New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-07
FRAUD BY os LEON AT ALEXANDRIA.
svINpLS By oOySULS IN FRANCE AND ITALY
From Our Special cOrrespoudep; a, Paris.

The TRIBUNE, which directs large proper
tion of its energies to useful reforms, shonld not
overlook the glariIg abuses which at this moment
dishonor our foreign diplomatic and contular sys-
TENS. So low has this department of the Govern
ment fallen, by means of the ipjudicious selection
of officers, as well as by the want Of scrutiny ex-
ercised over it BY the Department at Washington,
that the public in the United States should no
longer rem,i in ignorant Of certain facts which ara
not secrets in this country, aud the truth Of which
cannot be called in question. They are facts Of
so disreputable a character that they deserve
something more than mere ordinary notice
The American Government has seen fit to send
to the Hsgue as its diplomatic agent gentleman
whose constitutional predictions for changing
money must be a necessary part of his existence,
since he has so far forgotten the propretes of his
position, or been so blinded by his Jewish tenden-
ces, as to convert the American Legation at the
Hague into regular banking Office for private
speculation. Mr.. Belmont has commenced a regx-
lar bankirg business in The Office Of the legation,
the rent Of rhieh is paid for by the people cfAe Uni
ted States, and in which is employed at this mo-
ment three clerks for the transaction of the busi
ness The house. il will be understood, is under
the protection and it may be direction also Of
the Rothschilds, and is in daily commurication
with them. The want of dignity, to use no
harsher term, in this conduct of Mr. Belmont.
will be appreciated by every one who understands
the position OF Minister at foreign Court.
There would be le.s complaint, however, Of
the banking operations of the American Charge at
the Hague, if he attended properly TO bis official
duties The notice lately published in The Ner-
York Herald that Mr. Belmont had acted so ener-
getically in the settlement of the Capt. Gibson af
: fair is without particle of foundation In truth,
and must have been furnished for that journal by
himself. 1t is fair specimen of the style adopt
ed by many small celebrities to create a
European reputation, and of which the celebra-
ted incident published by Major Cass of his hav-
ing saved woman from drowning in the Seine at
Paris was one of the best examples on record. The
case of Capt Gibson with the Dutch Government.
now we'll known to all your readers, is one of the
cearest for prompt and firm negotiation that
Minister could desire; the Captains claims are
entirely lust and his demands are reasonable; but
! through the nefliciency of Mr. Belmont not only
has he got nothing, but the Minister who should
have protected him. advised him to leave the city
for fear he might be again arrested And this, too,
after Capt Gibson had proved by their own pri-
vate papers which were put into his hands by
error that the jus.escf his claims ras an Geknort-
edged point among themselves and that the prose-
cution had been carried on against him
entirely from jealousy to foreign powers,
and an exOrbitant fear Of the influence Of
their people. 1t may be stated in this conuec-
ton that in the secret papers relating to his case,
which accidentally fell into Capt. Gibson's hands,
and which he has since returned TO the Dutch
Government, there were found the most per-
emptory orders from the Home Minister to the
Jaysnese authorities never 10 permit the Amer
lean Government to introduce a Consul or other
officer on Jsvsnese soil, under any pretext what
ever. The Americans were represented as q
most dangerous and intriguing people, who were
seeking to overturn governments and acquire
territory wherever they went, aud whose inhu-
ence was to be feared aud guarded against.
Mr. De Leon, at Alexandria, in Egypt, who
holds the position Of Consul General, uniting d.
plomatic and consular powers, and draws a salary
from the Governmen ent, charges four dollars for
every passport he yisas two dollars more than
is charged by COnsuls If Mr.. DE Leon was q
Consul only situated In some isolated place, like
Bob Murphy at Shanghai for example, he might
offer fair pretext for this charge. Bat he is q
diplomatic agent, drawing pay as such, and might
certainly place his charge as low as other Con-
.uls who receive nothing but consular fees.
Mr. De Leon, in social life and in his daily in
tercourse with the world at Alexandria, is MIN
ister; but when money is coming in, he suddenly
drops thai coat and becomes Consul, and one Of
the worst of the tribe at that
Every American traveller who has passed
through the southern States Of Europe, preserves
vivid recollection of the financial operations of
the American consular system in those countries.
There are persons who do not know that perh ,ps
three .fourths Of the yisas which are forced upon
them are Lot at all required, and that if they will
take the time TO refer the affair to their Govern
nent, or to their minister 1t Paris, or other
prominent point in Europe, they will be allowed
to pass free. II is precisely the trouble of get
ting redress which emboldens the officials in their
unnecessary demands. Fifty dollars will not
pass man through the Italian States alone whiio
one visa, as he crosses the border Of each prin-
cipality, ought to suffice. But the great ground
Of complaint is this: in every town "here 'nere
is an American Consul, g leaguei 10 formed among
the different consuls, by which the traveller ia
aeeced after the most approved form.
To illustrate the enormity Of this abuse, take
no .... Of MsrseiIles. traveller wishing to
v;.;, the .outhern States of Europe, goes first to
the American Legation in Paris, and there ro-