Morris tribune., 1881-05-26
EX-PREsIDENT U. 8. GRANT.

EX-PRESIDENT u. 8. GRANT.
Very Remarkable Letter in Regard to the
Conkling Business, in Which the General
Makes Some Statements Which Are Contro-
verted by the Record.
New YORK, May 19.-Tbe following letter
from ex-President Grant to Senator Jones, Of
Nevada, is published here:
CITY OF MEXICO, April 24-My Dear Senator:
see by the latest dispatches received here from the
capital of our country that the deadlock in organ
Zing the senate has not been broken and that moth
ing has been done by the president to ay the Bit
terness which must be engendered by his most re-
cent appointments When the first batch Of nomi-
believed, then the president had determined to
ognize the Republican party, without affectation:
but his nomination to-day convinces me that
the first act was but squirt of a deep
laid scheme by somebody to punish prom
inent leaders for being openly friendly to me. I
cannot believe that Gen Garfield is the author Of
man to descend to such means for the punishment
of men who gave him hearty support in his elec
ton, and who are disposed to give him the same
support now, for the ofense of having had former
preference for else for the Office which he
now holds. But Garfield is presidunt, and is re-
sponsible for all the acts of the administration
great State of New York, and that, too, against all
the administration. created by the party that
elected them. This should give them all the
stronger claim to be consulted in the matter of ap-
pointments il their State. When it came to
FILLING THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OFFICE
in their State without consulting these senators, it
great mistake. When he selects the most Of
fensive man to be found, it becomes an insult, ana
ought to be resented to the bitter end. sincerely
hope the president will see this and correct his
mistake himself, and restore harmony to the party
He owes this to himself and to those without whom
he could not have been elected. Nobody believes
that he could have carried the State of New York
without the active support of her senators. Their
passive support would not have answered. Without
the State of New York, Gen. Garfield would not now
be president. His rewarding Robertson Is not only
offensive to the New York senators. bat it is often
sve to New York Republicans The change of
Badeau and Cramer, the two appointments in which
feel a strong personal interest, very dstaste
full to me- The first, because of our personal rela-
tions, and my wish that he should be kept where he
is. The office would support him until he finishes
some work he is engaged upon, and which he could
do without interfering with his public duties The
second. because it was at the expense of removing
son OF my old secretary Of state, who probably
never had his superior, certainly never for moral
worth, in that department. 1t is true Fish resigned,
but he did this from sense Of honor, suppOsng it
to be the duty Of representatives abroad to give
new administration opportunity of saying
whether they were wanted or not.
Very truly yours, U. S. GRANT.
To Hon. ]. P. JONES' United States Senator.
AN EXPLANATION CALLED OUT.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-Gen. Grants letter
to Senator Jones, published in New York to-
day, has ELECTED the following authoritative
statement regarding the circumstances attend
ing Fish's retirement from the diplomatic SER
vice, and selection of Mr.. Cramer to succeed
him as charge d'affairs of the United States at
Berne: When Grant was in Washington in
March, or shortly after President Gar
fielus Inauguration. he made several
requests Of the president, of which the latter
made a written memorandum in Gen. Grants
presence. The request in regard to Mr.. Cra-
mer was that he might be transferred from
Denmark to more southerly climate. As
Gen. Grant specified that be did not ask a
h,uf,nr only mill n1ir
nation of Mr.. n Fish from the Swiss mission,
the same grade as Denmark, opened the way
for COMP wing with Gen. Grants request, and
the president promptly avalled himself
Of Of it. in supposed compliance with
ally expressed. In regard to tho res:g-
nation of Mr. Fish from the Swiss mission,
papers on file in the diplomatic bureau of state
documents, SHOW the following facts: On Fen
ruary 13 last, MIR. Fish, charge d'affaires of the
United States at Berne, Switzerland, sent to
Mr.. Evarts, secretary of state, the following:
I enclose herewith dispatch rendering nv resig-
nation. feel can no longer retain the position
here with Justice TO myself and family. When &C
cepted it. hoped it would be soon returned to its
former rank and pay, and you were kind enough to
lead to believe that upon such restoration, should
be retained in Office. know what food of appli-
cations the announcement of my resig-
nation would create, and therefore to pro-
tect the department from them, l send my
resignation in unnumbered dispatches to YOU
LETTER TO BLAINE.
On March Z, in communication addressed
to Blaine, Mr. Fish wrote as follows:
On the 18th ult. I addressed your eminent pre- =
decessor in office a dispatch marked separate"
which enclosed in private letter to Mr.. Evarts.
My reasons for so declaring were solely to protect
the department from possible and almost inevitable
annoyance, which disclosule of its contents might
impress on the department. I have the honor now
to enclose herewith copy Of the same, and 1 now
for the first time place the same on file here.
shall await your wishes as to the time when may
be relieved from duty here, but hope may have
timely notice by cable concerning the time when l
may expect my letter OF recall.
F1sH's LETTER OF RESIGNATION,
referred to i'll the foregoing note to Secretary
Blaine is given in full. 1t is dispatch marked
separate and was duplicated to Blaine. 1t is as
follows:
UNITED STATES LEGATION. BERNE, Feb. 13.
1SS1.-Sir: In order that President Garfield may
be free to select any representative he may desire
fill this mission, have the honor to tender here
take effect March 4th next, or as soon there
after as my successor may be appointed. 1 beg
that you will assure President Garfield tnat my
action is prompted by no want of sympathy
for his administration. and that on the contrary /
should be most happy to contribute my heartiest
support thereto in any, capacity suited to my ab-
tiles, and that he would find that whether in private
life or official position, no more Jealous supporte
Of the great principles which the people of the
United States have endorsed in his election. In
ss e bask my YOU sns On. gsgf.
men of your department for many courtesies
and marks of consideration which, during period
of nearly ten years, has been extended me. 1t is
with regret thus seek to be relieved from duty
here, but feel that the time has come when, in
justice to myself, should have more important
position, if am to remain in the service, or that
should find some more renumerative employment
by leaving it. l respectfully request that be in
formed when it be most agreeable to relieve me.
have the honor to be sir your obedient servant,
BLAINE's ACCEPTANCE
Secretary Blaine formally accepted Fishs
resignation in the following letter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, March %, 1881.
Nicholas Fish. ESQ.,:
Sir: have to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter, No. 361. of the 9TH inst, in which you ten
der your resignation of the post of charge daffars
of the United States to Berne. In accepting your
resignation the president desires me to express 10
you the high sense with which ne entertains of the
able and faithful manner in which you have repre-
sened the interests of the United States at Berne
during the continuance of your term of office, and
thank you at the same time for the sentiments you
ing YOU that Mr.. Cramer now at Copenhagen, has
been appointed to succeed you as charge d'atfairs
to Switzerland, also that the letter of recall will be
'' ~ y " ' ~ JAMES G. BLAINE.
On April 4, several days before Secretary
Blaine's letter accepting the resignation had
reached Mr.. Fish, the secretary, having, re-
ceived intimation that Fish would be glad to
remain in the diplomatic service. offered hiIi
the mission to Denmark, which is of the same
grade as Switzerland. Blaine made the offer
by cable In these words: "Would it be agree
able to you to go to Denmark" Fish answered
the same day by cable as follows: "No, thank
you Want promotion" On the succeeding
day, April 5, Fish again cabled Secretary
Blaine as follows: 'Can I have Berlin!" As
the administration was unable to tender Fish
the Berlin mission and as he had declined Zen
dark the correspondence ceased.
An Eynncfanf Rridarraarn Missinr