Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-15
Wasbingtnm gentinet.
From the London Times.
The Exclusion of MIR. SOule from France
Action of the United States Ministers.

ne rrehch government nave taken an un-
usual, though not an unwarrantable step, when
all the facts OF the case are known, in declining
to allow Mr.. Soule, the minister of the United
States accredited to Madrid, to enter the terri
tories of the French empire. We understand
that this gentleman expressed himself in very
strong language upon his return to London,
after an Intellectual attempt to continue his
Journey through France from Calais or Bou-
logne, and that the personal affront to which
Mr.. Soule conceives himself to have been sub
Jected, has been taken mp as an affair of ma
t,onat and political Importance by Mr.. Mason,
the American charge d'afairs in Paris, and by
Mr.. Buchanan, the American minister in this
country. 1t is to be regretted that men who
are entrusted with the important and response
BILE duty of representing such a country as the
United States in Europe, should display SO
much sensitiyeness on so paltry an occasion.
Whatever affronts may befall Mr.. Soule, have
been richly earned by himself since he set foot
in Europe, and while he has forfeited his claim
to the courtesy usually shown to strangers, he
can claim no especial consideration for his d.
plomatic character, which is, of course, confined
TO the country to which he is accredited.
The circumstances of this case are, however,
peculiar, and there is reason to apprehend that
they will give rise to some discussion. In the
first place, Mr. Soule is by birth a Frenchman,
and, although he has done all that lay in his
power to repudiate his national character and
to assume that of a citizen of the United States,
1t can hardly be commended that the French
government is bound to take no account of his
origin, or to regard him precisely as it would
citizen OF Boston or New Orleans. In adopt.
ing new country, it would, at least, have been
in good taste if Mr.. Soule had not forgotten
that he owed something to the land of his birth.
The United States not only adopted him, but
,,aIh ~ L., - e
their ministers abroad, and President Pierce
selected him as his representative in Spain, ap.
parently' because he had identified himself with
the party which did not disguise its intentions
upon Cuba. With the political effects of such
domination we are not here concerned, but no
sooner had Mr.. Soule arrived at Madrid, where
he was received in official society, than his son
contrived to pick ridiculous quarrel with
the Duke of Alba, at the house of M. de
Turgot the French Ambassador, which was
followed by duel with M. de Turgot him
self, in which that gentleman was most danger
ously wounded. The outrage thus offered to the
brother-in-lawof the Emperor of the French, and
to his ambassador, was evidently not fortui-
tous circumstance. The career of Messrs. Soule,
both father and son, in Madrid continued in
the same course, both in politics and in society.
They freely associated with the revolutionary
leaders in different parts of Europe The
Spanish Government were satisfied that they
traced the active participation Of Mr.. Soule in
some OF the disturbances which occurred in
Madrid shortly before he left that capital. In
she south of France, which Mr.. Soule visited
for short time in the course of the summer
he held, without disguise, language with refer
ence to the head Of the French Government
which was at least indecorous in the accredited
representative of an allied State; and more re-
Gently he has been playing part at so-called
conference of American Ministers at Brussels,
where, if We are rightly informed, the chief
topics Of discussion were not exclusively of
American interest. In short, Mr.. Soule had
done what he could to obtain an unenviable
notoriety in society and in politics, and he can
hardly complain if he is regarded in the char
acter he has been so anxious to assume.
The French government, under all preceding
regimes as well as the present, have possessed
and exercised the right Of excluding from the
territory of France such persons as they did
not think fit to admit. Not long ago, for in
stance, NJ Kossuth was informed, on his arri-
val at Marseilles that he would not be allowed
to enter the country. The other day, upon
Mr.. Soule's landing at Calais or Boulogne, he
was politely informed by the police that orders
had arrived not TO allow him to proceed. No
objection was made to his passport, and no
reason was assigned for this decision beyond
postulation followed and a reference was made
by telegraph to the authorities in Paris, who
confirmed the refusal of the local police. So
Mr.. Soule was compelled, re infected, to recross
the channel, and to return TO this country,
which is perfectly discriminating in its tole-
ration of all who may reach its shores.
No one, we imagine, will see much reason to
pity Mr. Soules wrongs. If he has been af
fronted, the exception made to his prejudice il
obviously on personal grounds, and has nothing
to do with his public character, which was mo-
involved in the question. IL would be absurd
TO contend that he has any right 10 enter the
French territory, for whatever right he may
have possessed as French citizen was waived
by his own act, and he may console himself
with the reflection that thousands of better mel
than himself are just now excluded from tina
soil 10 which they profess more attachmen
than he can do. His grievance, il it be one, i
private affair, and though be happens to holc
the commission of Minister Of the United
States in Spain, he has no public or oficia
character in France or any other country.
We advert to the subject because we find tina
there is some disposition on the part of tn,
Ministers Of the United States here and in Pari
to give an importance TO this affair which i
does not possess, and 10 demand explanation
and redress for a measure phich The Frencj
government had q perfect right to take, If 1
thoughtful. We hope that we may be permitte,
to tell these Ministers in friendly spirit, tina
IL they do really resort 10 violent measures 70
such cause they will not be supported by pub
lie opinion in Europe, or probably in the Uni
tedStates. Itcannotb be supposed that the Amer
can people are insensible to the Inconvenience
Of appointing as their ENJOYS in Europe mel
who set every rule Of social and political life a
de6ance-who mix with gentlemen Of charac
ter and station only TO Insult and assail them
and then fall back into that congenial societ,
which has been thrown on our shores by th
political commissions Of former years. No elias
Of statesmen has been more favorably received
or more generally respected in Europe than thu
Ministers Of the United States, when the,
brought with them the qualities which may b,
reasonably expected in men filing their posi-
ton, but il is too much TO require that the mer
title Of an American Minister should exemp
such person as Mr.. Soule has shown himsel
to be from the penalties which attach TO hi
conduct. IL the people Of the United State
are anxious TO maintain the dignity and homo