South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-07-05

months past, that he was designated Tor
the British mission. No one doubted it. Ii
is even known that his reliance upon OBJ
tanning the appointment was so very
strong, that he stated, during the last ses-
sion Of Congress, that he would never a.
gain be candidate for the Speakers
Chair. What must the establishment Of
the public be when il learns that Mr.. Ste
venson, since March, 1888, has had in
his possession an official assurance from
the Secretary Of State, written conGden-
italy, on the 18th of that month, with the
express authority Of the President. that
he was to be appointed to the British
mission, and requesting him to hold him
self in readiness TO proceed on it, in the
course ofthe ensuing summer The delay
in filling the mission now stands in part
explained. Whether he had any previous
verbal assurance is not known. This Of.
fetal assurance he held, when, in April
1888, he was candidate TO represent in
the House of Representative the district
embracing the metropolis Of Virginia /;
when,i December Of last year, he was
candidate, contrary to his prior decIara.
ton, for the Speakers Chair !; aud, when
the bill passed the House Of Representa-.
tives making an appropriation whilst he
was in the Chair ofan outfit for himself
of 10000, with an annual salary of$9ooO
more. 1.-THE fact Of bis holding such a
document had not been suppressed, would
the people of his district have elected him
10 represent them ? If it had been known
20 the House that he possessed title to
the British Mission, equivalent to COM
mission, would he have been elected Spea.
kerr The fact was confden,ially conceal
ed from all but the President ofthe United
States, the late Speaker himself, the De-
partment Of State, and such as received
the secret from them.
To explain this suspicious transaction,
the message of the President, accompany.
ing Mr.. Liyingston's letter, states that the
contingency of Great Britain conserving
TO open negotiation in London, which
was expected, did not arise, but that it
was, on the contrary, commenced at
Washington. No such contingency is
contained in Mr.. Livingston's official let
ter. The appointment is offered uncon.
ditionally, and, as in such cases is custom
airy, MIR. Stevenson is notified when he is
expected to depart; that is, as soon as
advices shall be received from England,
and in tie course Of the ensuing Summer.
But what were the negotiations /? Were
they those broken offby Mr.. Van Buren's
return Are they now expected to be o.,
pened in London !? Is there any motive,
now existing, for sending a Minister to
England, which did not exist during the
last summer 7 To do away the effect Of
the letter of MIR. Livingston, letter from
MIR. Richie, Editor OF the Richmond En-
quirer, and letter from Mr.. w. B. Lew
is, Auditor, &c. contaiaing extracts FROM
two letters to him, addressed by MIR.
Richie, were, at the instance of Mr.. Ste.
yenson, presented to the Senate. 1t is a
matter of regret that the whole of MIR.
Ritchie's two letters, instead Of extracts,
were not produced, and that the letter
from Mr.. Lewis to Mr.. Richie was also
withheld. The production of the entire
correspondence would further elucidate
this mysterious affair; and it is to bel
hoped that the parties will yet exhibit il
to the Public. MIR. Stevenson does notl
appear to have returned any answer toll
Mr.. Livingston's communication. In lieu
of such an answer, with his appreciation,
MIR. Richie addressed letter TO Mr.. Lew
is, to be laid before the President, in
which, after lauding the President to the
skies, he suggests the constitutional scru.
pies which prevail in Virginia, with re-
spect to sending ministers abroad, with.
out the previous concurrence Of the Sem
ate and expresses wish that it may not
be done. What special considerations
were urged by MIR. Richie, for the post
ponement of Mr.. Stevenson's case, at all
events, until the assembling of the Sen.
ate, do not appear, and will not appear,
without the exhibition of the whole OF his
letter. MIR. Ritchie's interference to arr
rest an unconstitutional practice of the
President, was not entirely successful.
MIR. Livingston was sent to France, in
spite of it, in the recess of the Senate.
But, then, the main part ofMr. Ritchie's
negotiation, the postponement Of Mr. Ste.
venson's appointment, did succeed
Whatever was the degree Of urgency for
the departure of an American Minister to
the English Court, it was made TO yield
70 the private wishes of Mr.. Stevenson,