The Portland daily press., 1869-04-10
Mar. Haie at Madrid.

There is every reason to believe in the truth
OF the rumor that John p. Hale. Minister to
Spain, has received Geographic summons to
return to America. The circumstances under
which he comes back are most humiliating to
himself but infinitely more humiliating to his
country. 1t seems as if some internal spirit
took upon itself the direction and control of
half our foreign diplomatists. After having
our consul at Rome fight against Garibaldi at
Montana, lit is one of the profoundest mystic
ries of the day that the precious seoundrei has
never been recalledD our Minister TO England
consenting to a Communication OF Alabama
claims in the shape of good dinners and cham
pacne. and our naval commander in South
American waters allowing citizens of the
United States to be imprisoned and tortured
without taking prompt measures TO relieve
Them we have the affair OF our Spanish Min
lister. But Mr.. Hale's conduct is more dis
graceful than that OF either of the men we
have mentioned. 1t would not be just to make
such statement so unequivocally, were it not
that Mr.. Perry, Secretary of Legation at Mad
rid, sends official papers in support of the fol-
lowing charges:
In the spring of 1867, was made aware,
through reliable channel, that cabinet
council had been held to consider what was to
be done in view OF the repeated complaints
from the officers of Customs of the abuse by
Mr.. Hale Of his franchise for the importation
of articles free of duty. Some Of the Minis
listers were in favor OF Immediately Informing
the government, but it was decided that Mr..
Hale should be informed that the Spanish gov
eminent were aware of his operations, and ex-
pected they would Immediately cease. 1t was
also decided that if aftewarl there should be
any repetition of the ofienSe his government
should be informed, and the circumstances
published in the official Gazette.
This report OF what had taken place in the
Cabinet was not known to me until after the
circumstances which fell under my personal
knowledge, and which will now relate
On the 18th of March, 1867, received
note from the Chief of the Bureau of Com
MERGE in the Department of Stase inviting
me to call at his office, as he wished to speak
to me about certain affair. Vide Enclosure
No. Al I went, and Mr.. Assent put into my
hands some documents -among others, royal
order from the Minister of Finance, of Feb.
81 informing the Minister of State of the
circumstances attending the Introduction of
merchandise by Mr.. Hale for commercial es-
iablishment in this city, under his diplomatic
franchise, stating that it was in the second
offense denounced, and leaving it in the hands
of the Minister of State to apply the remedy.
wide Enclosure No. 81 l was then informed
by Mr.. Assem- that tie Spanish government
Was uOb ulSDOs6u 10 puTbuc bllS lIfdtItE any
further than was absolutely necessary to pre-
vent Il recurrence of the abuse, and that Mr.
Hale must be informed that if there should be
no repetition of the ofense the matter would
stop there, and no further action would be
taken upon these papers, and THAT they would
be kept entirely secret in the Department
Mr.. Assem- said he would be charged with this
affair, and by the instruction of the Minister
it had been decided to call me, and by me to
communicate these things to Mr. Hale, as the
10 11xxIa Tod 10, a.rixra on chi
proposed. / at first declined to take any part
in the ma tier, but was afterwatd convinced
that it was my duty, and that it was courte-
sy to my government not to humillate the
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States,
forcing him to stand in person before Span
isf officials as a convicted culprit. deter
mined not to refuse my assistance to ease over
the matter as smoothly as possible. con-
fess | still hoped, also, that there might be
some explanation. In this was disappointed.
/ broke the matter to Mr. Hale as kindly and
even as tenderly as possible, but his extreme
agitation did not allow him to attempt any ex-
PLANTATION. He, however, at my suggestion,
and in my presence, Immediately addressed
letter to the commercial house in question,
who, it seems, were in possession of still an
other order furnished them by Mr. Hale for
the admission of merchandise in his name,
then expected, requesting them to pay duties
on those packages, as if that order were not in
existence, and to stop all further importations
in his name. wide Enclosure No. 81 This
letter was promptly answered. AS per in
closure No 81 I communicated the cessation
of the abuse to the Spanish State Depart
ment, and there the matter dropped.
The Mr.. Perry who makes the above charges
is personal enemy Of Mr.. Hale, but the fact
of the latter's recall shows that the vouchers
by which they are accompanied have convinc-
ed the government of their truth.
Here we have had man representing US at
tho capital of a European nation, enjoying the
salary and the legitimate perquisites of a
frst-class foreign appointment, balancing his
tradesmen's bills By smuggling goods for the
tradesnsea's benefit under coUer Of his official
Jranchisei And yet this same man used to be
regarded as one of che purest and most disin-
terested of American statesmen. We do re-
call now, however, fact that it would, under
other circumstances, be unfair to mention.
Just before the close of his Senatorial career
Mr.. Hale was arraigned by some of the news
papers for taking fee of $500 for his services
as an attorney in a case against the govern
ment, thus selling his Senatorial influence for
pay; but when he made personal explana-
ton many Senators came to his support de-
claring that they had often done the same
thing. We remember that Reverdy johnson
was especially warm in defending the act.
The last few years have been prolific in dis
discoveries of moral obliquity in men who had
before had the public confidence. We have
now got accustomed to regarding Seward and
Chase as men who are really of far different
character from that which they were formerly
supposed to have. Now John P. Hale, it
seems, must be added to the black list