Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-12-21
MR.. MASON TO VI. DRouYN DE L'HUYs.
LEGATION UNITED STATES, !
Paris. Nov. g. IS54.

dttS, 4NOS- ", iS'C1-
Sir:I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your Excellencys letter of the 1st
of November, in reply to mine of the 9th of
October ult have carefully examined your
narrative of circumstances which led to the
event and gave occasion to this correspon-
dence 1t is quite manifest that the order
under which the Commissary of Police at
Calais acted, when he interdicted Mr.. Soule's
entrance into France, did not present to the
the American Minister any alternative but to
return to England or remain in Calais, vir-
tually under dasress, until The further orders
of the Emperor's Government could be re-
ceived think your Excellency viii concur
in the opinion that he could not, consistently
with the dignity of his government, remain
on the frontier of France-there situated
awaiting orders which he had no reason to be-
lieve would be more favorable than the enc
which denied him entrance upon French ter,
ritory l cannot, therefore, but deeply regret
that the precise telegraphic order which your
Excellency has Incorporated IN your letter to
me, did not precede Mr.. Soule's arrival at
Calais That order, am pleased to find,
removes all impediment to the free passage of
the American Minister accredited to the Court
of Spain, through the territory of France
I have not failed to observe the declaration
that Mr. Sou e's residence in France will not
be authorized by the Emperor''s government
As his public duties require him to reside in
Spain, he has no intehtion, as far as ] am in
formed, ofremaining or residing In France.
/ therefore forbear entering into any exami-
nation of the reasons suggested for the deter
mnation to deny him the privilege. or of the
manner in which he has been notified of the
purpose of the Imperial government.
1 have observed also the distinction which
your Excellency makes between individuals
and Ministers.
5, Without undertaking to inquire how far
such distinction can be mai2tained-for it is
not necessary to the occasion to guard my
self against being misunderstood if pass it
in silence must say, that in my opinion,
one who is public minister, passing through
the territory of friendly uation to the Court
to which he is accredited, has privileges nn-
der the solemn sanction of the law of nations,
about which, if it shall become necessary to
discuss them, I feel assured that | will not
have the misfortune to find conflicting views
held by one so enlightened as your Excelen-
cy have much satisfaction in receiving the
! assurance given in the emphatic declaration
of yonr Excellency, that the Minister of the
United States to Spain is at liberty to traverse
France towards his post, and obeying the
commission with which he is charged by his
Government. The recognition of this right
is all that have to ask of the Emperor's Gov
ernment in the premises, and on this as on
all ether occasions, / receive with pleasure
the assurance that the Government of his I'm
perial Majesty has at heart relations offriend-
ship and esteem with the Government of the
United States. Feeling which, it is my con-
slant desire and effort to cherish and
strengthen them
I will hasten to communicate this cores
pondence to my Government, and will also
inform the American Minister to Spain, who
is still in London, of the result which has
been arrived at.
l avail myself of the opportunity to renew
to your Excellency assurance of the very
high consideration with which am your obe-
dent, humble servant,
J. Y. MASON.