The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-22
POLITICAL.
Letter from Mr.. Harvey-The Punishment In-
ticted by Congress on Foreign Minister for
oFn n,,;-,

Letter from Mr.. Harvey-The Punishment In-
ficted by Congress on Foreign Minister Tor
an Expression of Opinion.
LISBON August 8 1866 Hon. ii. j. Raymond
Dear Sr-I have just read, w,tn painfJl surprise,
biI repor, OF tue PROCEEDINGS IN Congress upon the
diplomatic Appropriation bI having special refer
ence 10 the mission at Portugal and professedy pre-
dlcated upon private letter OF mine, addressed TO
the Hon. W. ii. Seward IN individual capacity,
and which was considered worthy or publication
without my knowledge. l say 'proessedy pre-
dlcated," because, though the action in question
ostensiby based upon that letter, and misrepre
sentatOn of Its purpose and application doubtless
mIsled those who did not carefully examine its Ian
gUage. have reason 10 believe that personal re.
fentment entered largely into the motives of unseen
influences which instigated this exceptional pro-
ceGdInP.
he letter was entirely friendly and fam lar. is
verified by ITS form ana terms and by communica-
on from tue Secretary OF STATE, transmitting a
nteral copy to the House OF Representatives. Con-
sequently. every attempt TO invest it with
semi official character unjust aud thOrIzed
Us The allegation that reflection expressed,
or ,nteh aeu 10 pe eApresse" upon PM IN its
paragraphs distinctly reveals Its intention, aud
plcssiy Ielers 10 the course OF policy pursued by
"SUme OF our so called friends " In using these
WpIds hao IN my mlnd certain persons who had
slpnazed themselves during the last four years by
sy stemRte ana unreasonable host lty against the
Ao minIstratOns of both President Lincoln and Pre-.
sldent Johnson, and who have required aDso ute
jecuon to their dctation as the sole measure Of
by wrenching phrases from their context, tor
turing the htrue meaning OF words, and applying
view, clamor was raised in the partisan press and
individuals were thus enabled to accomp sh what
better deliberatlon would hardy have sanctioned
undsr different circumstances. This legislation
cannot therefore, be properly regarded as fair aud
calm expression OF the Judgment of ConRress for It
appears TO have emanatpd from committee of
Conference the closing days of the session. and
10 have been carried under the previous question,
WI hOut discussion, in one body and without a
formal division IN the other? where distinguished
| senators reluctantly aequesced IN order "to save
! tie bill"
1t would certainly be improper and ndecOrous in
ubIc officer to arraign or reproach in public
! erument while IN the enjoyment OF its confidence
aBd favor. The rule applies wi. equal Force to Off
GERS at nome as well as abroad, though conspicuous
examples in the one case-ln sthe very chambers OF
, Ongress-haye leen passed over, in OrGer to visit
wth marked severity the flank utteranoe OF private
ointment III the o. her. II seuse OF pr0DrietY did
not instruct me as to the respect due to Congress
the legislative body OF tne country the ties OF polti
cal and personal friendship, dating back through
long years, with many OF IL members, whom cOnVlc
! ton and sense OF duty have induced 10 sustain
policy which has not seemed 10 me the most wise tor
| the crisis, Would nave imposed an Obligation OF
reserve little understood or appreciated by class OF
| Cogmatic men, who are qmck to stigmatize as
| orators" ali who will not subscribe to their i'm
| practicable theories; who can discover no public
virtue Dey ond the limits of their cramped horizon;
| al d who have always gwen at least moral aid and
| comfort to the worst enemies of the Union,
Individual Priets have little clam TO public atten.
ton, out when Il principle is involved which in.
wolves the rights OF the citizen, they assume her
| shape ana Importance At this distance from the
sc1ne of angry division, aud with the natural
Il AltlN NnAIh every AultIlCdu ABROAD I6eLs TO see
tha Union fully and in all its parts
and III all its glory and grandeur, the scars of civil
strife healed ana our iree Institutions purified
! b. emancipation, marching on fhelr onward way
an example and encoura cement to the oppressed
peoples OF tpe Old World lldeemed 1t proper to eX-
press such thoughts as occurred 10 me In a personal
letter. The best and wisest minds might honestly y
dler as TO the policy to te adopted, in he aonOrmal
condition OF the country after a sanguinayy Re-
| bclliOn.
The late lamented President Lincoln had inaugu-
rated measures admirably calculated to revive the
| ~. hQ 4
guided people who, under fals9 teachings had taken
arms, or had been coerced into resistance to their
duty and loyalty. President Johnson, who had in-
CURED dangers and made sacrifices second 10 no
other man in the nation, and who, in the agony OF