The New York herald., 1877-10-28
JAYO ON MOTLEY
Vindication Of the Great Historians
Diplomatic Career.
THE APPEAL TO HISTORY.
Grants Own Admissions Used to
Clear Motley.

Tho Hon John Jay has prepared elaborate docu-
msnt protesting against the action OF tho Now York
Historical Society in excluding from the memorial OF
Mr.. Motley which has been inserted in their minutes
ali notice OF the facts In bis diplomatic career con-
nected with his dismissal from Vienna and London
Mr. jays statement OF The facts relating to houeys
dismissal Us drawn up in form OF letter to the
editors Of International Review and will appear IN
HE OF thai journal for November and December.
Mr. Jay devotes = few sentences at the beginning OF
his letter recital Of tho Historical societys course
In ignoring Mo.sys appeal TO history. dc ADDS 'ne
following comments.-
Ny impression that that appeal 10 history,
by an h,sLo rian no had done much for history,
was that Historical Society had no right 70 ~
thought that IN adopting tribute 70 hoteys
memory. 70 refuse his appeal from she pas
and inrigues OF the hour 70 the verdct OF MS
and refuse 70 place the act hAt ne uo so hp-
ps. upon of,he society would De in truth
wrong TO the dead which tho society should DC the
last 70 oer Sad 'noasn mat 'saa says sn,s
frankly and respectfully 10 submit some reasons
Why cannot admit the right OF The society TO ignore
Moiiey's appeal to history and why especially
gret that the society should have taken such step
lust alter General Grant had made oppor une and in-
leresting disclosures touching his dismissal, which
confirm Mr. Motley's conviction that the coincidence
but that his removal with the position
pi ME Sumner In the Senate on The ST. Domingo
ueaty.
OBJECTIONS THE APPEAL
The Historical Soc,ety refused 70 inscrt in their
minutes memorial OF Motley, drawn up by Mr. Jay.
They stated that in treating OF Mr.. Motley's dipo-
matic career Mr Jay uttered structures on the gov
ernment OF which it would be improper Tor them
Ms society 70 express such approval might be i'm
piled by entry their minulos When this argu-
ment was reluted member Of the society claimed
that respect tor Molley's memory prevented them
rom "alonc declaring over his grave that his course
In public affairs wxs unsatisfactory TO his govern
ma Mr. Law nj 4 Arg
The assumption here Is stronger against Mot
ley and In favor OF the government Than IN the
the world that the treatment be mad received at
Vienna and a. London had nothing Whatever TO DO
was Inspired in eacn case by motives OF domestic pol
Icy or personal ambition Hc hold that the charges
against HIM anuiactured Tor purpose and that
history would vndlcate his course. ln proposing
thersfore that the Historical Society IN tribute TO
Motley should conceal The two chioi events In bis d.
plomatic career from tenderness 10 his memory, is
there Implied, his part, dereiiction OF official
ouiy both IN Austria and in Great Britain which
aroused the dsapprovai Of bis government and over
which The society should charitaoy draw . vail
Nh. MorLEY's STATEMENT
Even Ii it be assumed that Presidents Johnson and
Grant believed that their treatment OF Mr. Motley was
dictated by the patriotism and the ampest cause,
and that, so their knowledge went he was IN
The victim OF political intrigue, Motley him.
sell declared belief that neither mad the
government the smallest Justification for action
A. Vienna IN 1867, charges preferred
which he pronounced "fase and vile" and iniamous
hbelan The reputsd author, hecracken, who has
never since been identified he believes to be myth,
. sham and . fraud; and the question who wrote
sS. ssr ana shy M oy s wn
coming seli-respect immediately denounced the
charges and tenderod his resignation, when was
cury accepted without one word IN regard 10 hts dis
Chalmers While Minister at London, the inttmation.
date OF July l. $780, that mis- resignation would
be accepted, was uIaccompanicd BY any cnarge; and
on tho l2tn oil July h,s reply was requesed ~ ieio-
gram. THIS time Mr. Motley respectfully declined 10
resign, saying that TO do so, 1t that time, would
amount 70 admitting tho charges to DO true and the
stigma OF removal deserved
GovxRSzESr's STORY.
