Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-01


No official intercourse has ever taken place be-
tween the State Department and myself on.
the subject In fact, the only conversation
ever had with any member of the Department
on the subject of the absence of the letter took
place on the occasion Of social visit at the
house Of Mr.. Name 1t was the duty OF the
Secretary to address an official note to me, If
he had reason to think that could give an ex-
PLANTATION Of the absence of the letter. could,
Ia that case, have placed on record the extent
of my knowledge relating to the lost letter.
would gladly awaited myself of an opportunity,
and have taken great pleasure in furnishing
the Department with another copy OF the letter
Had Secretary Marcy, in that case, thought it
necessary that the matter should be laid before
Congress, the President would doubtless have,
seen the propriety of transmitting my state
ments with his own views.
What adds to the injustice of the act of the
Secretary, is the fact that no such demonstra-
ton was called for. Had copy OF the lost
letter been transmitted with the simple expla-
nation that the original had been missed from
the files of the department. every demand OF
etiquette would have been satisfied Had
Secretary Marcy been my friend, he would have
hesitated to lay before Congress and the world,
such a statement even if he had the best reason
to know its truth. He could have justified such
course by saying that no man Of sensibility
will, when not imperitively demanded by what
is due to a faithful discharge Of duty, involve
another in an accusation affecting his charac-
ter, however firmly he may be convinced Of its
truth and justice.
| Congress demanded no such explanation.
| The Dutch minister alone ventured, forgetting
all the decencies that are recognized among the
heads of polite nations to call the State depart
ment to account for an unfaithful discharge Of
| its duty in transmitting the document called
| for by Congress. Secretary Marcy unconscious
| that gross breach of diplomatic courtesy had
occurred in the official notice taken by the
Dutch minister Of the internal affairs of the
department and apparently DESTROYS OF account
ing for the audiences and severity of his attack
upon me transmitted with his letter that Of
| the Dutch minister. Had an American min
lister at London or Paris have dictated to the
heads Of the English or French nations, what
communications should or should not be made
by the executive hands to the legislative assem-
blies, he would soon have discovered by polite
| suggestion that he was accredited to the heads
Of the nation and was sent to spy out its
internal proceedings and remind its officers of
their neglect of duty.
shall avail myself Of the earliest opportu-
nifty to lay before you the history Of the letter
Of February 18th, put forth by the Dutch min
lister, as having been sent by me to the Gov
ernor General Of N. India. The necessity
Of translating important documents in the
Dutch language, have delayed this commune
cation until the present time. ! shall not
anticipate the statements which / have to lay
before you on that subject, but can only say
that when it is fully understood the duplicity Of
the Netherland India government towards me,
will be too apparent for either denial or eva
sion.
have the honor to be yours, very respect
fully WALTER M. GIBSON.