The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-30
MIR. MotIev,s Letter.

lished on our sixth page to day, between
Secretary Seward and the eminent historian
and scholar, ]. Lothrop Motley, our Minister
to Austria. The correspondence should be
,read by every citizen. 1t opens with letter
from Mr.. Seward to MIR. Motley, in which
the latter is informed that "a citizen of the
United States" has written a letter to the
President from Paris, in which he details his
observations upon our ministers and Con-
suls" in various countries. Who this "citi-
zen" is, or how he came to make such extern
siye inquiries into the views and sentiments
of our Ministers and Consuls abroad, the
Secretary does not tell. The presumption,
however, that, from all the circumstances Of
the case, will arise in the minds of most
readers, is that he was some miserable in
former, employed to do just this dirty work.
He reports that ''most of those whom he met
were bitterly hostile to the President and his
Administration, and expressed that hostility
in so open a manner as to astonish Ame-
ricans, and to leave very bad impression on
Europeans"
We can well believe that in this spy's pere-
SIludbtOuo hS lOuuu du1OuS Jul
and Consuls-the most of them men of ex-
allied character and patriotism, appointed by
President Llncon-an expression of dissatis-
faction with that treachery which had made
a man, elevated to the second position in the
nation by the great Union party of the coun-
try, become its bitterest enemy. But in the
case of Minister Motley, this informer goes
into particu ars. "He adds" says Mr.. Seward
in his note to Mr.. Motley, "that you do not
pretend to conceal your disgust, as he says
you style it, at the Presidents whole conduct;
that yoa deSpiSe american democracy, and
loudly proclaim that an English gentleman
Is the model Of human perfection; that the
President has deserted his pledges and prin-
ciples in common with Mr.. Seward, who. you
say, Is hopeleSSly degraded" And to such
charges as these Mr.. Seward asks Mr. Motley
to pleadl
Mr.. Motley's reply is IN every way admira-
BILE. He informs Mr.. Seward that, in regard
TO the conduct of our Ministers and Consuls
generally, they are competent to answer for
themselves" This is delicate intimatlon
that Mr.. Motley does not propose to usurp
the functions of the 'ctlzen" at Paris.
As to his own views he remarks -
''As a representative of the foreign policies of
the Government have done my best faithfully
10 DISCHARGE my duties IN strict conformity with
my instructions. In the conflict of opinion in
regard to home questions, especially that OF
reconstruction, my views have never been
asked for by the United States Government and
l should have considered it unbecoming and
superhUOus to volunteer a public declarati ton of
them, as certainly [ should have deemed it NV
duty to express them frankly whenever they
were officially demanded"
But since NJ Seward seems to challenge his
opinions Mr.. Motley briefly and pointedIy
gives them:-
81 have always believed it necessary that
strong guarantees should be taken against the
recurrence OF the Rebellion and the reestablish
ment of some form OF slavery, before the seeded
states should be readmitted to representation in
Congress. Latterly l have inclined to the
opinion that the noblest and the safest course
would be by amendment to the Constitution
prohibiting distinction of race or color in regard
to the attainment Of the franchise, together with
a general amnesty to be pronounced by the
President
These opinions, Mr. Motley says, he has
not hesitated to express in his own house.
hold and to occasional American visitors
never having thought that, because he was
servant OF the American people, he was de-
priVed of the right Of discussing, within his
own walls, the grave subjects that can inte-
rest freemen. He remarks, however, that he
had always been cautious to avoid any ex-
preston of disrespect towards the President
and his Cabinet.
The silly charge of despising American
democracy and of proclaiming an English
gentleman the model of human perfection,
Mr.. Motley well says is so pitiful fabrica-
tiOn that he bushes while he denounces it.
TO the charge that he had called Mr..
Seward "hopelessly degraded" he replies
with dignity that he teels wounded that
Mr.. Seward could have for a moment lis
tened
In conclusion to it Mr.. Motley tenders his
resignation.
Mr.. Seward seems anxious to destroy the
remnants of respect and affection which his
past services in the cause of freedom cause
many people still to entertain for him. He is
in fair way to accomplish that result. The
idea of trumping up a lot of charges like
these against such man as Mr.. Motley
1t would have been more dignified, as well as
truthful, to have simply said to Mr.. Mot
ley "We understand that you still adhere to
those political views which you entertained
the late President Lincoln. Such opinions
being distasteful to President johnson, you
are requested to tender your resignation
UNITED STATES SUITS AGAINST GREAT
RpITAJN.-As more and more light is thrown