The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-31

NEW
Captain Gibson's Claims Against the Dutch
Govcrnment-Tho Missing Despatch.
WAsHNaTos, D. c., Jan. ~. 1866.
To THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN or THE COMMITTEES on Fo-
Ku0E AFFAIRS, HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES
6IR-Thc appearance Of communication from
the Secretary Of State to tho President under the
date Of January 10, 1855, and submitted by the Pre-
sident to Congress on the same day. drawing upon
me the imputation Of having improperly distracted
from the files Of the State Department an important
document, in the suppression OF which am sup
pcsed to be interested, calls upon to make full
statement Of all l know concerning the existence,
the history and the nature Of that letter.
TIE Secretary of State argues to establish con-
clusion which he strangely omits to state. His ar
gument is tat have had access to the papers In
the State Department, and that no others likely to
abstract the letter have had such ACCESS. the So.
logic points to the inevitable conclusion,
but lacks the boldness to emoody it in specific
charge.
Deeply as must regret the necessity for meeting
al accusation which must inevitably involve to
painful extent the conduct and motives either Of the
accused the accusers am not at liberty to wave
the issue. Contemplating the official height from
whicl this severe accusation has .en cast a. me,
may not indulge In passionate invectve, bat assured
tat before the judgment of reason, all men are
equal, / am constrained to submit at that bar my
evidences and my conclusions with the decency and
gravity that becomes the assertion Of what Ia due to
self respect.
Although DO not intend that my defence shall
rest upon assertion but upon proofs yet s naturally
expected and proper that should state toe facts OF
tue csse The frat copy that saw OF the letter OF
LI<I ~
the Hague, where l obtained copy during last
summer. l never saw copy Of this letter al the
State Department but ON ono occasion and then In
the hands OF person attached to the department.
did not take that copy from the Department.
know not by whom, II by any one, the letter was
taken from the department, nor can give any &C
count OF its absence.
purpose 70 establish the following conclusions:-
lst That Secretary Marcy at the time of wiring
the letter referred TO- did not seriousy believe that
l had abstracted the missing paper.
I'd. The manner in which It was laid before Con-
gfess was irregular unnecessary and calculated to
DO ne the greatest amount Of injury which could be
accomplished under the circumstances Of the case.
Sd. That until the absence OF the letter was dis
covered 1t was considered OF no Importance by the
government, while the mode In which II is COM
municsted Is calculated TO enhance it's Importance
to the highest attainable point.
To establish the assertion that the imputation al
luded to, Ia fairly conveyed by the Secretarys let
ter, ! make no Argument produce the letter
10 THE PRECEDENT OF THE UNITED STATES =
Alter the publication Of the correspondence between
the Secretary of state and the Minister Of the United
States to the Netherlands In the Of Walter NJ Glib
called for BY resolution OF the House of Represen
tatves Of the 9th July last IL discovered that
important paper embraced 10 that resolution had not
been transmitted The paper referred to the al
legged copy Of letter from Walter M Gibson to the
Governor OF Netherlands India dated 25th February
1852.
deem it proper to send to you which believe to
be duplicate OF that which was received Mt the depart
ment from Minister at the Hague with sxplana-
ton Of the why IT did not accompany my report
to you Of the 10th utimo.
1t Is the common practice In the department
to allow those having claims against foreign gov
ernments, for losses OF property personal in
juries, under its management to have access to the
papers e in relation to their respective The
ordinary course pursued Ia regard TO Mr.. Gibson
During the tendency of the negotiations Of case down
applied tor permission TO examine the documents seat
ing TO II, and 1t was always granted to him Mr.. Bel
mons despatch OF the 9th March, and the papers which
accompanied it in his possession out Of the depart
ment for time. He returned was Supposed all
that to him II Is not kno IN or be
eved that any the papers in Mr. Gibsons have
been in the hancs under the inspection Of
but Mr.. Gibson, and those employed in the department
Ore Of the documents which accompanied that despatch
Mr.. Van HALLS note OF February rs 1854 In which
he states that copy OF Mr. eiosons letter to the Co
vernon OF Netherlands India, 1.-THE missing letter,
attached ard there is doubt it accompanied the copy
Of that note sent to this department by Mr. Belmont
After the papers were returned Mr. Belmonts despatch
not found among them but as Mr. Gibson in Eu-
rope, and could not be called to for it, appca
tcn made to Mr. Belmont for q uplicate which was
Finding the copy Of the letter of Mr. Gibson TO the
Dutch Governor had been omitted In the documents pub
lshed by the House Representatives all the papers in
Mr. Gbson's have been carefully examined this
letter Is not found the file OF the department IL Ia
quite tain that II had become detached from the other
papers before the copies made for the purpose Of
answering that call Mr.. Gibson has been questioned in
relation TO this paper, and states that it among
the correspondence placed In his hands for
and cannot account for its dsappearance but expresses
confident opinion that he returned TO the department
all the papers he took from it.
That II was among the papers received from Mr. Bel
mont certain for It distinctly recoected by several
persons belonging TO the department II regarded
important paper and much relied on by the gov
eminent OF Holland in resisting Mr. Gibbons claim for
indemnity. The substance Of H. will be upon
animation is contained the note of Mr.. Van Hall to
Mr. Belmont OF Feb 25 1854 In the printed correspond
ence. II Is also remarked in Mr.. Van Halls to
Mr.. Belmont OF Goth June and in Minister'S reply
to that note OF 4ih July
I have received communication from Mr. Covers, the
Minister Of the King Of Holland to this government
companed BY copy Of the letter which the Dutch go
vermont alleges written by Mr.. Gibson to the Gov
ernor Of the Netherlands India. read carefully,
than once copy Of that letter which shifted
by Mr.. Belmont and do not doubt that the one which
accompanies Mr.. Covers note 10 me In a duplicate OF
that which file ut the department, but cannot
now be found The copy furnished by the Minister o.,
the King OF the Netherlands and his note 10 in rea
ton to IL accompany this communication. All which Is
respectfully submitted. WI MARCY.
submit the following circumstances and conclu-
sicns 70 establish the assertion | now make that
grouDoless.
LIST. 1t does not follow that because the letter Ia
missing that 1t has been improperly distracted.
The most favorable view presented by the Secreta
renders II not impr obable thst the letter may have
been mislaid or los'.
I'd. Though It Is true I had access to the papers
10 question, had no motive for desiring this de-
strucion Of the letter in question. Without discov
erng the existence OF such motive tits possible
to sraw an unfavo able inference from the fact Of
havir addressf the Governor General OF Neither
such fact TO the Secretary Of State In my first COM
nuncation on reaching this country after my escape
from the prison Of Weltevreden. That communities
ton contains the following langusge:-"I hsd made
cut lengthy statement addressed TO the Govern
or &c neral In which detailed the circumsfa nces