Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-16
FREMONT'S DEFENSE.
His Reply to she French Tribun,

HIS Reply to the French Tribunal.
| From the New York Tribune, March 7.
A reporter called last evening on Gen.
John q. Fremont to talk with him about
the suit now in progress in France against
him and others for their connection with
the Memphis, FL Paso, and Pacific bond
sales, and to obLa in bis version of the tran
saction.
Gen. Fremont was evidently annoyed at
the revival of matter which, he said, be
had considered settled by the action of Con-
gress, sof ar as his integrity was concerned.
he said that If frauds were committed, or
Misrepresentation made, they had been
without his knowledge or consent, and that
he had been one of the greatest sufferers
from them; for one of the finest railroad
projects ever favored in this country had
passed from his into other hands. He was
not in Paris when the bonds were put up
ON the market, and had no connection with
the business, which was left entirely to 9th
ers, though bis name became prominent on
account of his being chairman of the Exc
cutive Committee.
The device of forged certificate was de-
cidedly French in its character, and would
never have been thought of by an Ameri-
can. Paradise & Co. were among the lar
gest bankers in Paris, and published the
most authentic stock list. Lissignol, and
Crompon were also sharp, shrewd bankers,
and would never have been deceived by
bungling forgery, or a false rumor. The
whole matter was in their hands, and they
knew what they were abouts The state
ment made in Paris that the bonds were
guaranteed by the United States govern
ment could not have borne examination,
as they showed on their face that they were
secured by lands granted to the railroad by
the State of Texas.
When he heard of the false representa-
tons which had been made, he FASTENED to
Paris for the purpose Of setting the matt er
right. He was told by Paradise and Probst
that the story of government guarantee had
been honestly stated under misapprehen-
sion. They had noticed that Congress had
passed bill giving right of way to the
Texas q Pacific Railroad and supposed
that it was the bill of the previous winter,
which had clause giving the national guar
antee to the bonds.
He at once published in the newspa-
pers full statement of the facts, and tried
to undo, so far as possible, every wrong
that had been committed. He believed
that the enterprise. was good one, and that if
the affairs of the company had not been
suddenly closed up, it would have been
profitable to all interested in it.
Gen. Fremont was asked if he knew
anything of the progress the
trial inParis. He answered that be
had received dispatch from his lawyer
in Paris only few moments before, tell
irg him that the proceedings had gone
against him by default in his absence, but
that the case could be reopenei on applica-
ton. His written and sworn defense, which
had been forwarded to the tribunal some
ten days ago, had not been received. He
said that he had not been cited to appear
before the tribunal, and had had no knowl-
edge of the prosecution, except from pri-
vate sources.
Nevertheless, he would have presented
himself in person if he had heard of it in
time; and, as it was, he sent a full efeDse
as soon as possible. The General was con-
fident of final vindication from the cha rye
of completely in any fraudulent transaction
connected with the Memphis, Ell Paso &
Pacific Railroad. He expressed sympathy
for the French bondholders who had suf-
fered from the failure of the road.
They are nearly 5000 in number, and be-
long, for the most part, to the peasant class.
1t was pitiabie to see their disappointment
when they found that they had lost, as
they supposed, their savings. The General
hoped that through the arrangement with
the Texas g. Pacific road the bonds would
all be redeemed at par. This will, howev-
er, depend upon the decision of the United
States Supreme Court