
| Ia order to form inst opinion of the propriety
oi my conduct an officer at Marseilles, il IS i'm
portaut 10 consider the strictness Of my orders
with reference 10 a compromise Of the American
tiag; that had been cautioned aga'n aud again by
Commodore Morgan aud Others. whose opinions
were entitled to the highest respert Of the immi-
nent danger ct compromising the flag: that the
French authorities had refused Ia allow Knssatl To
pass through France 10 England; that he had once
landed at Marsell'es. and that orders had been
issued by the authorities that he should not
land again, together with the excitement which
his presence personally among tue people had oc
casnned at Marseilles.
In the first place. please 10 observe the strict.
ness ot the general orders ofCommndora Morgan
againsta interference with the pnlitica affIirs al
other natious. dated April Q, 1851, frum which
the following is AN extract:
r ITO the careful preservation Of the good faith
ofonr conntry. as plighted in treaty stiPuaton'
and the delicate subject of strict neutrality.
claim ynnr particular attention. You will remem
ber therefore, that the ship under your com
mand, when lying in the port. sailing within
the Jurisdiction oi another friendly natiun. is n
mere guest, and Tor The time more or less under
lis protection. Assured that il is the wish of the
Government of tile Uuiled States. it Is my order
that the utmost clrcumspectiUn be observed. par
iicua;lv by the officers and crews Of the vessels
composing the squadron under my command. al
all times when in company nr conversation with
the people flhe nations uf Europe that they en-.
ter IuiO un political discussions with them. or
with each other about them, Nr the stale of their
respective countries; and that they carefully avoid
the expression OF any opinion which may justify a
surmise that their sympaihies are enlisted ia he.
half Of or inclined towards. any particular party
lUI UilVNl u Is lllG utttTWtHWtOH OJ LiC UOceTn-
mcRt TO preserve our neutrality strictly and
thereby Ia secure the friendship and continued
confidence ofall. Any deviation from the fore.
going order in relation to this subject will hardly
under any circumstances, admit of all excuse"
In addition to the above general order, please
to observe the specific orders from Commodore
Morgan 10 me on the 2ith September, 1851 In
these orders Yen will find that many doubts are
entertained by hun whether Kussuth would be
allowed IN laud in France; an expression OF regret
that Kpssu,h had determined to land ut Marseiiles;
an apprehension lest should encounter many
vexaliUns and incnnvenences: aud then eniuined
on mo "tbe most exact observance in euery par
ticuiar" OF the instructions already given me in
general orders with reference to the careful pre-.
'ervation of strict neutrality, without which the
most serious compromise Of the character Of our
country is almost inevitable.
| next received letter from the American Con
sui at MarSeiles, Johu l.. Hodge, Esq, Septem
ber Sd, 1851. III this letter he says that he re
ceived an official etter from the Project" re
qnestng him 10 call on him on business of impor
lance. In compliance with this request he called
The "Preiec!" told him that the letter addressed
TO him MS the representative Of the United STATES
was published in puper called "La Peupls." a
violent parti'an paper and asked by whom il had
been done. as he viewed it as n breach Of conh-
dence. MIR. Hodge stated he lei Kossulh have the
ette:, aud that it published by him The
'PleIect' then gave orders that no one but the OF
icers and men ui the Mississippi should land, and
Mr.. Hodge wrote TO me as follows: "YOu will in
the most positive manner carry out the views OF
the Prefecl;' prohibit every individual except
your men. landing from the United States steamer
Mississippi. no matter who may be the person.
The consequence Of the publication of thu, let.
ter. and the comments upon it in the paper LA
PenpIe," was the Imprisonment Of the editor of
the paper. and the suspension Of all issues from
that press, A further consequence was great and
very unusual excitement among the people.
Had no reason, sir, 10 apprehcnd, in view OF
the circumstances compromise -four ilugl The
populaco Of Marseilles manifested so much ex
element while KoSsuth and his associates were
on shore that the Project, through our Consul,
informed me that such demonstrations must cease.
He also withdrew the permission be had granted,