Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-02-15
rHE MOTLEY CoBBEsPoyDEHCE.

THE MOTLEY CORRESPONDENCE
J. Lothrop Motley, author of his
tory of the Netherlands entitled the
Rise of the Dutch Republic, " is our
Minister to the Austrian Court. He
is one of the ripest scholars, finest
writer's and most polished gentlemen
this country has produced-at once an
accomplished historian, thorough
republican patriot, aud an ornament
to our American civilization. Few men
have been sent to represent US abroad
whose character and talents have been
calculated to convey to foreigners as
fattering and impressive an idea of the
true spirit and progress of American
institutions as those of Mr.. Motley.
So far as the public yet knows. few OF
our foreign representatives have been
able to discharge the duties Of their
station with more earnest zeal, more
finished grace, or more distinguished
ability.
But we have nervous old man In
our State Department His mind
quenohed Of It's ancient fire and dis
armed OF its Old-time vigor, has be-
come the tool of conservatism and the
prey of petty jealOusies and old-Wo-
manish anxieties. To this individual
recently came a letter, ostensibly ad-
dressed to the President, from some
irresponsible jackanapes calling him
self g. W. McCrackan, who has been
mousing about Europe and insinuat-
ing his worthless self into the acquain-
tance of our foreign consuIs and Min
isters. Concerning these gentlemen
by associating with whom he ought to
have learned at least that first prin-
oiple of a gentleman never, by pre-
tense even, to betray private conf
dence,-he sends off to Seward and
Andy a batch of absurd gossip, rep
resenting them as "a very Indifferent
set Individually and collectively" and
as bitterly hostile to Andy and his
policy, which they unreservedly de-
nounee. Among the gentlemen thus
maligned, if indeed maligned we may
call it for one to be represented as op-
posed to johnson and his isms, are
Mr.. Hale, Minister to Madrid, Mr..
Morris, at COnstantinople, Mr.. Moth,
at Tangier, MIR. Adams, at London,
Mr.. Perry, at Tunis, Mr.. Murphy, at
Frankfort, and Mr.. Motley at Vienna.
Concerning the latter, jackanapes Nc
Craeken says that he does not pre-
tend to conceal his disgust, as he styles
it elegantly, at your (Johnson's) whole
conduct" The wonder is that any
body should be so shalloW-brained as
to suppose a man Of sense could con-
ceal such a sentiment without more
self-control than is commonly voueh-
safed to mortals. But further pro-
ceeds veracious McCracken Having
been appointed exclusively by Charles
Sumner, he applauds him and his rev.
olutionary doctrines, despises Ameri-
can democracy, and proclaims loudly
that an English nobleman is the mod
ell of human perfection. There is not
in Europe more thorough funkey,
or more un-American functionary.
He tells every traveller that x
you have deserted your principles in
common with Mr. Seward, who, he
says, is hOpelessly degraded"
That anybody should give any at
tention to such silly twaddle about a
man like Mr.. Motley would be aston
ishing, yet it was deemed of sufficient
by the Secretary Of State
to call forth letter from him to Mr..
Motley, reiterating the charges, and in
quiring whether they were true. To
ask whether such charges, made by an
irresponsible and unknown person,
were true was itself an inexcusable in
suit, but Mr.. Motley in manly and dig
nifed phrase, as becomes him, replies
that his first impulse was to make a fiat
denial of the charges, but, preferiDg to
leave 10 doubt concerning his political
views, explains that he thinks the no
blest and safest course would be to so
amend the Constitution as to abolish.
the distinctions Of race or color with .
respect to franchise, and at the same
time declare a general amnesty. These [
views he had confessed to an occasion
al visitor in the privacy of his house
hold. He had always avoided disre-
ipeotful expressions concerning the
President and Cabinet and had cham
2ioned our American republicanism on
III proper occasions, He very proper
y declines to answer the other pitiful
abrieatiOns concerning him, and con-