The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-09
81 much better ask Us 70 disband or

might much better ask us to disband oar
Navy.
The whole civilized world would no doubt
be glad 10 see the principle established. upon
which the proposal to surrender privateering
Is professedly founded. that private property
OF unoffending non-combatants, though enc.
mics, should be exempt from molestation;
but rs the President aptly observes, the pro.
posed surrender goes but little way in carry
ing out that principle, which equally requires
that such private property should not be
seized or molested by national ships Of war.
"Should the leading powers of Europe"
says the President, concur inproposiDg as a
rule Of international law, to exempt private
property, upon the ocean, from seizure by
public armed cruizers as well as by privateers
the United States win readily meet them upon
this broad ground"
Well said, and to the point. What say the
European powers to that proposition?
-
The SoULE GoRREsPoHDENcE.-The Off
cial correspondence, as published, consists of
LIST, letter of Minister Mason to Secretary
Marcy, referring to previous letter in which
hehad communicated the intelligence of the
alleged refusal Of the French government
| to permit Mr. Soule to enter France. MIR.
Mason states, that upon receiving this intel,
ligence, he sent Mr.. Piatt, Secretary of Lee
| CATION to England, to communicate with Mr.
Eoule and ascertain the facts of the case
The order forbidding his entering France,
says Mr.. Mason, was wholly unknown
to Mr.. Soule, who assured Mr.. Mason that
neither by deed nor by words, uttered or
written, has he afforded shade of ex-
cuse for the order issued by the Emperor
Immediately upon Mr.. Piatt's return, and on
the asth Oct, Mr.. Mason addressed a coln-
munication on the subject to the French min
lister of Foreign Affairs. sit is impossible"
adds Mr.. Mason, "not to regard this humilia
ting indignity as deeply injurious, when it is
remembered that Mr.. Soule, acting under
your orders, has recently spent more than
two weeks in Paris and while sojourning
here, neither he nor receives any intimation
that his presence was objected to by the
French Government"
Mr.. Mason concludes his letter by stating
that he considers the incident of such grave
Importance that he may deem it duty to
demand his passports.
No. 2, enclosed in the above, is letter of
Mr. Mason, dated 9th Oct, TO Mr.. Drouyn
De pHuys, the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs, stating the treatment which Mr..
Soule had received, and whichhe had no rea-
son to anticipate, having received no notice
of the determination of the French govern
ment to prohibit him from entering France
Mr.. Mason proceeds:
If authorised by the Emperor's Government. it
cannot but be regarded by the Government and
people of the United States, not only as most unu-
sua and humiiating act towards the Minister per-
sonally, but national indignity of very grave
character only to be extenuatcd by facts establish
lished by conclusive proof. Without waiting for
special instructions to that effect regard it as nv
imperative duty to hasten to ask for what reasons
one of my fellow ems chosen by my country as
Representative to a foreign power, has been 90
treated, while relations of amify and peace exist
and are cherished by the United States with France
My government will be filled with painful anxiety
until satisfactory information in reply this nu III
ry can be communicated. i can but hope that your
Excelency will furnish me with such explanations
as may relieve the Minister from the position in
which he has thus been placed and which will ena.
BILE me to allay the unpleasant feelings which the
intelligence of this occurrence will occasion in the
U. States"
No. 3, is the reply of the French Minister
to Mr.. Mason, dated Nov. l. He states that
the Minister of the Interior had directed the
Commissary of Police at Calais, that Mr..
Souls should not be allowed to penetrate into
France without the knowledge of the Gov
| ernment; that, in conformity with his instruc.
tons, the Commissary did not invite Mr..
Soule to embark again for England-he left
him perfectly free to remain at Calais until
he should receive orders from Paris, which
| he was about to request. The Minister pro.
ceeds:
1t wasl simply question of waiting patiently for
one day at the utmost; but Mr.. Soue, after saying
that he did not expect any regard the part OF the
French Government, and that besides he did not
care for It, preferred to go back to England imme.
diately The Minister of the Interior did, neverthe-
less forward his definite instructions to Calais bv
telegraph and can do nothing better than to tran
at Mr. Soule presents himself tor the purpose of
entering France, you will give him to understand
uiat the Emperor's Government does not authorize
tudt iildhes no Opp0s1QOQ
TO his passing through In order to go to Spain: and
you will offer him to else his passport for that des
1ination"
You perceive, sir, that the Government of the
Emperor has not sought. as you seem to believe to
prevent an Envoy ofthe United States from travers
Ing French territory In order to repair to his post
and acquit himself of the commission with which
he wa: charged by his government; but between
that simple passage and the stay of a foreigner
whose antecedents Il regret to say it, have ava.
kened the attention of the authorities whose duty
Il to preserve public order among U.S. there is q
difference which the Minister of the Interior was
bound to appreciate. II Mr.. Soule had been going
directly to Madrid, the route by France was open
to him. II it was his intention to come to Paris.
with view to remaining here, that privilege was
not accorded him. 1t was, therefore, necessary to
consult him as to his Intentions and it was himself
who would not allow time to do sc. Our laws are
strict with respect to foreigners. The Minister of
the Interior causes their rigorous proyisionsto be
executed, when it is shown him that there Is any
necessity for such action-and even then he makes
use OF discretionary power which the Govern.
ment OF the Emperor has never allowed to be dis
cassed. The quality of theforegner on the part of
MI, SOut0 Dacad him ypitt