Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-18

the American Legaon In London, and perhaps from the
Government in Washington to the American Legation in
Paris. The dispatches not allowed to proceed to
teir destination and the bearer was obliged to them
back with him to London Here prma a grave matter
Of offence But let hasten say that the testimony
yet is all srpari Americans here will await with much
interest further developments The facts Of the case,
with and dates are, far yet known simply
these My readers will doubtless have understood alrea
dy that Mr.. SouIE, the American representative at
the Court Of Madrid is the gentleman whose peregrina
tons have provoked the proceedings the part Of
France
1t seems that upon the breaking up Of the mys-
terious Congress Of American Dplomates held recently at
0stend Mr. SouLE proceeded London Last week. oath
Cctober having got through with the business that took
him to England he out upon his Spain The
usually taken and most convenient route lies through
France and Paris Mr. SoULE took it, and his arrival
Calais in France, Mr. SouLB left the boat in which he
had crossed the channel and proceeding with the
other passengers to take railway for Paris But no
his foot upon French soil than he was stopped by
policeman, who intimsted to him that he must mmedi
atey return to the boat and with the boat to England
that passage through soourn in france was positively
forbidden to him.
But sir, am the Minister Penipotentiary Of the
United States to the Court Of Spain and am directly
on my way to my post"
"We aware OF your diplomatic character, but we
nevertheless ordered not to allow you to proceed.
| You must return to the boat"
am not only Minister Of the United States to SPAIN
but IN the bearer Of Government dispatches to the
American Legation in Paris Here is my passport as
such, and there my dispatches"
The official Of the French police hesitated moment.
II seemed to him that by the law Of nations the
statement Of the question, just put by Mr. SoULE pre-
sented unexpected and embarrassing But it
probably occurred to him that the laws pf nations could
be held bind his any morehan the const
tuition and laws of France any rate be replied to Mr.
SouLE that his passport bearer Of dispatches would
avail him that he must Immediately return England
"May not send my courier into Pats with my de-
spatches ~ replied the Minister.
"No; your dispatches must 60 back with you to Eng
land"
There was remedy. Mr. SouLE had Ito submit and
did return to London. Thence he his mis-
hap by letter to Minister in Paris MI MASON. The
latter gentleman Immediately dispatched lis Secretary Of
Legation Mr. PATr, to London to learn particulars
fully and confer with Mr.. SouLE. Upon Mr.. P.s return
with confirmation Of the facts above stated Mr. MASON
Immediately made the affair matter of note to the
French Minister Of Foreign Affairs asking from him
explanation of this conduct towards man clothed with
the character Of representative of the United States Mr.
MAsoS's note has not yet been replied to.
have been informed further, and believe, that in a
private conversation just prior the Gath between Mr.
Mason and the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs the
latter ntimated that Mr. SouLE would be allowed to
return through France and Mr.. NJ was informally re-
qucsted to signify the same to Mr. S. Our worthy Min
lister here very properly declined consider any other
than official and formal proposition from the French
functionary Eona made; but in reply to inquiry
of Mr. MASON the Of this Official antipathy
Mr. SouLE, which it proposed to display offensive
ly it said that Mr. SouLE was the notorious and
svowed enemy Of the existing order Of things in France
give the above facts which have doubt sub
sentialy true But remarked above they present TO
only side of the case, and shalook with anxiety
for the facts the other side which must be grave in
deed to justify the disrcspect offered in the person of Mr.
souLR to the dignity Of the United States.
l cannot help fearing that the present difficulty if
brought about with something like prcmedation by Mr.
SoULE sorry to believe that in furtherance Of his
ultra political views he would not be unwilling to embroi
the United States in o European war.
! An article in the london Times, on the case
J of Mr. SoULE has excited good deal of attention
both in England and on this side, from suppos
tion that it expresses the opinion of the British
Government. Whether this supposition be well OF
illfounded the article is distinguished by ability
and an apparent familiarity with the question. We
, therefore give it to our readers:
, LONDON TIMES OF ocTosER so.
The French Government have taken unusual though
not an unwarantable STEP when all the facts of the
are known in declining allow Mr. Soue the Minister
the United States accredited Madrid enter the
territories of the French Empire. We understand that
this gentleman expressed himself in very strong Language
upon his return London after Intellectual attempt
to continue his journey through France from Calais
Bouogne and that the personal affront to which Mr..
Soue conceives himself Fave been subjected has been
taken up as an affair of national and political Importance
by Me- Mason the American Charge d'Afares in Paris,
and by Mr. Buchanan, the American Minister in this
country 1t is to be regretted that who nrusted
with the important and responsible duty Of representing
yach country as the United States in Europe should
display much sensitiveness paltry occasion.
Whatever sronts may bcfal Mr. Soule have been richly
earned by himself since he foot in Europe and, while
he has forfeited his claim the courtesy usually shown
to strangers be can claim especial consideration for
his diplomatic character which is Of course confined to
the country to which he is accredited.
The circumstances Of this are however, peculiar,
and there to apprehend that they will give rise
to some discussion In the first place, Mr. Soule is by
birth Frenchinan and although he has done all that
lay in his power repudae his national character and
to assume that of citizen of the United States it
hardly be conended the French Government bound
to take no account of his origin regard him precise
y would citizen Of Boston or New Orleans. In
adopting new country, it would at least have been in