, 1870-07-21
THE REMOVAL OF MR. MOTLEY,
Senator Wilson's Letter,

fHHtAyt9H 1<SJ3IrA N rug &ryas1H 1alFH1t
Tic debate in executive session On the cor-
htmation OF 3tr. FIelinEhussen minister to
England way eo unusually interesting that l
rroporc to give brief SUMMARY of It.
Nr. sumner was the first Senator to ereak,
aud he commenced hts remarks by announcing
that he should MAKE no motion. nor seek IN
any way to I'ortpoue the action OF the Senate
nor should i,e vote OIL the titssI question: The
netebge Of tie PRESIDENT snuuunced tile uOm-
iuatou OF Nr. FreliDghuystn. rtr. 1l1. 3Iutlex,
removed. Un tllis Atr. Sumner cummcuted.
saving that tisuissal meant removal OK ejec-
tio,l. and vas i'll the case Of Minister to Eng
lsrJ, Without precedent. Iu the list Of euli-
nent nlen wlu had filled that place there was
no instance Of removal. Nlr. Van Etlrcp failed
III confirmation by the Senate, amt then be-
came a fayorite with the people. slr. Sumner
s0ss 1T n1 MStry as xess
sAone in all his writings, aud even in
the selection OF the subject for lis hs.torv.
Aiot1es's Hi tur. Of tho Dutch Republic was
an argument for liberty aud handbook for
Tie true american: Though living, abroad
American. This Mg. sumter said III reply to
the assertion that somebody was needed in
London more American. Alr. 9fotley$s ar
tlc1es il. the Loudon Times. at the beginning
Of our war for the suppression Of the rebel
lion, Fiudlcafed cur cause aud Interested
President Lincoln 70 much, that OIL his return
in the summer OF 1851, the President received
him with signal cortlial,tr, and read to hin the
message on which he VAS then occupied fnr
the called july session nf Congress. A1r-
sumner then related how Mr. lluilev came
10 receive the mission to Vienna, how he dis
charged his duties there. .ansl hu,s he unEeid the
1.aticnaf cause. being always u1tEa-Amctican.
His despatch Of October, ISL, WAS read, reio;c-
ing il the eIu. .nciFation proclamation aud crit
1cssng MI. Gladstone i famous speech at New
castle. This detrateh waa murh admired bv
Mr.. Seward, who said that he was p-rtcctlr
wiling THAT Motley and Gladstone should si,ua
hattie together Then came the MeC1aeken
letter anu MI. u. 8 resignation Of his post at
Etnna, where he had done 20 much lie re-
Presidential cau:laiu which ended in the elec-
tlcn Of Grant. Ills speech III Boston had an
imraense suectsr. aud was reported At length
not only in tue 1oeton papers, but in the jour
Dals Of New York. Illlaaelphia, Washington,
and probably several Of the Western cities
This Ereech which pleased our candiGate, tien-
esal GEant, was followed By an uprising toward
Als. Motley. who was designated tv the pnLlic
for Secretary OF state or Minister to England
more frequently the former than the latter.
After the Sta OF March and F0me eliEht delay,
Ms. Motley wze nominated for Minister to
England. and since hls arrival there he llas
.heen acquiring ltoeition OF influence by which
the cause Of our country has been benefited
He C3lr: Sunncr} dwelt on the advantages Mr.
Motley has enjoyed from adding bis character
as nan Of letters to his Official place. Office
| and literary SUCCESS when combined are most
| potent, and such IS the Irresistible comlina-
| ton IN Mr. Motley y case Mr.. Sumner insist
ca that there was not an allegation against 3Ir.
AotleE. nor was there any reason whatever as
signed for the blow inflicted upon bim.
In the course Of his remarks Mr. Summer
said that the President had been warned not
10 take this etep- No one had done this with
| more persuasive power than his colleague. Mr..
| Wilson, in letter TO the President, which he
| proceeded to real amidst the most interested
attention Of the Senate. This remarkable let
20 much credit 10 Mr.. Wilson, reads as follows:
at. S. SENATE CHAMBER.
| -..-.-.. WAsHISGTuS, Juls 5, l,sA
| " Fts-aLtnt Grant:
'nEAK SlK-A!ier much reflection | tare lie.
cited that duty detnan1s that l ehouil write tc
Sou ny views tuuchng The proposed removal Of
NJ, NJ Ao1ley. fssr Eo9 III make saa mistake
The case carefully hefore acting. His removal d
believed % bs att1Ed At Nj. Sumner. Right o.
81 .h13 w le ~ nc put upon II
putat1tn rest upon your administration NJ
Motley is one OF the best-1nown 1ntl most h
recognized a. one Of The foremost living auiSors
q our countFy Of Of the world. ot11ct can sdt
iittte 70 bis lcputaton- Removal from once
standing among the most cultiYAtea II IT,
aee. ! assure 5ou, my dear sir, that ths
, nsn Q! AaS.acnusttts, who gave you mort
| ~ ~ 'y'tNV 04aJulIt!t are p5ou0 70 nuuf*!
sons They remember that dariug tie VIII h!s
pen, voice, and Social Influence a11I position were
on ne Ade q his struggling country. TheJ Ee!s
Sdtslui 10 Fon Tor his appointment as Aln.stts y
Enc1and. need not sar that they are su1pHset
1t the torEos that be i 10 te feih6xe1 !as! ~
PANIED - hare 1t sAH that b!a letos2! y u ~
count Of Mr. Summers @ 70 ias e ~ .a, ~ ~
mtpgo uea,y. HIS rciDorM VIII ne Eesafaea y!
the Republicans Of Aassachusetss as Slon M n.y.
| only al him bu, NJ Mr. Sumner. 1hele nas be5E
much feeling about the EeAry. lnplRaeaI Ho1us
| tare teen uttered, IS they DWA!e afe W1e0 ulea
feelings are excited Perhaps Ar. Sumner ma.
| yDu bus the people OF Massachusetts are W1kt
Eim a. ten tu one. Holding, on general principles
that the prominent interests OF the country would
! be advanced BY a footnolf IN the guilt aud
| could do 50. l voted for the treaty, though
knew shst nine-ttrths Of the people OF mr Stat&
were against II had nothing TO gain and some
IniEg 10 lose ~ such = vote an reaiy TO take
the Consequences OF that vote, bnt Rtn nor insen
sib1e to the fact that the dismissal Of Nj. Motley
loss to y6uy administration, hnt how 10 NE
Pcreora ally ask nothing, but do entItat yop. he
| fore acting, TO tG0k well 10 the matter. ftu
administration Is menaced Ly great opposlsion
and 1t Needs peace and unity among the peopl'
and IN Cong1esa The hesd OF great party. th,
President Of the En!teA states. has much to forge
and forgive, but he can aHorl to be msgn apimou
| and forVtFlnE+ want To see the President ant
| Congress In harmony, and the Republican part!
| united and victorious To accomplish this vi
must al be just, caastsable sud fotgtytug. Yer
truly, "HKSRr Wl1EoS.r
Nj. Conkling, IN taking up the cause agaias
Iii. Motley, undertook to as.i6n reasona 10
his recall. One Of them was that in April
1s.3. le hal solu..tee.ed to Htite bis own L