Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-27
ALEXANDRIA:
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 81, 1884.
REJECTION OF MR.. STEVENSON.

is given in to-day's Gazette, confirms all that we
had been led to expect, and shows the correct
ness and justice of the decision. In connection
with the subject we request the readers atten-
ton to the following remarks from the National
Inteligencer, which are entirely satisfactory.
Without avaing itself of general consdera-
TONS the Senate found, in the particular circum-
stances of the case of the ex-Speaker, irresistible
reason for the rejection of his nomination. 1t
was confidently believed, in the circles here and
elsewhere, for more than twelve months past,
that he was designated for the British Mission.
No one doubted it, 1t is even known that his
reliance upon obtaining the appointment was
so very strong that he stated, during the last
session of Congress, that he would never again
be candidate for the Speakers Chair. What
must the establishment Of the public be when it
learns that Mr.. Stevenson, since March, 1888,
has had in his possession an official assurance
from the Secretary Of State, written confden-
italy, on the 18th Of that month"; with the
press authority of the President, that he was to
be appointed to the British mission, and request
ing him to hold himself in readiness to proceed
on it. in the course Of the ensuing summer! The
delay in filling the mission now stands in part
explained. Whether he had any previous
verbal assurances is not known This Off
cial assurance he held when, in April 1888, he
Representatives the district embracing the me-
tropolis Of Virginia; when, in December, Of last
year, he was candidate, contrary to his prior
declaration, for the Speakers Chair; and, when
the bill passed the House of Representatives
making an appropriation (whist he was in the
Chair for an outfit for himself of $4,000, with an
annual salary of $4,000 more. If the fact Of
his holding such document had not been sup
pressed, would the people of his district have
elected him to represent them? If it had been
known to the House that he possessed a title to
the British Mission, equivalent to a commission,
would he have been elected Speaker? The fact
was cOnfidentially concealed from all but the
President Of the United States. the late Speaker
himself the Department of State, and such as
received the secret from them
10 explain this suspicious transaction, the
message Of the President, accompanying Mr..
-4ivingston's letter, states that the contingency
OF Great Britain consentlng to open negotla-
ton in London, which was expected, did not
arise, but that it was, on the contrary, common
ced at Washington No such contingency is
contained in Mr.. Livingstons official letter The
appointment is offered Internationally, and, as
in such cases is customary Mr. Stevenson ic no
tilted when he is expected to DEPART tha. IS, GS
soon as advices shall be received from england,
and in the course of the ensuing Summc-. Blu.
what were the negotiations? Were they those
broken off by MIR. Van Buren's "eturn? il'e
they nov expected to De opened in London? e
there any motive now existing, for sending a
Minister to England, which did not exist during
the last Summer? To do away the effec: of The
letter Of Mr.. Livingston, letter from Ir. Pi,-
chic, Editor of the Richmond Enquirer, Gno
letter from w. B. Lewis, Auditor, &C. contain
ing extracts from two letters to him, addressed
by MIR. Ritchie were, at the instance of Mr Ste
venson, presented to the Senate. 1t IS & matter
ofregret that the whole IF Mi. Ritchie's tHO le,-
ters instead of extracts, were not produced, anc
that the letter from W. Lewis to MI. zitchit
was also withheld. The production ofthe entire
correspondence would further eucidate Eis
mysterious affair; and it is to be hoped tina. ,n2
parties will yet exhibit it 20 the Public. Mr.. Ste
renson does not appear to have We urned an an
Swer to Mr.. Livingston's communication. N
lieu OF such an answer with his appreciation,
Mr.. Richie addressed letter to Mr.. Lewis, 10
be laid before the President in which, ate. laud
ing the President to the Skies ne SUCCESS the
constitutional scruples which prevail in Virgil
MIA, with respect to sending ministers abroad
without the previous concurrence of The Senate
and expresses a wish that it may not be done
What special considerations were urged by Nj
Richie, for the pOstponementOf Off MIR. Stevenson's
case at all events, until the assembling D.: the
Senate, do not appear, and will noi appel
without the exhibition ofthe whole Of MS lette".
Mr.. Ritchie'S interference to arrest G., ulCon-
stitutional practice ofthe President, was net er-
treIy successful MI. Livingston wa cent c
France, in spite oft, IN the recess OF the Jens e.
But, then, the main parl Of MIR. Riches noE:o."
oton The postponement of Mr.. Stevcnson's a.
pointment, did succeed. Whate"er was the de
gree Of urgency fol- the departure Of aa f-meEi
can Minister to the English Court, IL YES mGd3
10 yield to the private wishes Of Mr. Stevenson,
conveyed through the imposing oTgsn d On
EDITOR of leading newspaper.
There is no color for the pretence tina: the
promise, communicated by Mr. Livingston, was
not at the commencement of the present ses-
sion of Congress, subsisting and binding en-
gagement 1t was kept alive and continued
through the agency Of Mr.. Thomas Richie and
Mr.. w. B. Lewis. The President could nave
nominated no other gentleman than Mr.. Ste
venson, after the letter of Mr.. Livingston, with
out violating his own assurance. And the fact
of his nominating Mr.. Stevenson is conclusive
proof of the sense which he himself entertained
of his obligation. IfMr. Stevenson really wish
ed to recall the President to constitutional
practice in conformity with the doctrines of
Virginia, why did he not promptly decline the
appointment upon that ground? If