New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-31
pnLIrR LEr1ER WRITTNG.

POLITE LETTER WRITING.
Great paintershav occasionally kept in their
galleries. though Sir Joshua Reynolds held the
practice to be dangerous, the worst possible
mixtures, in order to be constantly reminded OF
faults to be avoided. The Spartans taught
their children the blessings of tenn
perance by exhibiting a drunken He
lot "a warning. All along our
coasts we build lighthouses for the benefit of
mariners. Farmers in their corn-felds hang
up dead crows to brighten the birds from
pilfering, and the chief object of prisons and
gibbets is not to punish but to prevent crime.
Upon this general principle we suggest that
all future Secretaries Of State should keep
copy of Mr.. Stewards letter to Mr.. Motley
constantly before them, as perpetual re-
minder of what Diplomatic Correspondence
should not be.
Mr.. Seward appears to have forgotten not
only Mr.. MOtleys position, but his own, when
he wrote this letter upon no better au-
thOrity than that of q spy, who, by his own
showing, was not entitled to the slightest credit.
The authorized speaker for the Executive
of the United States should preserve the
decencies of official intercourse, under any
real provocahon how then can he outrage
them upon the mere report of an
eavesdropperR Mr.. Seward cannot even ex-
cuse his letter upon the plea that this tale
bearer was a trustworthy person, selected by
himself for the duty, for his report, to any in
telligent reader, would prove that the keyhole
must have been too small for the creatures
eve, or that the draught whistliDg through 1t
had interfered with his hearing. Receiving
such a report, Mr.. Seward should have refused
even to entertain it, except on legal proof that
the crack in the door was large enough to
transmit conversation correctly.
But the Secretary chose to place against the
official position of Mr. Motley, his distinguished
rank as a man of letters, his acknowledged
patriotism, the scribblings Of vagabond, whose
name even he was ashamed TO give Mr.. Motley,
as authority; probably the same person, " so en-
"tircly obscure" that Mr.. Sumner regarded
similar letter "as nothing but anonymous, and
"threw it into the fire. Upon such idle
or wicked report of a spy, self-constituted or
employed, he chose to ask Mr.. Motley for con-
fession of want Of patriotism, cOntradicted by
every word that gentleman has ever uttered
Mr. Seward is probably the only American
who can find no pleasure in reading Mr.. Mot
LEWIS reply. lie has the satisfaction of know
ing that Mr.. Motley with diplomatic reserve,
has contented himself with denying that nc
ever said that Mr.. Seward is "hoDeessiy de-
" graded or that Mr.. Johnson's "whole con-
" duct is disgusting He is
Not bound to all that slaves are free TO-
Utter his thoughts"
Nor has Mr.. Seward anything to do with what
Mr. Motley may think, or even what he may
say. in the privacy Of his household when
blissfully ignorant of Mr.. Stewards agent at
the keyhole or in tho chimney. We respect
that privacy we do not even presume to con-
lecture how far Mr.. Motley's opinion OF
the Secretary was changed upon reading
his letter But we are glad to know
what Mr.. Motley does think of subject
infinitely more important-the reconstruction
of the Union--and we attach special value to
his opinions upon that question, as they are
those of man who, since 1861, has been
calm observer Of American affairs, uninflu
enced by the struggles of parties, and beyond
the dust and smoke of the battle. Not ordinary
respect should be given to such man when he
declares that strong. guarantees should be taken
against another. Rebellion and the reestablish-
ment of Slavery, before we admit the Southern
States TO Congress and that the "noblest and
"the safest course would be an amendment of
the Constitution establishing Impartial Suffrage
and General Amnesty. ThOsgh Mr.. Seward
may be uncertain rs to what AIr. Motley thinks
of him, he can have no doubt of his thoughts
of that wicked fatal policy for which the Sec
rotary has betrayed his own past and sought
to betray the future of his country.
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