Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-18
Privs te.]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, D. o., July l, 1870.
J. LofhrOp Motley, Esq, London
nj am instructed by the President of
the United Stltes to say that he finds it de-
sirahle to make a change in the mission to
En- gland and he wishes to allow you an op
portunity of resigning in case you feel in
clined to do so. With great respect. yours
very truly, HAMILTON FIsH.
He also received few hours earlier tel
egram from Secretary Fish asking him to re-
ply to this note by telegram. On the 14th
Of July be replied by telegram declining to
resign for reasons given in the following let
ter of the same date
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LONDON, July IA, 1870.
SIR II have tho honor to receive your
private letters, from which learned that YOU
are instructed by the President to say that
he finds 1t desirable to make a change in the
mission to England, and that be wishes to
allow me the opportunity of resigning, in
case feel inclined to do so. In compliance
with the request contained in your telegram
of the 10Th inst. have replied this day to
the above mentioned letter, by telegram, in
these words (The text of the above cited
telegram is then given) | have now to OBJ
serve, in further explanation of my course.
that as no reasons are given why l should
resign post to which | was appointed by
the President fifteen months ago, with, be-
lieve, the unanimous consent of the Senate
as | myself know of none, and as | am not
conscious OF having ever omitted to carry out
to the best of my ability the policy and in
structons of the President during the peri
cd Of my mission, | fail to perceive why |
should be asked to offer my resignation.
Certainly it is not my wish to embarrass an
administration which L have always faithful
ly supported, but | owe something to my
self. Were | now to make use of the per-
mission accorded me to resign, it would 81 EN-
that | did so in order TO avoid a removal
which | knew to be Just and to escape a
stigma which / felt to be deserved As
know the record of my mission, as it stand.
in the archives of the department and of thi,
legation, to be free from intentional fault
and as / have therefore no reason to shan The
strictest scrutiny in this regard, l do not Xix,
to have even the appearance of making {
contrary admission. A man is sometime
permitted, as a favor, to resign a post o
honor and respectability, in order to escap
examination, censure and removal. but resig
nation under such circumstances is not
voluntary act, and does not seem to me t
differ essentially from removal. Such pre-
ceedings on my part would perhaps be mis-
understood by many, both at home an
abroad, whose opinions | value.
With great respect, yours very truly,
JOHN LOTHRoP MOTLEY.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen was nominated an
confirmed as successor to Mr.. Motley, Jul
IA, 1869, the day of the date of this lette,
Mr.. Frelinghuysen declined the mission, an
several persons were besought to take it, an
refused and about the first Of last Decen
her Mr. Motley was peremptorily ordered t
leave the mission, which has since been i
charge of Mr.. Moran, secretary of legation
After complying with this order Mr.. Motle
sent to the State Department narrative
these events, and expressed the opinion tbs
his unpopularity with the President gre