Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-11-23
Louis Napoleon backing out.

Louis Napoleon undertook to prevent Mr.
Soule, the American Minister to Spain, from
passing through France in his journey from
England to Spain. No reason was assigned
for his arbitrary and surprising order, an order
without precedent in the intercourse of nations
at peace. Mr.. Soule was compelled to re-
cross the Channel, and TO return to England
1t is stated that when Mr.. Mason, U. S. MIN
lister at Paris, called on the French Minister
Of Foreign Affairs for an explanation, he was
kept waiting for a couple of hours, and then
received no satisfaction. Some letter writers
intimate that he would call for his passports
If the grievance remained unredressed. This
is direct insult not only to Mr. Soue, the
accredited representative of the country to a
European Court, but to the whole country.
A full reparation for the injury will of course
be demanded by our Government. The New
York Courier and Enquirer says =
Mr.. Soule is representative of the United
States, and though not accredited to the
emperor of the French, is certainly entitled to
his especial consideration, so long as he (Mr
Soule) is guilty of no act toward the French
government unbecoming his diplomatic charac-
ter. Mr.. Soule, we have the best reasons for
believing, denies that he has in any way given
just cause for offence 10 the government of
Louis Napoleon; and, such being the case,
the exclusion of an American minister from
French soil must be regarded as an indefensi-
bic caprice or wanton insult-an indignity
offered to the United States in the person of
| fhaIr ho
ted to pass without PREPARATION.
A Washington despatch of the 18th says the
Union of that morning expresses the hope that
the decree against Mr.. Soule was issued under
misapprehension of facts, and that the EN-
peror will make prompt reparation.
The Philadelphia Sun says -
This is question personal 10 the United
States, and is not to be decided by the London
Times, nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs
to France or England The American people
will demand thorough vindcaton of the ma
tona honor, and stand by the administration
in any extremity to which it may be compelled
to resort. Mr.. Soule is an American citizen
with every right possessed by an American
| by birth, except that he cannot exercise exec
utive functions, the policy of sending him
abroad to represent us, is another question,
which will be settled at the polls in 1856, but
he cannot be deprived Of any acquired right /;
and it will be the pride and duty of the United
States TO protect him from insult and outrage as
fully and cheerfully, as if he had been twinned
upon the same bosom and on the same soil
with George Washington.
1t appears by the following, that Louis Ma
poleon, having found that he hastily acted in
the exclusion of Mr.. Soule, is seasonably
backing out. 1t said the British Govern
ment interposed as conciliator.
50 We have private letter from a well-in-
formed source in London, written at the last
moment before the closing Of the mail, saving
that The French government has ruhdraUn all
objection TO Mr.. S0uLe'S passing through
France. 1t is also stated that the English
government feels good deal of uneasiness
about the matter, on various grounds. It
dreaded the reaction which the French emper-
or treatment Of Mr. Soule would create to-
wards the western powers, and was especially
alarmed at his readiness to enter into new
quarrels while in alliance with England. IF
our correspondents statement as 10 the issue
OF the matter is true,-as we have reason to
been brought about by the Intervention or adj
vice Of the English government
From another private letter from London
written also on the eve of the steamers de-
parture. and based on telegraphic dispatches
from Paris, we learn the following facts cor
relocating the above =
Louis Napoleon had personal interview
with Mr.. Mason, in which he withdrew the
restraints upon Mr.. Soule's passage through
the French territory, disclaiming all intention
Of insult to the United States government in
the person of its envoy. The manner of the
emperor was dry and curt, and it is believed
mat this disclaimer was a diplomatic move,
understood to have been dictated by England,
me English cabinet advising that the initiatory
against MT. Soule, personally, should be taken,
if at all, by their government The banouet
proposed to be given to Mr.. Soule by the refu-
gee republicans In London, will probably af-
ford the home office an opportunity for ac-
ton. '''-Nesc York Daily Times.