The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-14

| ing special committee to investigate our
relations with Mexico. This is, OF course,
mere surinise, but it arises naturally enough
| out Of the circumstances. In the first place
the appointment Of special committee for
such q purpose is unusual. Our foreign
| intercourse is managed by the Secretary OF
State under the direction Of the President.
Each house OF Congress has standing Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, and 1t is the
habit Of these committees to rely
on the Secretary of State for informa-
ton respecting matters falling within their
province He is the centre Of vast net
work Of communication covering all coun-
tries with which we hold diplomatic in
tercourse. All our foreign Ministers are
agents to supply him with facts, and as
their dispatches are protected by rule OF
secrecy the Secretary Of State learns great
deal which does not come to the public
knowledge. Being always accessible to the
chairman Of the Foreign Relations Committee
Of each house he communicates to them in
confidence whatever it is needful for them
to know to guide their judgment. The APP
pointment of rowing special committee
empowered to visit any places they may
think fit, to send for persons and papers,
and to confer with the executive de-
partment Of the government implies dis
trust of the Secretary Of State. 1t being his
constant business to acquire the kind of in
formation this special committee is to coll
lect its appointment looks like reflection
either on the efficiency or the candor of the
Secretary of State 1t is not surprising,
therefore, that public curiosity is active re-
specting Senator Conkling's purpose.
In the next place the we'll known politi-
cal jealousy and hostility between the New
York Senator and the Secretary of State sup
plies conjecture with motive for this ex-
traordinary committee. 1t is supposed that
the Senator is bent on forcing the Secretary
out Of the Cabinet, and that this committee is
intended as q lever for lifting him out of
his place. The method is astutely con-
trived if there are any damaging facts to be
revealed, which we do not believe. But
Mr.. ConAling evidently has his suspicious
and hopes to verify them by means of his
special committee. This committee, unlike
the standing Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, will not receive any information in
confidence either from the Secretary of
State or any of its other Witnesses and will
be at liberty to spread before the country
all the facts and documents it can rake to-
gether in the form Of report to the Senate.
If it succeeds in discovering any thing it can
make damaging use of it. It's plan
of procedure will doubtless be to
gather all it can from other sources before
inviting the Secretary of State to appear
before it, meanwhile keeping secret what it
has collected and making it the basis Of the
questions which they will put to him.
Should there be discrepancies between his
answers and the facts in their possession
they will call his attention to documents or
other evidence and invite explanations. If
it be their intention to embarrass him in.
this way they will probably fail, for we do
not believe there is anything which he has
o personal motive to conceal. It is perhaps
imagined that he last spring favored
hostilities with Mexico with view
to annexing her northern provinces,
and that he compromised himself on
that subject either in conversation or in
writing. Even if that could be proved we
do not see that it would be very damaging.
Many of our first statesmen have, at ono
time and another, coveted Cuba, coveted
Canada, coveted st. Domingo, coveted
new slice of Mexico; but they never suf-
fered very seriously in public estimation in
consequence. just now, indeed, the Ameri-
can people are pretty unanimous against
war with Mexico and annexation of Next
can territory; and if it should be made to
appear that Mr.. Evarts last spring favored
either he might not be judged quite as len
iently as our manifest destiny" statesmen
have been heretofore. But the lack Of indul-
gence would not result from the nature of the
error, but from republican hostility, which
is in want of Q pretext against him so long
as he holds his position ut the head Of the
Cabinet.
But, despite the party manGuvre and
personal hostility by which this special
committee may have been begotten there is
no reason to regret that it is to be APP
pointed, nor that SO vigorous and inter-
ested statesman as Mr.. Conkling is likely
to be placed at its head. Whether he sue
ceeds or fails in fcrreting out anything
against the Secretary of State he cannot
afford to stand in the attitude of setting on
foot such an inquiry merely to crafty
his political resentments. II Mr.. Evarts
is inculpated it must seem to be
an incidental consequence Of inquiries
having q wider scope. The committee will
feel bound, especially if Mr.. Conkling
should be its chairman, to make states.
manlike report on the important questions
which it is appointed to investigate. The
Mexican question is one of the two or three
important questions which now occupy pub
lie attention, and an able committee should
place the whole subject in a clear light. Its