New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-02

Communications OF the labor performed Dy ihys enu
my assistants Leading citizens Of New-York Ved WIN
each other in doing me honor ana peS-ins
testimony to the zeal, devotion, and energy
I had displayed and the marvellous work
had accomplished under the most adverse clrcum-
stances and in spite OF the most violent opposition Ana
now, in my absence, when am removed from my po-
siton mot from any wrong doing proved Dut smpy On
the recommendation OF man), when the fruits OF my
toll seized and handed TO strangers when am
uthessy robbed OF the rghtful honors which belong
to my arduous and conscientious labors, these same
journals applaud the wrong, and bid the people cry
"Amenp
Whatever there ia or shall OF the American Exhibit
ton the creation Of myself and Of associates For
nine months my official duties absorbed my tme' my
energies and my did not seek the position OF
Chief Commissioner. know OF nv appointment until
read 1t In the NewYork papers, and in my first inter
views thereafter with the President and Secretary OF
State expressed my Discrimination to accept IT, On
aseertaning however, their personal wishes that L
should serve and receiving their cordial assurances OF
support finally but reluctantly, consented, and
from that day until left the country knew no leisure
Accompanying the formal announcement Of my appoint
ment came the following personal note from Mr. Fish;
WASHINGTON, June u, 1872.
MY DEAR SIR: The President has, without solicitation
CommIssoner 10 represent the Government United
States the International Exposition, 10 De held At
approved June TO- 1872 relating 10 the subject copy OF
which Is nclosed uerewith authorizes the appointment
OF one or Commissioners Should you accept the
appointment, however, none VIII be appointed except
such you may nominate with view 70 securing oe
cOOperatOn Of petent Deputy or Assistant COnms-
siOners. Although 10 compensation Is autnVISeu iOl
tue services to be ordered nope you may DC WILLIE WILLIE
accept the appo ntment, as the EXPOSITION Is eApeceu
a comp chenslye Que, ana lts results may nc
truly yours HAMILTON FISH.
At this time the country in entire ignorance Of the
proposed Exhibition. Although the invitation to par
cipate had possession of our Government over
year, Congress had taken action, and MT Jay our
Minister at Vienna had failed to give information as to
its purpose and advantages. There no appropria-
ton OF money, provision for the transportation OF
goods no knowledge OF any kind at Washington as to
the proper mode of proceeding In addition 10 this,
my first efforts securing exhibitors met with an active
and energetic opposition from several able
writer's and journals in the assumed interest
Of patentees, which grew and strengthened
during every day OF my progress For time 1t looked
as II success were impossible but having put my hand
TO the pillow, 1 determined not TO look back. Given
authority by the President appoint such assistants as
desired selected from the vast number Of applicants
only ,ls-one at Vienna, strongly recommended as an
agent by JAY and the others living IN different cen
trial localities OF our country In choosing these was
not Influenced by political personal considerations,
but solely by desire to secure competent energetic,
business men, who would join with me in my efforts at
success
With one exception these gentlemen were all strangers
TO me- and appointed upon the recommendation OF
eminent citizens Among them banker,
physician editors and several merchants and most
OF them justified my choice by rendering the most
valuable assistance The story that one Of them
paid dollar for his appointment is base fabrication
The only one OF my Commissioners who was personal
acquaintance was Thomas McElrath, who i'm
mediately he was appointed went to Southern
Europe, and never did hours service
until ordered by me to proceed to Vienna
and attend TO his duties Here. by the advice OF Mr.
John Jay he appointed, with the latter, member
of a special tribunal to supervise the whole United
States Commission Qncludng HIMSELF, aud with power
to examine report, and suspend himself and any or all
members OF the Commission. He has been suspended
with the rest stu occupies his seat at the Office is
presented on May to the Emperor of the Amer
can Commission, and is continued member OF the
"Inquistion."
In his dispatch to the State Department upon which
this extraordinary tribunal orderedMr. Jay says:
There is nothing whatever affecting the integrity Of
the Chief Commissioner, Gen. Van Buren," This has
been repeated TO again and again since have been
in Vienna and although ms special commission" has
held its daily sessions for month past cannot
learn that they have succeeded in eliciting word
against me. Some weeks since made my statements
before them, at which Mr.. Jay read to me what he
claimed TO be all the material portions OF the evil
dence and which related to Gen. WIN. Mayer Assistant
Commissioner. Since that time have not been per
mtted present at its proceedings or TO learn any
thing OF them, except from rumor although promised
information II anything affecting my honor should be
testified to. / know nothing Of its dongs. but j do
know that the condition OF our Department OF the Ex-
hibtion is dsTaceful; that for weeks nothing has
been accomplished. that the two shploads Of goods,
sent by me from New-York, packed and marked in the
most perfect order with name OF owner number OF per-
nit size and weight and proper group each pack
age have forwarded from Trieste in the greatest
disorders simply because my Commissioners, who
undertook all these details and who hurried from home
in order to be in time to superntend the work OF I'M
loading the vessels and forwarding the goods were for
hidden TO proceed by Mr. JAY who chose his own agent
from whose Inexperence sad results have ensued and
immense expense been incurred / know that our ex-
hibtors are in ferment Of indignation and disgust and
that the reputation Of our country is suffering In the
eyes Of the world Why does this state OF things exist
For what reason have been deprived OF my position,
and all the gentlemen connected with suspended and
degraded
The present condition Of our department would have
been impossible had there been interference the
part OF Mr. JAY The irregularities" charged against
the Commission consist, far as have been able to
learn in the fact that Gen. Mayer after expending all
his own funds in the public service, borrowed about
$1,000 from parties who long before had been granted
authority on the request OF Baron schwarz, to
restaurants on the grounds OF the Exhibition.
OF these loans / knew nothing whatever until
| heard Of them in Vienna, with the single
exception that, upon occasion, Gen. Mayer
informed me that he had accepted loan OF $500,
which was 10 be repaid as his accounts with the
Government were settled These parties, and a num-
Der Of other citizens who visited Office IN New York.
and knew the immense labor performed there and the
money expended, without an appropriation, mad ire,
uucny offered 10 cOntr butte 10 the expenses, and had
been refused by my order The permits for restaurants
Yere given to them without charge OF any kind nor
have they paid dollar 10 the United states Com
mission, TO my knowledge, although they are
obliged 10 contribute 10 the general direction
OF Austria from twelve TO fifteen per cent OF
their gross receipts. Gen. Mayer may have been
imprudent in making these loans but that he was cor