On tho 10th OF November Mr. Motley wes recalled
and ordered TO commit the legation 10 the hands Of
the Secretary, Mr.. Moran, and II was not until the
Both OF december, 1870, tnat the government by way
OF defending his removal and reply 10 his nnai
test formal accusations against the deposed
Minister letter addressed to Mr.. Moran To thoso
late accusations Mr. Motley, kecniy as ne felt never
sepeu asa p ,Da rs
markablc letter were not aimed at Mr. Motley alone
With seeming ierge.iulness Of the proprietics OF
official intercourse, the President deemed It becoming
10 make despatch to our Charge az London the We
hcie tor assailing before the world with unmstekaoe
Intention the integrity OF the Chairman OF the
Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs IN reference
70 the ST. Domingo s.heme, to imputo 10 him
s'betTayal OF conhdencc," TO imply that he was
some the words and assurances OF friendship
TO u secret and determined hostility" and 20
let Europe understand that the President looked upon
Mr. sumner with "scorn and contempt" Mr. Sum-
ners review OF that despatch, ana his answer to It's
prepared March, 1871, which may be found in the
New YORK Tribune OF April o. 1874.
GENERAL GRANT THROWS LIGHT.
This paper invested with interest by the
recent revelations made by General Grant OF the true
motives OF Mr. Mo,ley's removal and the tact IL CON
hrmed by the ex- President hmscif that the
and date or his recall were directly connected with
Mr. Sumner and tho 81 Domingo Treaty. THIS serves
to the erroneous statements IN the despatch
20 Moran, among which were tho following
/. That Mr. Motley In his interview With the Earl OF
Clarendon, described In his despatch No. oil June IL
15G had not represented the government under their
instructions OF May l5 2 But tnat he hao in mind
guido something else, and the uespalch alluded 10
"a speech made In the Senate" by MI sumner as II
sumnsr's views on the Alabama question neon
Bislent with the nstruclions 10 Motley g. That the
ropy Of the department dated 2stn OF June, 1869
nOuncing the Presidents wish thai when
discussions on the Alabama claims should be renewed
they should be conducted IN the United statos vas IA
rebukc, and practical proof oi want OF conf
dencen 4. That time when the President decided
that Motey should remain 'as the representative
OF the government longer than the exgonces OF tho
public service might require" was in October, 1869,
that u that decision was the announce
Insnt Dy Mr. Motley on the 30th Of July by despatch
received at Washington on the lltn OF August but not
brought TO the Knowledge OF tho government until
October, that Mr. Motley bad inadvertently omitted TO
Say hts aerpGtcn OF June IL that It's narration OF
the interview with Lord Clarendon had been sub
muied to and approved by that Minister g. Tnat
there was no meaning In the coincidence
noted by Mr.. Motley when he said that the ''Senato
rejected the lSt Domlngol treaty the Both OF Juno
bt this year sT0l anu that the letter requesting his
resignation was written The next day-narneIy On tho
ist OF July" g. That tho reection 81 the ST domingo
tresfy could not have had thing DO with Motleys
dismissal, because tno treaty Was practically dead
July l, 1870 That the time OF inviting Mr.. Mot
ley TO make place Tor successor was in fact deter
mined by inc death OF Lord Clarendon tho 27th oil
June 1870
ANSWERING ruK ADMINISTRATION
Touching shrse statements put forth by the govern
mont defence Of their action and published ny The
senate, trends OF Mr. Motley held a. that IL
too late object after the lapse year TO the
despatch No. oil May IL, which at the time they had
rommenied t2l that II was scarcely fair object
Mr. Motley reflected Mr. summers views, when the
government had SO constantly appealed TO Mr. sumner
Tor advice, and had embodied his views English
question IN tho instructions TO Mr. Motley OF May,
1893 ( that the removal OF this discussion Wash
iDgton had been decided on, not from want OF comb
dence In Mr. Motley, but tor the reason officially do
clared 70 Mr. sumner that 81 Washington thcy
would have All advantage IN tho presence
OF the Senate; AZ mat the ST. Domingo
treaty was not admitted be dead mouths
before Mr.. Moiey's dismissal, as the government
declared but the government itself had attempted TO
secure Summers vote ior In June, 1870, shortly be.
fore Its rejection 10y that the suggestion Of the London
Times thai, In view OF the telegrapnc announcement
of Mr. Motley intended removal the 25th OF juno,
.Iwo DAYS before Lora Ciafendons death, which was