, 1874-05-25


pathetic apostle may mako moro inndols than ~
prudont knayo.
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EXTRAORDINARY DIPLOMACY.
When the Civil aud Diplomatic Appropriation |
bill Was pending In Congress-, an amendment WAS
moved by tho Conmittoo Oh Foreign Affairs to
appropriate s57, 500 to pay to Brazil for money |
erroneous]y claimod by and paid to tho United
States. An explanation being insisted on by
the House, Judge L. Il. Hoar, Of the Committee,
reluctantly suited tho fAots, which are not only
extraordinary, but wo hopo unprecedented, IN the
history Of American diplomacy. In 1842, q Pc
ruvian vessel the Catherine In distress, put into
q port in Brazil. There being no Peruvian Con-
sui tl1ero tho Captain applied to tho Brazilian au-
thoritiea for survey. i report Was mado that
the vessel could not be repaired, and 1t was
sold. This report as to tho condition Of tho
weasel was fraudulent The vessel Eas
insured in New York and Philadelphia,
and tho insurance Vas paid. Tho
companies prosecuted a Buft. IN tho Bra
zilian courts against tho Captain, md
the former decree condemnlng the veasol and
ordering its aale was aot aside. But the voasol
waa gone. Ono Wolls, who had boon United
States Consul at st. GATHERINGS, in Brazil. pur
chased the claim for thiB vesHol. He mado do.
mand against tho Brazilian Government. He
presented it to our Government, who referred 1t
to tho American Minister in Brazil to be pre-
sented to TINT Government. This was III 1866
or 1867. The claim WAS rejectod by tpe BRAZIL
ian Government. The matter was pending whom
Con. Jsmos Watson Webb, Of New York, was
appointed Minister to Brazil by h1r. Lincoln.
He waa not impressed with tho Justice Of the
claim, and during the War he was instructed by
Dlr. Seward in order to avoid any controversy with
toreign Governments, not to press it at all, Sub
soquently, in 1867, Mr. Webb socmHto have boon
struck with tho validity Of this claim, and urged
1t vigorously upon tho Brazilian Government, and,
taking tho opportunity when Brazil was engaged
in war with Paraguay, md her Government was
in distress for menna, he Informed the Brazilian
authorities, just as steamer was about TO leave
for Europe. that ho would sever hia diplomatic
relations, demand his passportp, and send to
Europe information Of these facta. unless tho
money was paid. The Government Of Brazil,
protesting that it WAS not liab1o, paid the money
to A1s. Webb, the claim amounting to Ella, asa
sterling, or about s71 ,2Go in gold.
The matter being laid before our Government,
tho claim was investigated, and our Attorney
| General gave an opinion TINT there was no
[ ground for holding the Brazilian Government
responsible, even If ali the facts stated were
| true Mr.. Webb, in his dispatch to the State
| Department concerning the payment romitted n
draft for $4,000 sterling, aud tho Department
supposed that was tho whole sum received by
States bonds until tho mutter could ho investi-
gated by the Attorney General. This took q
long time, and, when 1t was concluded, tht
President ordered the return Of tho monoy tc
Brazil. The Brazilian Minister then informed
tho State Department that tho E5, 900 was only 9
portion Of the amonnt paid to Mr. Webb. This
was the first knowledge Of tho real facts pos
eessod by our Government. Mr. Wobb WAS writ
ton to for an explanation, ana he returned 70
luminous letters, stating that he had been ut OK
penso in having the olaim passed In Brazil, hu
ho gave no partioulara. Ho would not stat'
| what he had done with tho money. 1nvoatiga
tions in Brazil established the fact that tn
money was paid in three drafts, one for $4,000
one for E3 ,352, aud one for Ct, 900. Tho frat o
theso was received by the State Department; th
second was discounted in Brazil, and probnbl
apont thero and the third was placed to the prl
yate account Of Mr. Wobb in London. Unde
these ciroumstanoes, OF couraa tho money shoul
be refunded to tho Government Of Brazil, m
nIr. Webb should DO prosecuted for swindllng.
Mr.. 4. 8. Webb, son Of Gen. Webb, has put
lisuod a oard in tho Now York papora asking
suspension Of public opinion until his father
return aud explanation.