The New York herald., 1869-05-25
TIE SPANISH MIN sTER,s DEFENCE.

To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD
An atrocious libel signed by HOratIo j. Perry sp-
peared In the New York tribune or March I, charg-
ing me with abusing my franchise for the importa-
tion OF goods free OF duty. i should not have fclt
myself called upon to answer, had not seen, to my
utter surprise. that the journals OF New York give
credit to falsehoods SO outrageous that their I'M
PROBABILITY appears upon the face OF them. Can is
be seriously believed Tor moment that !, coming
to Spain q stranger, ignorant OF the language
and customs OF the country, should Immediately
commence relations with commercial establish
ment for the importation Of merchandise undor my
diplomatic franchisei desire now to give you all
the facts in this case and the fasehood has been
widely circulated and my conduct severely criu'
cised, trust you win give equal publicity TO the
refutation which propose to make at this time.
and let every one who feels any interest in the sub
ject Judge how far / am obnoxious to just censura
In this matter. When came to Spain was. d
course, unacqualnted with the people, their laws.
Manners customs and language; but / felt great
confidence In the friendship OF the Secretary OF Legs
ton here, he being native OF my own state, and
indebted partially at least, to my recommendatios
for his position. With how much justice relied on
him the following narrative will disclose.
1t being impossible to find a furnished house,
was obliged to take one unfurnished and Mr.. PerU
importatl0ns OF furniture, &C., free OF duty, bg
members OF the diplomatic body-a Minister being
entitled to import articles. the duties on which
should not exceed $1,000; Charge d'Afaires $1,000.
&c. and described to me somewhat minutely the
steps to be taken to enable me to use and enjoy
the privilege thus given by the laws OF Spain.
After hearing him somewhat at length. ]
said to him in substance that as he understood
this matter perfectly, and knew nothing about II,
shs s e o"
take the whole matter into his own hands and manage
the affair for me. To this he willingly assented l
gave him only one caution, which impressed upon
him most particularly, and that was In regard 70
the amount-tliat ne should be careful to fall below
rather than exceed the amount usually drawn By
Ministers. Mr.. Perry, then, having taken sole charge
OF this matter for me, felt much relieved and gave
up 70 G nacea 91 ~ @ e Msn Ne rear
trayed. With what proprfety have relied ON Mr.
Perry's honor let the following facts show:-
mission OF goods by me under my privilege himself;
his applications were uniformly written in the span.
was desired particularly described and always signed
by me when presented to me by MIR. Perry, without
my even knowing the contents, such confidence had
in his honor. And tnis petition for the free adms
SION OF goods OF the 1st OF October 1865, which he
so particularly describes, was written by him, like
all the others, and likewise signed by me without my
knowing the contents Immediately after reading
MIR. Perry's statement in his letter OF March went
to the State department and asked 70 see all the Pc
matte franchise. They were at once shown TO me.
examined them In the presence Of two witnesses
familiar with the handwriting OF Mr.. Perry, and wo
all saw that every OF these petitions was written
in the Spanish language and III MIR. Perry's hand
MIR. Perry states that "Mr. Acensi said that no
had been charged with this affair, and by the In
Of the Mner she WISHES 81 81 nses sne
to call me, and by me TO communicate these
things to MIR. Hale as the mode least wound
arrive sHT at the the object proposed at rst declined
to take any part in the matter, but considered
that It was piece OF great forbearance and mag
nanmy Oq the part OF Mr. Perry to decline TO take
any part In censnring me for an act that he and No
one else had performed. And 1t must have been
great sacrifice ON part to be Obliged to break the
matter to me, as he saws las kindly as possible" OF
this breach OF propriey for an act for which ne only
was responsible. When Mr.. Perry was informed, AZ
he says he was, or this rreguary or Dreach or pro
prety I'm making these requests for mportatons DID
not common honesty require him at once candldly
10 say to the government 0ficla You are wrong
Mr.. Hale knows nothing OF this matter. lie gave u
all into my hands. He mas done nothing about lm-
portations except what has been done by me In Ms
name. II there Is any censure 1t does not fall ON
him. for he has had nothing to do in this affair save
what have done for him IN his name and behalf"
Especially when MI. Perry was made aware. as no
saws he was In 1857 "through reliable channel"
that Cabinet council had been held to consider
what was best to be done in view OF the repeated
complaints from the officers OF the customs OF tho
abuse by MIR. Hale Of his franchise for the mporta-
tions OF articles Tree OF duty" especially say, was
1t his duty to have made this explanation, which he
agency direct or indirect In the matter OF fmp0rtar
tons under my diplomatic privilege, except TO sign
unread petitions the Spanish language written BY
Mr. Perry, and presented TO me by him for my sig-
nature. II would appear, then, any goods were
imported IN my name for commercial establish
ment in this city, nDder my diplomatic franchise, a.
Mr.. Perry asserts, since all the petitions were writ
ten by him, he undoubtedly knew their destination
and the commercial establishment for which they
were imported and on whose credit and for whose
benefit they were sold.
Again. Mr. Perry says:-'T confess / still hoped
oiao hiatt here m
was disappointed broke the matter TO Mr.. Hale
as kindly and tenderly as possible but his agi
for agitation he had substituted the word ''as-
tonlshment" there would have been some
was surpried-extremely so~to learn, as
then did for the first time, that my confidence
had been betrayed; that the man whom had trusted
to make these communications for me to the Spanish
government had played false and made petitions In
my name for goods which were not for me, were
never received by me, and had BEEN as he now says.
introduced for commercial establishment
The statement Of Mr.. Perry that at his suggestion,
Immediately addressed a letter TO the commercial
house In question, who, 1t seems, were IN possess
sion OF still another order furnished them BY Ar.
Hale. ~ &C.. is false. l had no knowledge OF any
such house as that named by Mr.. Perry as Gale
Capelanes, No. TO- The only establishments which
knew were the two houses-one for furniture and the
other carpets-who were engaged In furnishing my
house, neither OF which was In the Gale Capellanus-
l requested Mr. Perry TO address letter TO the
tans, &C. revoking one order which he sI had for
mp0rtatons In my name. Never again did trust
Mr. Perry with the authority TO introduce any goods
for me under my franchise, and have never heard
OF any complaint made since then.
Were Vt all desrous OF entering upon this kind
OF attack which Mr. Perry has adopted, nave long
since mad In my possession q Hist OF his own mporta-
tions which was given me unsolicited by person
who had taken the pains to look them up, which
amount to $6,176 IN SIX years, and Ia which list
figure nine carriages eight OF which were imported
I'm the short space OF three years. Also there appear
on this list sixty seven boxes OF wine But enough
OF this.
On the 1st day OF April last. at the procuremens
OF Mr.. Perry, an attack was made on me In the
Cortes, upon which no action was had or expected.
But IL furnished him what he sought, an oppOrtu-
nifty to send a telegram To the New York press con-
tanning the following paragraph:-"Ld POin,cd, Ser
ramos organ declares that IL knows facts relative
TO Mr.. Hale's smuggling which II describes as fagh
tous. and insists upon having the documents" In
this attack there was something tangible. which
might be met. Accordingly I at once sent the ex-
tract TO Marshal Serrano, without comment. On
the next day he promptly sent me reply In spanish.
Of which the following Ii q literal translation