The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-28
EX-Secretary Fish Charged with Wilfully His
representing Ills Ancient Friend.
DATES INTENTIONALLYSU SUPPRESSED
The Chairman of the Foreign Committee
Grossly lnsuIted in Despatch.
REMISsNEsS OF DUTY CONTRADICYED
Boston, Nov. 26, 1877.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The removal Of the injunction of secrecy on the pro-
ceedings relative TO certain treaties gives the oppor-
tunty for reply to Mr. Fisn's charges against Mr..
Sumner. which has hithertObeen delayed Mr. Fish
said his Boston "interview that ait fact that
susceptible proof tho Senate records that
drafts OF treaties from eight 10 eleven in number, re.
NAMED In the hands Of the committee for several
months some of them, rs no could remember,
for more than two years" To my note to the Boston
Transcript asking for list Of the treaties which Mr..
sumner 'deayed 10 report" he replied through that
journal October 20, giving . list Of nine treaties,
which he says published In July, 1872 as APP
peared by extract from o newspaper before him.
Here follows the list Of treaties. already published,
with tho addition of the date At which each was
ported upon by Mr. sumner the Senate, which fact
suppressed In Mr.. Fish's list or these fve re.
ierred December 8, 1870 four were reported by MIR.
Sumner January II, 1871 and one January IL:
ferred April 1870. was reported July ID; ono re-
ferred IN January, 1871 reported March !, 1871;
and referred February 49, 1871, reported the
day; while one, the Naturalization Treaty with
Austria referred December H. 1870, reported by
Mr.. Cameron March II, 1871. The letter then pro-
ceeds with the purpose to show that Mr.. Fish
sponsible for the newspaper publication in 1872,
referring these treaties and intentionally emitting
state the dates which they reported for the
OF obstruotng the public business and charging
him with falsehood; also analysis Of the list and
sharp criticism OF Mir. Fishs motives in making this
attack upon the Senator's memory by atcrthought
Of falsely presented history follows with statement
Of Mr.. Summers generally recognized exceptional
promptness and fidelity in attending his public du
ties. often in spite OF serious illness.l
Combines SPEECH.
With the examination Of tho nine treaties and the
foundation Of Mr. Fish's away by the dates
Of reporting this reply might end but there other
matters opened by bis Interviews and letters which,
whc the subject is fresh In the public mind, may well
be considered Mr.. Fish says that ''tho fact that
large number treaties had failed receive tho
sideration OF the committee at the timo when Mr.
Summers appointment expired
mented upon at the time" 10. have examined the
debate In the Senate the reports OF the proceedings
IN the caucus which preceded 1t, the New York
dailss-HxRALD, Times, World, Tribune and Evening
I'os-the extracts from newspapers contained in the
Tribune under the caption OF Publlc OPINION" and
also have before me scrapbook made at the time,
containing numerous articles for and against the
moval. Nowhere s there q word about treaties which
Mr.. Sumner did not report Will Mr. Fish give ref.
erence to any such comment made anywhere at the
time OF the removal, In March, 1917 Mr.. Fish says
tnat s'tne TACT that large number Of treaties had
failed the consideration OF Senate ut tho
time when Mr. Summers appointment expired''
stated by Mr. Conkiing IN ms speech At The Cooper
Fisnl recoiIeoi aright 10 statement attributed 10
Mr. Sumner, that wncn his term chairman of the
committee expired he left but one treaty not acted
ConKling made no reference 10 any statement Of MIR.
Sumner on the subject. He did say, making no such
reference however that ''sx or seven treaties (gv
ing names, however, though his speech other
spects went minutey into detash which bad long
up and ratified The numbeS has grown with
Mr.. Dish TO- nine II IS sufficient 20 say in
Ind been any defauI. on Mr. Summers part In The
matter OF the treaties he the OF all others who
would have made the most oil in the debate OF March
10, 1871, not waited for sixteen MONTHS when he
could the floor entirely 70 himself at the Cooper
Institute Mr.. Sumner very properly took no notice
oil Mr. Conklings sixteen months Northumberland
likely knew OF it. Indeed with tho exception
OF the statement prepared IN March, 1871, and not
paid any attention tho loose talk Of his assalanIs
concerning his removal or read the journals In which
prn,ed BY MIN alter his removal and nowhere does
no make any alusion to the charge
Here follows detailed statement OF all tho periods
DUNG which Mr.. sumner was ever absent from his
scat curing twenty-five years service, which, II Is
claimed, establishes Tor him record OF unparalleled
fidelity.
