New-York tribune., 1869-05-24
THE MADRID SCANDAL.
CARD FROM MINIsTER HALE.
TO me EATER OF The Tribune.

me with abusing my franchise for the importation OF
goods free Of dutv should not have felt myself called
upon to answer had to my surprise that the
journals Of NewYOrk give credit to falsehoods 80 out
rageous that their mprobabty appears upon the iace
OF them Can It be seriously believed for momeht tha1
coming to Spain stranger ignorant OF the IanKuaso
and customs Of the country, should Immediately com
relations with commercial establshmept lor INC
importation Of merchandise under my diplomatic iran
chise desire to give you all the facts in this case
and the fasehood has been widely circulated and my
conduct severely criticised trust you win give equal
publicity to the refutaton which propose to make at
this tme and let every who feels any interest In the
subject Judge how far am obnoxious to just censure In
this matter When came to Spain, Of course
acquainted with the people, their laws, Gus
TOMS and language, but felt great confidence in the
friendship OF the Secretary OF this Legation, he being
paye Of my State. and indebted partially at least
TO my recommendation for position. With how much JUS
tce relied him the following narrative VIII disclose
1t being impossible to find furnished house, was
obliged to take one unfurnshed, and Mr. Perry ex-
planned the laws OF Spain on the subject OF mpor
tatlon OF furniture &c. free Of duty, by members OF the
Diplomatic body; a Minister being entitled to import
articles. the duties which should not exceed seven
thousand dollars Charge dAfaires, three thousand
&c. and described TO somewhat minutely the steps
to taken to enable me TO and and enjoy the prlV
lege given by the laws OF Spain. After hearing him
somewhat length said to him in substance that as
lie understood the matter perfectly and knew nothing
1.-THE having had the experience Of furnishing his
own house under the law-he would oblige me II ne
would take tho whole matter into his own hands ana
manage che affair for To this he willingly assented
gave him only one caution, which impressed upon
him most particularly, and that in regard to the
amount that he should be careful to fall below, rather
than exceed the amount usually drawn by Ministers
Mr. Perry having then taken sole charge OF this matter
for felt much relieved. and gave everything up 70
him, having not the slightest fear that the confidence
thus placed in HIM would be betrayed. With what
proprety had relied Mr.. Perrys honor, let the fol
lowing facts show Mr. Perry made every application
the free admission OF goods me under my privilege
himself his applications were uniformly written IN the
Spanish language and every article for which admission
was desired particularly described and always signed by
me when presented to me by Mr.. Perry without my
oven knowing the contents, such confidence had IN his
honor And this petition for tho free admission Of goods
OF the st Of October 1885, which he particularly de-
scrbes was written by him like all the Others and like
wise signed by without my knowing the contents.
Immediately after reading Mr. Peny's statement in his
letter of March went to the State Department and
asked to see all the petitions for the admission OF goods
my diplomatic franchise They were at once shown
TO me- examined them in the presence OF two wit
nesses familiar with the handwriting OF Mr.. Perry and
o all saw that every Of these petitions was written
in the Spanish language, and in Mr. Pcrys handwriting
Mr. Perry states that Mr.. Asense said he had been
Minister the wishes OF the Government being entirely
coneaory IL had decided to call me- and by me to
communicate these things to Mr. Hale as the mode least
wounding his pride aud best calculated TO arrive at
the object proposed at Grst declined TO take any part
I'm the matter but considered afterward that IL was my
duty" To this remark. that 1t piece OF great for
bearauce and magnanmity the part OF Mr.. Perry to
decline TO take any part In oensurng uc for an act that
lie aud 40 one else had performed And 1t must have
great sacrifice his part TO be Obliged TO break
the he as kindly possible, OF this
breach propety for act for which he only was re-
sponsibo. When Mr. Perry was informed as he says he
was OF this rregulary breach OF propriety in max
ing these requests for mpOrtauons, did not common
honesty require him at once candidy 10 say the
| Government onlcal "YOu wrong; Mr. Hale knows
nothing OF tins matter; he gave IL ali into my hands he
has done nothing about importation except what has
been done by i'm his II there is any t
does fall him, for he has had nothing to do in this
affair what have done for him IN his name and be-
half" Especially when Mr Perry made aware, as he
says he In 1867, through q trustworthy channel
that q Cabinet Council had been held to consider
what best TO be done In view OF the repeated COM
plants from the officers Of the customs OF the abuse by
Mr. Hale Of his franchise for the importation Of articles
free OF duty" especially say was it his duty to have
made this explanation. which he alone could give. AS
concerns myself had agency, direct or indirect, in
the matter Of mpOrtatons under my diplomatic priy
lege except sign unread petitions in the Spanish Ian
guage written by Mr. Perry and presented TO me by him
for my signature.
II would appear then, il any goods were imported In
my namo for a commercial establishment In this city,
under my diplomatic franchise Mr. Perry asserts since
oil the petitions were written by him, he undoubtedly
knew their destination, and the commercial establishment
for whch they imported and on whose credit and
for whose benefit they were sold. Again, Mr.. Perry
says confess that i hoped, also, that there might
be some explanation. In this l disappointed. /
/ Lii. Iarixr
possible but his agitation did not permit him TO make
any reply" II for agitation had substituted the word
asonishmen there would have been some truth IN this
assertion for confess surprised extremely so, TO
learn then did for the first time, that my confidence
had been betrayed that the man whom had trusted to
mako these communications for me TO the Spanish Gov
had played false and made petitions IN my name
for goods which were not for me- never received by
me- and had been, as he says, introduced for com
mercia establishment. The statement OF Mr. Perry tha
at his suggestion Immediately addressed letter to
commercial house IN question, who, II seems, were III
possession OF still another order furnished them by MI
IT." &c. Is false had no knowledge OF any such house
os that named by Mr. Perry as Cao Capeanes ~; the
only establishments which knew tho two houses
one for furniture and the other capets-who were en-
gagged In furnishing my house-nether OF when was III
CaIe Capelanes l requested Mr. Perry to address
letter 10 the merchant who was supplying me WIN car
pos curtains &C. revong one order which he still had
for importation my Never after ala trust MT
Perry with the authority introduce any goods Tor me-
under my franchise aud have never heard OF any COM
plant made since then.
Were at all desrous OF entering upon tls hinu VI "'
tack which MIR Perry has adopted have long had In my
nossession list OF his own mportaons, which was gwen
me unsolicited, by person who had taken the pains TO
look themup which amount to S675o In six years. ana In
which list figure nine carriages eight OF when were I'M
ported in the short space OF three years Also thee ap
pears on this list sxtyseyen boxes OF "ihe bu enough
OF this.