New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-23
SOUIE IN SPAIN.
LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN sEcRErA-
RY OF LEGATION

Tie signature Of the Hon Pierre Soue. reached me
here on the 18th inst. II twas not my niienonto nave
noticed tia, letter in any manner. IL language IN
deed was meant to seattle me; but, as between IT'S
writer and myself, might have eii It where Il ieii'
Ii does not reach me.
More recently. however, have become aware oil
tie bad effect of that letter. and of the system OF
which il Is part. | have seen with pain that the
tone assumed by large portion Of our newspaper
pss in consequence of the uncontradic;ed hyposn's
q the letter Is calculated 70 blind the judgment OF oar
PEOPLE not regards myself merely, but win respect
10 he grave subjects of national concern win Which
nv humble name has been united.
have seen or thought 10 that the unscrnpuious
hand which wrote that letter is m work IN other d.
rocions also 10 poison the ears Of the people concern
ing their affairs with the Spanish nation, aed that per
hans his dangerous influence had found mems to make
itself felt even in vour Cabinet and in your closet TO
the detriment OF tie high interests OF America
have recognized with regret that the means which
have been able TO employ thus far, within the strict
limits of dplomstic etiquette and discipline to prevent
or 10 remedy the evil consequences of the errors OF
the late Minister to Spain have not been suincen' 10
their end. r
n has appeared to me therefore that the gravity OF
the Great oucstions involved in the con rOyersy when
MIR Soue has carried into the public press has reached
q point where the ordinary forms OF diplomacy iai,
and direct appsal to the American People and 10
YOU Sir, their representative, has become neces-
n
this e,ter he al all in doubt, it Is interesting to the de,
corurr of the American Government, and 10 that OF
vour Administration IN particular, that citzen VINO
actually has the honor 20 represent the kepuDhc az
one of the principal Courts OF Europe, however sah
may he ls merit in other respects, should not leave
urcorrccio Cd lie hypOheeis that he may be either
snv or q traitor Permit me therefore 10 examine
briefly some Of the circumstances OF his hypotheueli
charge. .;.;..
The Hon. Pcuc Soule attacks me by supposihon
and not an sIlec aticn Why not lie had the letters
which addressed TO him and to which le aludes, IN
his own possession. lie at least kne" their contents
entire He knew also, or lie ought TO nave kho"h'
that no CHARGE Atiaes Gd interim could ever enter
mon correspondence of that nature with the Minis
ter Amounted 10 lis Legation without referring every
psrer Immediately up 70 tie Government which l. over
both. and that il was his duty 20 to do.
If there were any treason if there were any infamous
rede 10 be brought 10 light by the publication OF those
letters, Mr.. Soue must have known II al eaay: bu'
he makes no allegation. He never made any 10 my
self though he was for two months IN constant ntei-
coure with me- and with those letters in his pocket
In nv absence however he now puts forward a KIND
of uea 10 the country meant TO do me INJURY IN the
form Of a supposton, in the public press His suPpo-
sitiOn II false.
| trust the correspondence to which ne alludes may
now appear 30 dat the public, to which he mas deS,
u.ratelv appealed, may judge for itself Happy WIZ
+ he for him If the verdict which ne has solicited
AGAINST me shall not be found agein1 himself lie
doubts or Affects to doubt whether have iuihied my
stood his own We are at difference not because
have failed 10 him, but because he las failed 10 lis
dutv Nevertheless he has not been lacklng 80 mucn
in The tact Of diplOmaiist and the knowledge OF "hat
belonged to his position as III te Simple "'oN' VI
q true PATRIOTISM ,...,
The Hon. Pierre Soule is a Frenchmln. II il moth
ING TO his discredit nor do intend al any renechon
upon a noble nation; but the fact beng go ~ "oulo
be perhaps too much to expect rom nun the sanie
tbrob Of patriotic feeling for America which moves the
hcars of those born upon her soil and nurtued among
her hills And even If his devotion 70 America were
greater than that OF her own sons sun me paaslons Vi
French revolutionist which run IN ms oool alc vou
stantly striving and il may be that sometimes tDey
have sufocaed his better judgment III the aiiais Oh
NV country. He has sympathized perhaps too deeply
with those who conspre against the i'erna ea.e VI
France to be able to appreciate tny American Pocy'
I reveal no secret. The proof IL stamped Dy MINI
self mon the whole history of his Spanish mission.
From the day of his arrival to the day OF ms depar,
ure from Europe the interests OF America IN ms MINUS
have not ceased feel that influence and ne hisea
has said il. Enough of his correspondence hS oe'"
printed to show my meaning. 800
The inouietude of his spirit also and has resentment
against a nation at whose Court his polhoh nad come
TO be infupporable led him 10 desire war ana perhaps
10 believe NJ M whatever he might do - foment u was
coueonant with the honor and the interests OF tle
United States. His Judgment was conded, ese why
that long series OF his errors Ese why could he not
see behind the shadow of his own personality the true
sentiments of the Spanish people, Their sympathy Tor
ieets Of difference between the two Governments
/ repeat to vou Sir and to the country, that this
nation, like many Others, with many iauits mas many
virtues; 10 some Of these the late Minister ought 70
have been able to bear witness. SPAN, thIoush an
her rnisfortures has preserved indomltabe indie
uendence of feeling and the quality OF not beng easily
frightened. So long az the spanish people nave a
voice in their own Government we notd not rear me
exercise of undue influence IN then cohcerS Vn 'o
part OF any foreign power. 49,,
The alternative in which the Hon. Pierre Soule IA
placed before the country Is sad indeed Either IN two
wears of study and observation he has lghty coPe-
hended nothing Of what passing IN SPAN hotnih
Of what Standards think and feel he has deceived
Won Sir and the Government Of the United States.
He told Won that the sale Of the Island Of Cuba by
Sraiu was probable and be ought to have known that
under hs menaces at least It was impossible.
The Government at Washington cannot divine what
is passing in foreign countries, ana TOT hat very iea-
son il sends out its representatives,: ,
am persuaded that the late Minister would moi
have needed 20 make his journey to Ostend II be nad
informed the Government correctly. Ivy transmitting
erroneous information he compromised your uoVern-
ment before Europe. =.
ON what did lie relyl That very COrtes to which
be wighed to appeal did il not the irst tlnle ne aP,
reared within IL chamber rlse spor ianeousiy ana
unanimously to vote in bis presence the exact re'er"
Of his apparent expectations Was ueae onc Fo'ce'
one vote to give the slightest color 10 ais Representa-
lions Yet he ought to have know1 something az
least of what he was treating at the Congress OF D.
tend If he did not Il sad and II he nd, sr, IL u
sadder still.
am rersuaded that b. did not know, for not only
has be not advanced step during he whole MISSION
toward The attainment of what he called it's principal
object the annexation Of Cuba, but whatever might
have teen the probabilities of that question before ms
enegeuent OF il has now at least made the peaceful
ACQUISITION Of that Island hopeless
do not propose to speak OF any thing which oe-
cured during the time that subordinate oHcer
which : not already established by the printed cor
rsroudencc of the Minister or from other sources is
well known TO the world.
Tie country has understood that be undertook, and