TnE CHARGES OF DEFAULT APTERrHoUGHT.
Tho charge against Mr. sumner of deIaut IN public
founded IN facts IL would nave been made in The de-
bate OF March TO- 1871, when he was removed; for
tns more than any, would have been potential with
the public aud the DEBATE shows tnat the prom ocrs
OF scheme TOO hard pressed TO have omitted
any which would bear scrutiny: II true, 1t
could boon proved at once beyond all question
by tho officials Of tho state Department and the men,
beers Of his committee. But one had the hardi-
hood to charge suggest such default or to point
to u single measure past or pending, which had been
opstruclcd by his remissnesB or unwiDgness
to Cooperate with the President or Secretary
IL Is Interesting 10 observe the anxiety Of Mr.
Fish and others who promoted the removal At
this atO day 10 shit the reasons Tor IT, Three years
later Than the removal, April 49, 1874, MIR. Howe OF
Wisconsin, referring in the Senate 10 the debate of
March 10. 1871, said that "it became his duty TO
| that's has
and wnal they not? Default in public duty was
distinctly discaimcd as cause oil removal. Said Mr.
wilson and Schurz who naa denounced the proposed
removaI-poweriul as they are IN description, they
cannot employ any terms which WIN give me i've
her idca OF the manner IN which tho Senator from
hassacbu setts has discharged ms duties than have
while stand hero now. He Is not arragned for any
misconduct In his management OF the Affairs OF that
committee in the years that nave passed"
Senators Nyc, schurz, Logan and sherman are
quoted to show that no lack oil promptncss was
charged against Mr. sumner Senator Howe Is iurtnor
recalled as stating the reasons Tor MIR. Summers re-
moval IRON the Guardianship OF tho Foreign Com
mitee the ground Of unpleasant personal relations
the Senator and the President and the Secre
tary State. Senator Wilson IN the debate SAID that
at the bottom the cause ST. Domingo IL ID stated
that US early as December D. 1870, the attemp, was
made to dispace Mr. sumner Mr. Sumner Is quoted
december 81 1870 referring TO Mr. Fish as his uistin-
sulshcd friend us Is Mr Fsn recent statement that
,hey continued friends as late as 1an1.ry, isi, ana
the intimacy Of their iriendshp1
THE REAL QUARREL
What broke the personal relations 30 anciont and
famiiiarr IL was an unprovokcd insult which Mr.
Fish committed, not In The heat OF conversation or
debate, but In cool and formal document which he
sent Mr.. Moran who lett In charge Of our ega-
ton at London alter AIR. Motley lett The letter Is
dated December 30, nine days after MIR. Sumner had
called him in open Senate friend, shortly after
! Mr. sumner had dined aud called at his house and
conferred with MIN at the-State Department II was
In reply to Mr. Motey's letter OF December 4 which
| had reached Washington at least by the 10TH How
many days before December 80 Mr.. Fish had written
or mcdtated the olenslve words he Dast knows; but
| al any when thoy were written Mr.. Sumner had
written given 10 tho pubic anything concern
| Ing him Of which no could possibly complain. MI.
| Fish's letter 10 Mr.. Moran departs from the
| decorous style which has been thought to become
gravity and decency diplomatic correspondence,
| Reminding Mr. Motley OF Goodwin sands" and
| 1.-TWO OH women aud referring to Mr.. sumner
"thc venerable SENATOR" who was then Du hfty-nine,
while Mr.. Fish was himself already sxty-two. In
tins letter Mr. Fish replies 10 Mr.. Mocys suggestion
that tho call Tor his resignation IN July, 1870, was duo
| TO the opposition OF MS friend, Mr. Sumner, TO tho
| ST Domingo annexation. Mr. Fish had right TO
deny this and 10 maintain That the President never