The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-04

ISAiii- tottDN-
sular system, and ventures statements which,
if true, are grossly disreputable, and should
elicit universal censure. The writer declares
that Mr.. Belmont, our diplomatic agent at the
Hague, has so far forgotten the prophecies OF
his p%ositiong as to convert the American lega-
ton at that place into a regular banking office
for private speculation. Mr.. Belmont has com
menced a regular banking business in the office
of the legation, the rent Of which is paid fol
by the people of the United States, and in
(Which are now employed three clerks for the
transaction of the business. We find it difficult
to believe this statement, though the writer il
question has been heretofore noted for his &C.
curacy and intelligence. Mr. Belmont is
wealthy and does not need the traffic Of a bank,
ing house to enable him to live in elegant and
comfortable style. Moreover, he is ambitious,
and would scarcely desecrate the dignity of a
diplomatic mission by converting his bureau into
an exchange Office.
The correspondent of the Tribune afirms
that Objectionable as Mr.. Belmont's conduct has
been, it would excite less complaint, if he at
tended properly to his officia5 duties. He is
accused of the most criminal neglect and ineffi-
cheney in the case of capt. Gibson, who,i in con-
sequence of Mr.. Belmont's ignorance or apathy
has received no redress forthe outrages suffered
by him, and. was in fact advised by the minis
ter, who should have protected him, to leave
the city, for fear he might be again arrested.
These are grave charges, and should be en-
CURED into. We presume that under almost
any conceivable administrator Mr.. Belmont
would be speedily recalled, and his mission en-
trusted to more competent and loyal hands.
But there is no calculating on the imbecility and
inertness of our executive and his monerel
cabinet. :
Leaving Mr.. Belmont, the correspondentnext
pays his respects to Mr.. De Leon, consul gene
raj at Alexandria, Egypt. This functionary
who unites consular and diplomatic powers, and
draws a salary from the government, charges
fourdollars for every passport he visas! tyo dol
lars more than is charged by %consuls. Itmay
be fairly questioned whether Mr.. De Leon has
the right to demand remuneration for his servi-
ces, being a diplomatic agent. At all events
he is inexcusab!e in doubling the amount asked
by other %consuls.
Every American traveller, continues the
writer, who has passed through the southern
states of Europe, preserves a vivid recollection
of the financial operations of the American
consular system in those countries. There are
persons who do not know that perhaps three
fourths of the visas which are forced upon them
are not at all required, and that if they will take
the time to refer to their government, or to their
minister at Paris, or other prominent point in
Europe, they will be allowed to paS free. 1t
is preciselythe trouble Of getting redress which
emboldens the officials in their unnecessary de-
mands. Fifty dollars will not pass a man through
the Italian states alone, while one visa, as he
crosses the border of each principally, ought
to suffice. But the great ground of complaint
is this, in every town where there is an American
consul, a league is formed among the different
~consuls, by which the traveller is heeccd after the
most approved form.
To illustrate the enormity Of this abuse, take
the case of Marseilles. A traveller wishing to
visit the southern states of Europe, goes first to
the American legation in Paris, and there re-
ceives a visa upon his passport, good for all the
countries % which he is going. He then goes
to the ministers of those countries in Paris, and
procures their visa also, Lastly, be goes to
the perfect OF police IN Paris, and, if he chooses
to the French minister of foreign affairs, though
the latter is not now essential, and receives
their visas. With his passport en- reggie, what
need is there afterward for more thar a visa at
the frontier of each distinct government? Inc
stead Of this, however, in every place where
there is an American consul, he is made to pass
through the same routine, on a smaller scale,
as at Paris, only at Paris he pays nothing, while
each ~consuls demands ten francs. He is told
that he must 90 to the American consul, who
is generally a foreigner, and he, after putting
his ten francs in his pocket, informs him thathe
must get the visa Of his confreres, with whom
he is leagued in the fraudulent operation, and
whose visa is no more necessary than his own.
This IS exactly what occurs at Marseilles before
the traveller has Quilted the soil of France. Any
man can leave France if he has the visa of the
perfect of police at Paris and that of the min.
lister of the country to which he is goingo But
at Marseilles, the traveller is informed that i
be does not obtain the visa of the consul of the
country to which he is going, he cannot leave
the boat which carries him there. He goes to
that consul, and he, beihg in the conspiracy with
The American consul, says, "Sir, I don't Know
you, you must first goto your own consul, and
if he finds you all right, you will then return,
and | will give you my VISA The whole
affair is performed scientifically, and after the
model of the ministerial bureau at Paris. onlv
that one is honest, necessary, and free of cost,
while the otheris a barefaced robbery, founded
on a system of brigandage indigenous to the