The Nevada Democrat., 1862-07-03

Gen. Butler aud the Foreign COnsuIs.
Soon after the capture Of New Orleans,
Gen. Butler seized SSOO,OOO in specie, in
the office of the Consul of the Netherlands.
said to have been deposited with him to paw
interest on Louisiana Slate bonds. head by
Hope x Co., of Amsterdam. The Consul
protested against the seizure-appealed to
the sacredness of his Consular flag. and re.
fused TO give up the keys of the vault lie
was searched, however, and the KEYS found
on him. and in the vault one hundred and
sixty kegs containing $4,000 each; each
coin having the 30" showing that il was
from the New Orleans Mint 1t is suppos-
ed to be portion OF the funds stolen by
the rebels on the outbreak of the war. The
Consul of the Netherlands was placed un.
der arrest for few hours, and when releas.
ed he took down his Consular flag, He
subsequently made written statement TO
Gen. Butler, aud TO this statement was at.
tached protest by Comte Mejan, Consul
of France, and Lorenzo Callego, Consul of
Spain, together with the Consuls of Eng.
land, Austria, Russia, Bruzil Italy, Belgi.
um, Hanover, Nassau and Brunswick,
Greece, Bremen. Sweden and Norway, Por.
lngal, Hamburg, Wurtemburg, Denmark,
and Switzerland.
10 these gentlemen Gen. Butler replied
thus:
New ORLEANS, May u, 1862.
Messrs: have the protest which Won
have thought it proper to maka in regard
TO The action Of my officers toward the Con.
sui oil The Netherlands, which action ap.
prove ana sustain. | am grieved that.
without investigation of the facts, you.
Messrs, should have thought It your duty TO
take action in the matter. The fact will
appear TO be, and easily to be demonstrate
ca AT Inc proper time, that the flag of the
Netherlands was made to cover and conceal
property Of an incorporated company of
Louisiana, secreted under i from the oper.
alton OF the laws of the United States.
That The supposed fact that the Consul had
under the flag only the property of Hope a.
Co, citizens Of the Netherlands. is untiue.
lie had other property which could not bv
law be bis property or the property of
Hope Co.; Of this have abundant proof
IN my own hands No person can excel
me IN the respect shall pay to the flags of
all nations and to the Consulate a0ihority
even while do not recognize many claims
made under them; but wish il most dis.
tlnctly understood that, i'm order TO be re-
spected. the Consul, bis Office aud the use
OF his flag, must each and all be respected
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
BENZ. f. Butler,
Major General Commanding.
On the same day of the seizure at the
Consulate Of the Netherlands, a guard was
placed over the Offices Of the French and
Spanish Consuls, as there was reason 70
suspect that specie belonging TO the Con-
federate government had been therein re.
creled; but on assurances from those off.
cials that the information upon which the
suspicion was based was incorrect. the
guard was withdrawn.
Another seizure was from the banking
house OF Samuel Smith g. Co., IN Camp
street. General Butler having been inform
ed that 500 900 in specie bad been removed
from the mint to the above house, be ar.
rested the members Of the firm and took
possession OF the bank. They asserted that
there was but $4,000 in the bank. aud that
in the nature Of private deposits. General
Butler, however, soon brought them 10
terms by giving them their choice between
producing the specie and going 10 Fort
Jackson. They showed that $4,000 were
in the air chamber between the
brick wall and the vault The money was
removed to the Custom House.
The CAPITOL BUILDING AT WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Walter the architect of the Capitol