The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-10-21
The English Mission.
way ni~-,.e. Motley wa' Rs~'.ed-

have known no good reas IN for the removal OF
% distinguished gentleman. But Washing
ton correspondent OF the Boston Traveller, who,
evidently. has come authority to speak upon the
subject, throws some light upon the subject,
which Is in regard to matter Of very general
interest, aud we reproduce his letter 4; l
When the President came into office in March
1889. he WAS desrous Of maintaining harmo-
nv In the ranks Of the republican party. lie
therefore made free to consult en- public ques-
tons, certain republicans with whom he had
not previously been on, friendly terms. One OF
those consulted WAS Senator Sumner. who amer
assertaining what policy the President intended
to pursue. made known his determination to
.upDort the administration. AZ the personal
REQUEST OF Mr.. Sumner the President appointed
Mr.. Motley as Minister 20 the court OF 81
james, IN succeed Reyerdy johnson. The APP
pointment was everywhere regarded as the very
bs-t that could have been made. and the Prcsi-
dent vas fully convinced that Mr.. Motley would
not aosns his predecessor dii, and bring the
diplomatic service Of the United States into rid
isulc. l.I
soon after the appointment was male Senator
Summer called on Secretary fisi and said to
him that Mr.. Motley woull like 10 prepare his
own Instructions AMI submit them Tor approval
or alteration. The most difficult matter which
Mr.. Motley would have to deal with was the
question Of the settlement Of the Alabama
claims. This, Mr.. Sumner said, Mr.. Motley
bal studiel carefully and was prepared to enter
upon the work uuderstsndiugly, but, as he had
placed his views in writing, the manuscript had
better be submitted to the Secretary aud by him
IN the President. Mr.. Fish replied that the
President had his own views regarding the dif-
fsrences between tbs country and Great Britain
anl would probably want them carried out, but
there would be no objection to MIR. Motley sub
hitting the paper he had drawn up. In short
time af,erward this paper was handed to Mr..
Fish, who, upon examination found 10 oe
very lengthy-about l04 pages foolscap-and
not containing view In accord with those enter
t,ii o. by the President. In returning the
m nu,crip', Secretary Fish informed Senator
Sumner that the paper was an admirable essay
and ought to he published, but was not in any
way suitable for the purpose Cor which 1t vas
written, rs IL did not express the views enter
t.inel by the administration ON the Alabama
question.
Mr.. Fsa then prepared Mr.. Motley's iustruc-
tons rs ordered by the President, and in these
Mr.. Motley Was directed 20 inform Lord Claren-
don that the President did not object 30 much TO
the time when the proclamation OF neutrality
hal been issued as 10 the course Of the British
government subsequently thereto. The instruc-
tons were handed Mr.. Motley and he departed
for London, and in the course Of few weeks an
cillcial despatch was received announcing his
presentation to Lord Clarendon.
In reading this dispatch. Mr.. Fish, to his
great surprise. found that Mr.. Motley In his pre-
seutation had expressed sentiments 10 Lord
Clarendon directly opposite 10 those contained
in the Presidents instructions. In fact, he had
totally ignored his Instructions, misrepresent-
cd the policy Of the President, aud expressed In
sn official manner his own private views as set
firth in the n anuscript which he wanted Mr..
Fish TO sign as instructions. To make matters
all the worse. Mr.. Fish, six weeks amer the re
esipt OF Mr.. Motley's despatch, learned that be-
fore the dispatch had been forwarded Mr.. Mot
ley hal submitted Il TO Lord Clarendon. thus
making IL OF the most formal character and not
a confidential communication 10 his own govern
ment. In communicating this dispatch MIR.
Motley made no reference to is having been re
sed by Lord Clarendon, and both the Prcsi-
dcut and Secretary Of State were mislel rs to
It's importance The President upon having the
text Of MIR. Motley's dispstch real TO him, was
VERY indignant that his insti uetions hal been
disobeyed. "lf Motley" he said. with much
eArnestness, ''cinnct obey Instructions, we must
fnl Minister who can"
Ne. Motley was Immediately censured for his
unexplained course. and instructed TO correct at
once the position In which he had thus placed
the government. and to inform Lori Clarendon
as TO the true policy Of the administration as set
forth IN his instructions. AZ the same time he
was also directed to inform Lord Clarendon that
the President desired that In future all nesots-
tons having in view the settlement ofthe Ala
ban, claims. he conducted at Washington.
Thus carly AFTER Mr.. Motley had reached
London the President became dissatisfied and
.utert,iuel the ilea Of removing him. Mr..
Mo,iey's course at this time may, therefore, be
considered ne the drst cause which subsequently
lei 30 his removal.
When the President manifested. = friendly
FEELING towards Mr.. Sumner by appointing his
friend to the English mission. he understood
that Il was the intention Of Mr.. Sumner TO sup
port the policy OF his administration and contrib
ute all possible aid 20 make II triumphant. So.
therefore, when the treaty for the purchase OF
san Domingo was negotiated, the President early
sought Mr.. Sumner at his own house to lay be
fore him his views and 10 obtxin the support OF
the distinguished Chairman Of the Committee OF
Foreign Relations in the Senate. 10 the treaty.
The President explained to Mr.. Sumner in the
presence Of two witnesses, what he desired him
to do; anil the great advantage 10 be derived by
nm immediate ratification Of the treaty. Afer
somewhat prvtracted interview the President
arose TO 90, when Mr.. Sumner said to him 81
shall support your administration, and the
President left. under the impression that he
would have powerful ally in the person Of MIR.
sumner. Both Of the other gentlemen who wers
pryssnt during the interview, also formed the
- IL .s..t. Lit a "a.
the treaty in the Senate.
When then information was brought him that
Mr.. sumner Was expressing himself hostile 10
the ratification Of the treaty, the President did
not credit Il, and said this could not Be 20, as
Mr.. Sumner had assured him in Language not
10 be misunderstood. OF his intention TO SUP
port the administration. and the treaty for the
purchase Of San Domingo was purely an adj
mini,trstye measure. fine. however. reveal
eli Mr.. Summers determined opposition to the
measure. AMI 10 him Is attributed It's final de-
feat. with the strong support Of Mr.. Sumner
the President believed the treaty would be rat
iacl, but with him against il the ALLURE Of the
project was surr. The President therefore felt
that Mr.. Sumner had not acted in an honorable
manner with him. lie hal promised TO support
the policy Of the administration. AMI yet led
the hIsie against II within n very short time
Afterwards. As Mr. Sumner had openly OPPos.
sd the policy Of the President, the latter did
not consider that he ought 10 retain in one Of
the most important Offices within bis gin q per-
son who was appointed to please Mr.. Sumner.
while this Of Itself would not have justified the
President In removing Mr.. Motley. still. coupled
with other causes, u furnished In the opinion Of
che President an additional rpason FOR making
achange. .l'
The oppOsition Of Mr.. Sumner 10 the San
Domingo treaty may therefore be regarded as
a second cause for Mr.. Motley's removal.
In the early part Of the present year. the
Prsiient became much pleased with sou OF
Secretary Fish, and conceived the hea un-
known to his f,ther, Of having him In the di-
plomatic service. Gen. Adam B>dean, Consul
G.x.cral NJ. Ior.lut, hui fnrtnerlx military