New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-26
ORB LEGATION IN MONTEViDEO.

I'VE printed an article, some months ago. contain
ing statements compiled from correspondents and
the M0ntevidean papers, aninadyerting with some
severity upon tho manner in which our Legation IN
Uruguay is managed. Mr.. Stevens, our Minister
disagrees With that articlein fact 1t may be SAID
TO have disagreed with him-and he sends us tho
following letter which we hasten to publish. as Mr..
stevenss own statement of the degree of dignity
and fitness which lie brings to the discharge of his
duties as representative of the United States IN two
Republics of South Amerca.l
Tor IN, Esr- York Tribus,
RESPONSE TO BASE ATTACK.
In the course of many years of public life
rarely have regarded 1t necessary TO pay attention TO
caumnous personal attacks. having been Wiling 10
trust my character 10 ts inherent laws OF yndca
ton among those with whom Ipassed nearly bali cen
tury But at present residing seven thousand miles
from those who really know and believing that my
conduct in Official position in somo degree involves
the honor of country. cannot permit my genorai
rule OF remaining silent under sspersion IN TINS in
stance, should govern my action.
The last American mail brought me the New-York
Tribune OF Sept 18th. in which there IA assault on
myself which for vulgar mendacity and consecutive
fasehoods Is seldom surpassed. The principal state
and implications contained in mat assault IN all
their essential particulars, as inappcabe 70 me as
TO an nhabtan Of tho planet Saturn aud totally void OF
foundation The observations OF the Tribune writer com
prise several specific statements. The first is to the effect
that " biz uas passed gicng too legations" Had
the writer better informed. he would have known
that Paraguay Legation placed under my charge
In virtue OF general law which has been IN force many
years and this law been applied in previous In
stances as a matter OF Government economy instead
OF being separated by country OF difficult passage
as is alleged Paraguay and Uruguay are connected ny
lines Of steamers and regular mail communication by
oted Ire md pfn /
charged the duties OF the Paraguay Legation
The Tribune caumnator charges that disagreed
with my landlords and for dsreputable reasons aban-
doned nv hotel In every word and letter this state
ment is false Myself and family today are occupying
the same rooms the same hotel which we occupied
the first day we entered this city In 1870 at the same
terms with the same landlords with whom we never
had the slightest difficulty TO accommodations, prices.
or In any respect whatever. The quarters we now
occupy We originally intended TO retain during our
entire residence in this country Why did We for while
take rooms elsewhere Early in 1871 tue Small Pox
ragged excessively Montevideo carrying to the grave
seventy to eighty persons week 10 malignant form
1t made its appearance among the servants and guests
OF our hotel dying with the disease Our physi-
clan and directed TO leave the hotel
which did with nearly all the other guests Before
Il was regarded safe TO return old quarters at the
hotel the Yellow Fever broke out In Buenos Ayresa
city closely denfed with Monteydeo In ts commerolsi
until 1t swept away hoeny nee housand erso's causing
frightfu panic III MOnteydeo and neigbDorng olties.
IL seemed madness to return TO the hotel with my family
under such circumstances At the time the usual poP
aton OF the city largely Increased by persons VINO
had lied IRON Buenos Ayres and from the cir
tile armies Of the civil war then raging, Monte
Guilty wero obtained ample rooms in q large private
residence. which we occupied for some mSnta, nd
Hotel Oriental SSSTs CREME We YET s. re-
that our niggardly SCALE 9pd az
dimuntye terms it need only be said that the "Hotei
siyey appointed hotel In South America having cost
saa"g NEARLY sns wS
sSs; n s' 4; S2Ss
for these rooms and board pay higher than PAID az
most OF thesEuropean cspitas for similar aooomm9ds-
the Tribune csumnator As to my "incompetency" for
the performance OF my official duties l am willing re
head the Department of state and persons bere who
have had the sS to Ask Ssa Ry Sa the
dersgned has ignored and despised the Spanish Ian
hs county he has trsn.sted Carefully solid volume.
of Literature and Religion In the Castsh tongue, ieso
arg Mass1 inc has studied the Constitution COmmeroi
Code Treatise and DEGREES OF Hragnsy ING
governments, Judicial Decisions. aud whatever other
documents that 10 give him Information In res
atcs the official OF the two Governments TO this
LegatOn-sl the above being In the Spanish LANGUAGE
clerk-a gentleman educated In College OF the United
states who has spent twenty years on the o 90 u
Plsta-yet employ the assistance Of clerk less tnsn
most Of the Foreign Legations here, and chleny lor M
portant verbal communications. - .., -,
As TO the gentleman asserted 10 be the factotum "
the Mon;evideaD Legation, he has no more TO 40 VIII
than person living In China His place OF business 10
4 IN Buenos Ayres-one hundred and twenty-five iDnes
from this city-where he has been most OF tue uhe
since south America, and there he anu MS
family reside. In respect to unfriendly oomhent oy
any portion OF the Moneyidesn press u mas peeh 70
very tring extent aud that had It's origin IN oonso
| oueaea of m Dersisteut determined eHOrts pio
feet acme property from unjust and illegal sPoliation
belonging to heirs and orphans residing In tho unitod
| States. -.
Tho moral atrocity OF an unprovoked and oowardy as
saut who Is faithfully performing his duties III
foreign land would Justify FAR greater severity OF
than has been allowed IA thus COMMUNICATION pus 'nc