Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-28

Consul Butief and the state Department.
The following letter from the acting secretary
Of state in reply TO letter addressed to the de-
partment, was referred to in the Washington
dispatches day or two ago:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Sept. IS, 1872.
Sir:-Your communication of the Sth instant,
covering printed letter cut from a newspaper
bearing the signature of the Rev. J. b. Lee, has
been received. The department readily accOrls
credence to the testimony which you bear to Mr..
Lees eminent position and influence in the hon
orable profession to which he belongs. Mr.. Lee
writes under the impression that the president
removed Mr. Hale from the office of consul gen
eral Of the United States in Egypt, and after
appointing Mr. George II. Butler to that post,
delayed for more than two years TO act upon the
representations against Mr.. Buffers continu-
ance in office made TO the president by COM
mittee in behalf Of the American missionaries
in Egypt. Mr. Lee represents near the begin
ming of his letter that Mr.. Butler has been con-
sui general "for the past three years." and in
no less than four other passages in his letter
Mr.. Lee speaks oil the request for Mr.. Buffers
removal as having been unheeded for "two
years." in two instances he says more than
two years" A brief statement of facts and
dates will suffice 10 remove the misapprehen-
sions under which Mr.. Lee writes, and will show
that the views Of those with whom he sympa-
thizes have not been disregarded in the manner
which he describes.
office of cOnsul-general, in accordance with an
intention which he had frequently expressed
not to remain another winter in Egypt, where
he had already spent six years in office. Mr..
Butler assumed charge of the consulate general
on the 23d of May, 1870. The memorial of the
board of foreign missions of the united Presby-
terrain church, making complaint of Mr.. Butler,
bears date of the 25th of October, 1871 Cess
than one year ago) 1t asked, in express terms,
that commission shall be appointed to inves-
tigate the character and conduct of the consul
general of Egypt" This memorial is believed
10 have been presented by committee in per.
son. 1t received the immediate attention of the
president, and was referred by him to the de-
partment OF state. The department had already
to wit, on the 4th of September, 1S71-antici-
pated the wish of the committee by requesting
the treasury department to assign the conduct
of the investigation to one of its special agents
authorized by congress TO examine consular
accounts. General Staring was assigned for
this duty by letter of the secretary of the treas
ury bearing date September 5. He was already
in Europe, and arrived in Egypt on the 23d of
November, 1S71-that is TO saw within less than
month of the date of the interview in which
the committee requested the president to cause
an investigation to be made. The investigation,
in the opinion of General Staring, required a
journey to Khartoum, in Upper Egypt, and a
considerable time was occupied in making it.
His report was received in the course OF the
Liohhh VI oulg tillo NCstis vi liiC AOu vi
month Mr.. Butler was suspended from office by
the president, and Mr. Beardsley was designated
in his place.
You will perceive, therefore, that Mr.. Butler
has not been retained in Office "for the past
three years" as stated by Mr.. Lee, but that his
whole term in Egypt exceeds two years by only
two months; and that the interval after the
complaint of the committee to the president and
his removal Tor rather suspension agreeably to
the terms OF the tenure of office actl was not
1.-TWO years" or more than two years." but less
than niue months; and that it is incorrect to say
that the report of Gen. Staring was Suppressed
for months until after the Philadelphia conven-
ton, since the report was mot received until
after the convention, and the removal was made
within fortnight after its receipt. Moreover,
the first lntlmation made known to the depart
ment of an intention on the part of the Amer-
can missionaries in Egypt to seek the protection
of another consulate than that of the United
States was contained in a letter from them bear
ing date 10th July, 1872, addressed to the board
OF foreign missions of the united Presbyterian
church, by whose officers it was forwarded to
the department with letter dated 10Th August
which was received at the department on the
9th of August, 1872. This letter was answered
without delay lin letter of which | enclose a
copy), the terms of which, it was believed, would
satisfy the missionaries that their intention need
not be carried into execution. Mr. Lee is ac-
cordingly incorrect when he represents that the
pealing more than two years in vain to the pres
ident for protection as American citizens, to seek
naturalization and protection from the British
government" The communication of their in
tenton, IN certain contingencies, to seek new
nationality, bears date but few DAYS prior to
the date of the suspension of Mr.. Butler, and
was in point OF fact not received in this country
until after the suspension had been made
1t is matter Of regret when clergyman of
the high standing and influence enjoyed by Mr..
Lee gives currency to views founded in misap-
prehension. Would he be content that any
friend of his in the consular service should be
displaced without hearing? and will he, upon
reflection, Judge the administration blame
worthy because the action of the president was
based upon report in the case? or will he CON
slider, on revising the dates as they are now ex-
actly stated, that an unreasonable time was
given to the examination of the repOrtr | am,
sir, your obedient servant,
CHARLES HALE, Acting Secretary