Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-28
TION.
The Marquis DE Chambrun Before
the senate Committee.

before them the Marquis de Chambrun, whs
testified that he came to this country the 1871
of January, 1866, and has been in Washin ytoi
since the 18th Of Febr aary of the same year
The Marquis requested permission to state al
he knew about the matter under consideration
in his own way, and Mr.. Hamlin replied that b.
proposed thai he should do 50, but would first
ask him what position he at present occupied.
Marquis de Chambrun.-"The first communi
cat'an received from the French government
was dated the 18th of August, 1856, aud il re
lated TO the question Of the tariff. There hao
been many seizures of wines and brandies, aud
importers had lost heavily; therefore the FrencI
chambers had taken up the matter, and tn,
French minister for foreign affairs requested
me to see il | could not have the tariff changed
L saw Mr.. Fessenden, chairman OF tn.
Com midee OF Finance, and also saw
senator sherman; and the latter request
ed me to draw up some provisions of :
bill which, in 1870, became part of a law. Tie
French minister for foreign affairs was pleased
with my success, and instructed Mr.. Berthemv
then minister to the United States, to turn over
to me all French elaims-some 400 or 500 in
number-against the United States, and ais,
against private individuals. Since that time l
have learned English, and other cases have
come to me, so that now my principal client,
are American citizens. / cannot, OF course AL
pear before judicial tribunals, account of tn,
oath required, but prepare cases, and they ar,
presented through Hon. Caleb Gushing and
other par lies. After peace had been deciareC
between France and Germany, received a dis
patch from Jules Favre, March 2Ith, ISL an
pointing me legal adviser OF the French legation
In this city. TIE Marquis read the dispatch
Since that time have been cons suited by the
French legation in every case of a / uCiicial
character which has arisen. And here desir.
TO say that am notand never have been
CONNECTED WITH THE SECRET SERVICE.
was very serry to hear used on the floor OF the
Senate the terms ''spy" and ''emissary" be-
cause it was not true. If the party who used
those epiihets were here l would answer him.
MI. Hamlin-" When did you discover the
facts about the arms matter ?"
Marquis de C.-'Mr. Senator. allow mo 20
explain in my own way and 1 will soon come e.
that. have known Mons. lie Place, former
consul general at New York, since 1855 and our
frie ndship has always remained unbroken !
don't think / saw him, however. three times
alter he came to New York. Place had be-
his action in regard 10 certain French vessels in
New York, and | remember receiving a not,
from Nj. Berthemy asking me to call on Place
'Fon COPS SAKE, KEEP QUIET"
/ advised Place particularly not to have any
thing TO do with buying arms for France. Up
to January, 1871, saw Place perhaps eight
times, and once, when he showed me telegram
from lie Cesne, told him he would certainly
get into trouble. In January, 1871, received a
note from Place saying that he had been in
formed that many OF the arms sent TO France
were unserviceaDle and unsatisfactory to the
French government (The Marquis read tn,
note.) don't think replied to this note. Later
heard many rumors about the sale of arms, and
i requested Senator Patterson to find out for me
something definite about the matter. wher
Mons. Bellaigue, consul at Charleston, was ap-
pointed consul general at New York instead OF
Place, accompanied him to New York. Mons
De Belonet, the French charge d'affairs, ano
myself investigated the whole matter of Place.
connection with the buying OF arms, and founo
that
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAD LOST ABOUT
81 800 900
in these transactions. The New York San ha6
printed an article in regard to the sale of arms
| and charged thai Place and certain American
officials were connected with these sales. | at
| forwards saw Mr.. Dana, and told him that b,
| must be mistaken, and that Place was only 3
| scape- goat in the matter. Nj. Belonet asked M,
| if Place ought not TO sue the Sun for libel ant
| after had talked with Dana, said mol de-
| cidedly.
| Mr.. DANA GAVE THE FIRST INFORMATION
| had on the subject; don't know Mr. JOIN
| Hoey, whose name has been mentioned here
| but L gave his name to Senator Patterson
| because, from what : lr. Dana told me, he know,
| something about the matter; after Place LET
| New York he was summoned before a commit
tee OF the French Assembly on account oil hi
| acts; have read the testimony
Mr. Hamlin.-"I don't see the use OF hearing
| what occurred before he French Assembly"
Marquis de c. But, Mr.. Senator, desire to
| be as accurate as possible"
| MIR. Carpenter.-"B But, Marquis, we have N,
| authority TO question you on this point
| The Marquis resuming :-'Place sent me a re.
tanning fee TO defend him at his trial, but re
l turned it, declining to have anything to d,
| with the case. Remington and LeCesne coulo
| not make good their charges, and Place wa,
| acquitted. The day after his acquittal Plac.
| sent me letter, written by Remington Il
/ LeCesne, Prefeiring charges against him
| (Place.) This was in October of last year ID
| was not until December that L understood tn.
full purport OF the letter-not until the attorney
l OF Remington had come to the French Legation
with certified copies Of certificates or letters o.
recommendation from Secretaries Beiknap an,
| Robson, Senator Conkiing, Treasurer Spinner
| Jay Cooke, and some others. asked N. Bel,
lonet particularly if the State Department hal
| aided Remington in this matter, and he replies
| no. The letter from Gen. Spinner was ad-
| dressed to Minister Washburne, and asked the
| Mons. BellOnet ard L finally concluded to
LET THE CASE OF PLACE ALONE.
spoke to Senator Patterson in regard to the
| action OF Secretaries Belknap, Robson, ana
| others, and told him regarded it as interfering
| nnJustifably in case which was to be tried IN
| France. This was on the 18th or 18th of Decem.
Der last"
Mr.. Carpenter.-"Have you copies of those
| recommendations"
Marquis de C.-"No; but will with pleasur,
l furnish TRANSACTIONS"
| Mr.. Hamiin:-Among those recommendation
was there one from Gov. Hoffman,
| Marquis de C.-"Yes, sir, there was; You sh al
have every thing. Senator PsttersOn's state
ment i'm regard TO our conversation is as nea,
the truth as possible In all respects. / called o,
the Secretary OF War on the 9th OF Januar,
last, having received a special power of attor-
ney from NJ. BelloHet, TO ask to be allowed q
look at the list OF sales. told him proposed
to make inquiries in a confidential way, but b.,
replied that he
WANTED NOTHING DONE IN CONFIDENTIAL
WAY.
Is he had no objection TO show me everything
desired. The Secretary referred to the letter o,
Remington to lie Cesne which Senator Patterson
had brought him. 1 then told him that thu
recommendations he and others had given
Remington would be used in case soon Go b,
tried in France, and that all desired for Plac.
was fair play-nothing more. The Secretary
then said: If had seen RS letter to L. O. b,
would not have got my recommendation; on tn,
contrary would have used language which b,
| would have remembered to the very last day o.;
bis lfe.' Il saw he desredsto qualify his former
recommendation after my representations, AM
that he seemed greatly troubled about the mat
ter. He took me in private room, but we talket
about there Do not think should disclose.0
Mr.. HRmlin.-"Have you any objection to the
Secretary detailing that convefsaton?"
Marquis Dec" None whatever; none what
ever. The Secretary prDposed that the Letter
from Remington to LeCesne should be sen,
tary OF State. The next day saw Secretar,
Firh, for whom entertain the highest regard
and explained the matter to him. asking him I.
forward the letter as soon as possible. On tn,
2Ith Of January went with the then consul
at New York 70 the Secretary Of War TO see the
list OF sales, and the Secretary gave N ali the
information In his power. The Secrctarv said
be had written letter (Which read) to ths
Secretary Of State, which was to be sent 10 tn.