Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-09


lister to England, and the Department of State.
The report embraces large mass Of matter,
but the most interest lies in the closing letter of
Mr.. Motley, and the review of it by MIR. Fish.
Mr. Motley, in his letter to Mr.. Fish. dated
Deem Der 1th, which was the last official letter
he wrote while Minister. acknowledges the re-
ceipt of his letter OF recall, and states that no
took leave Of Her Majesty on December 9th
last, aud retired from the mission on the day
following, leaving the archives OF the mission
in the hands of Mr. Moran. He states that on
the 25ih Of June last he learned that the Presi-
dent had determined to recall him, aud that at
would he impossible for any diplomatic agent
q believe himself as more thoroughly possess
ing the confidence or the government which he
had the honor 10 serve than [ supposed mgseif
TO enjoy at that moment"
No intimstion OF contemplated change
had been II ade to me; no shadow OF difference
OF opinion existed between the President aud
bis government and myself as to our relations
with Great Britain or any other power, or az to
the general policy of the Administration; and
WAS at that period engaged in a delicate ana
confidential diplomatic correspondence with
yourself and the British government upon sew
eral important matters as could well be con-
tded BY government to its foreign agent. The
report in the newspaper. L dismissed there
fore, as an idle rumor, the Presiden. OF
the United States being incapable, as L
believed, of thus dealing with public
servant whom he had himself so recently ap-
pointed. Had a change been contemplated 1
felt certain that should have been privately
L.
Had any charges against me of dereIiciiou from
duty been possible, 1 was sure they would have
been preferred to my face, SO that l would
have the opportunity OF answering them. Had
the public service or even the eIigencies OF
party politics made a change in this mission
necessary IN the opinion OF the President,
would have appTized me Of the tact, aud the
reasons, coupled with the acknowledge
meI 10 which l felt myself entitled, that
1 had been Jealous and faithful in the
II scl lrOa Af f0h with uuhs ul,
President and Senate had honored me
No man has the right to doubt that in such case
Ishould have at once offered my resignation.
Nineteen days later than the appearance OF the
original announcement, frequently repeated
and commented upon afterwards by the Journals
OF the United States and this country, had
the hcnor to receive, on the 18th of july let
ter from yourself to the following effect:
Private. l-DKPARTMENT OF STATE, Wash
inG'on, lst July, 1870. J. Lathrop Motley, Esq.
London Sir: j Am instructed by the President
OF the United States TO say that he inds it de-
sirable 70 make q change in the mission to Eng
land, and that he wishes TO allow you the OPP
portUNity OF resigniDg, in case you feel lnclned
TO do so. Your, very respectfully.
HAMILTON FISK.
Complying with the request contained in
your brief telegram received few hours later
than your letter, tridnight, 18th OF July
which wa. to the effect sam directed to Say the
President would like an answer by telegraph 20
my letter OF the LIST inst" | sent you on the Iith
al respectfully request you to inform the
the President that feel compelled 20 decline
the ofier which he makes in q ing me an eppor-
tunity OF resigning my post. for consideration.
which are set forth IN full in my letter OF to-
day"
Tho telegraph soon informed the uerli that
gentleman was nominated 10 the Senate As my
successor on that same day, 14th July, and that
be was confirmed on the 18th"
In his letter TO Secretary Fish, dated july
11th, MIR, Motley say VS. have now to observe
in further explanation of nv course, that a
No reasons are given me why should resign the
pct To which was appointed by the President,
with, believe, the unanimous consent of the
ST nate, as !, myself, know Of none: and As
l Am Lot conscious Of having ever omitted to
carry out, to tie best Of my ability, the pole,
and instructions of the President during the
period Of nv mission. fail TO perceive why I
should Ciier my resignation. Certainly II
! is lot my wish to embarrsss An Admins
tratiOn which l have always faithfully
supported; but L owe something t. myself
Were now TO make use OF the permission &C
corded TO me to resign ii would seem that did
so in order 20 avoid removal WI ch knew 20
he Just and to escape stigma which / felt to be
deserved. As know the record OF nv mission
as 1t stands on the archives OF the Tepart-
inert and OF this legation to be free from
International fault, and ~ L have there
fore no rea on to siun the strictest scru-
tiny in this regard L do not like TO have
tven the appearance of making contrary al
niIssion. A man is sometimes pernitted 10 re-
sign post CT honor and responsibility in order
to escape examination, censure and removal
brit resignation under such circumstances is moi
q voluntary act, and does not seem TO me to
differ essentially from removal. Such pro-
misunderstood by many both at hon.
and abroad whose opinions L value.
United states, accredited to the sovereign of a
powerful government, with more marked dis
respect for his Off al position for his feelings
as a loyal citizen eff the republic, than has beer
done in my case. So far as 1 am aware, no
regularly confirmed Minister At this Court has
| ever been removed by tho President who APP
Mr.. Motley then reviews his course at great
length, and quotes number OF letters which
passed between himself and Lord Granville,
and which have heretofore been made public,
and concludes by protesting against the out
rage, (as he believes,) entirely without prece-
dent, OF his peremptOry removal.
Secretary Fish. in bis letter to Mr.. Moran,
dated December 80, 1870, reviewing Mr.. Mot
ley's course says 1t may possibly occur to
some sensitive persons that delicacy, not to say
propriety, would suggest 20 retired official OF
the government, wishing to place his views on
its Official archives, to make q request TO thai
effect, which certainly would have been mos.
eheeTfully accorded To gentleman of Mr.. Not
iey's eminent distinction and great ability;
but Mr.. Motley having closed his mission asks
no permission, but assumes as right TO place
his statement on record. Questioning the taste
and denying the right of this assumption,
L nevertheless allow place in the diplo-
matte records OF the country to Mr.. Mot
ley's history of the end of his mission
1t is not for me to question the measure
ton III the confidence Of his government,
but L cannot accept his statement
that no shadow of difference of opinion exist
ed between the President aud his government
and himself as to our relations with Great
Britain" The Secretary then reviews, with
cons der able severity, MIR. Motley's course at
length, and states that the instructions given
TO Mr.. Motley at the time Of his appoint
ment were not fully carried out by him rs
Minister, and censures him for submit
ting to Lord Clarendon Q dispatch for yeri-
hcaton before submitting it to his own gov
eminent. The Secretary says. in comment
ing On Mr.. Motley's statement as to the una
niMity OF the Senate on the occasion of mis-
confirmation, and as to the cause Of his re-
movai -" 1t remains only to notice Mr.. Mot
leys adoption of the rumOr, which had its
origin in this city in source bitterly, person-
ally and yindctively hostile to the President"
MIR. Motley says it has been rumored that he
was removed from the post Of Minister to Eng
land on account OF the opposition n ade by an
eminent Senator who honors him with hisfriend-
ship to the San Domingo treaty. There can be
TO question a. to the Identity of the eminent
Senator ct whose door Mr.. Motley Is willing 10
deposit his removal. And it is unworthy of Mr.
Aotley's real merit and ability, and an in3us-
tite to the honorable Senator alluded to, ITO
whose influence and urgency he was originally
indeb ed for his nOmDatisn,) to attribute to
Eim the cause OF his renewal"
Mr.. Fish says Nj. Motley must know that
many Sc majors opposed the San Domingo treaty
Cpenlv. and with as unuch eficiency "A did M