The true Democrat., 1855-01-03

venient route through the territories of France, when he was thus arrested in his journey He had received no notice of the determination of the Emperors government to deny him priv llege awarded by all nations to citizens or sub jects of friendly powers travelling under their protection; and especially those who are cloth ed with the sacred character of public Ministers flor he was actually arrested in his journey some hours before I received the intimations in regard to him, which you did me the honor to give me in the afternoon of the 24th inst.
 If authorized by the Emperor's government it cannot but be regarded by the government and people of the United States not only as a most unusual and humiliating act towards the Minister personally, but as national indignity of very grave character, only to be extenuated by facts established by conclusive proof Without waiting for special instructions to that effect regard 1t as my imperative duty to hasten to ask for what reasons one of my fel- low cltlzens chosen by my country as repre- sentative to a foreign power, has been so treated While relations of amity and peace exists and are cherished by the United States with France My government will be filled with painful anx- lety until satisfactory information in reply to thls inquiry can be communicated I cannot but hope that your Excellency will furnish me With such explanations as may relieve the Min lster from the position in which he has thus been placed, and which will enable me to allay the unpleasant feelings which the intelligence or thls occurrence will occasion in the United States.
 I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your Excellency the assurances of the hieh oOr, ,< Il
 and obedient serv't. J.Y. MASON.
 M Drouyn Del Hugs to M1. Mason.
 Ifranslaton]
 Paris, Nov l, 1854.
 SIR.-l have received the letter you did me the honor to write me. under date of the 27th of the last month, in which you ask me for some explanations as to the motives of the determ- ination taken with regard to Mr. Soule. Imust. in the first place, state the manner in which things have occurred.
 The Minister of the Interior had to give di rectons that MT. Soule should not be allowed to penetrate France without the knowledge of the government of the Emperor The instruc- tions of MT. Billant were strictly followed. and carried out with the utmost proprietv by the Commissary of the Police at Calais. Accord ngly that functionary did not invite Mr. Soule .O Ol lCIU nm per- fectly free to remain at Calais until he should receive orders from Paris, which he was about to request. It was simply question of wait ing patiently for one day at the utmost; but Mr. Soule, after saying that he did not expect any regard on the part of the French govern ment, and that besides he did not care for it. preferred to go back to England immmediately The Minister of the Interior did, nevertheless, forward his definite instructions to Calais by tel egraph, and can do nothing better than trans crbe them here.
 < If MT. Soule presents himself for the pur- pose of entering France you will give him to understand that the Emperor's government does not authorize him to sojourn there, but that it makes no opposition to his passing through in order to go to Spain; and you will offer him to vise his passport for that destination.
 You perceive, sir that the government of tue Emperorhas not sought, as you seem to believe. to prevent an envoy of the United States from traversing French territory in order to repair to his post and acquit himself of the commission with which he was charged by his government; but between the simple passage and the stay of a foreigner whose antecedents q regret to say i0 have awakened the attention of the author ties whose duty it is to preserve public order among us, there is a difference which the Min Ster of the Interior was bound to appreciate If MT. Soule had been going directly to Madrid, the route by France was open to him. If it was his intention to come to Paris, with view to remaining here, that privilege was not ac- corded him. It was, therefore, necessary to consult him as to his intentions, and it was himself who would not allow time to do so. Our laws are strict WIthh respect to foreigners. The Minister of the Interior catSeS their rlgor ous provisions to be executed, whGp-It IS shown him that there is any necessity for such N,ar1H1n F and even then he makes Use of discretionary power which the government of the Emperor has never allowed to be discussed The duali- tv of foreigner on the part of Mr. Soule placed him within the scope of the measure of which he was the object; all that remained was to rec oncile this measure with the public character with which he was invested.
 You will acknowledge, sir, that this is what we have done, and that the government of the United States, with which government his mai esty the Emperor has at heart to cultivate the relations of friendship and esteem has in no- wise been assaed in the person of one of its rep resentatives.
 The Minister of the United States in Spain is free, 1 repeat it, to pass through France Mir. Soule, who has no mission to fulfill near the Emperor, and who conformably with the doctrine sanctioned by the law of nations, would need, on account of his origin, a special agree ment to enable him to represent, in his native land, the country of his adoption--Mr. Soule, as a simple private individual, comes within the pale of the common law which has been applied to him, and he cannot lay claim to any privilege.
 Accept sir, the assurance of high considera- tion with which 1 have the honor to remain your very humble and obedient servt.
 DRoUYN DE l. HUYs
 MT. Mason, United States Minister
 Mr. Mason to Secretary Marcy
 LEGATION UNITED STATES }
 Paris, Nov II, 1854