The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-20
GRANTS VIEWS
a Letter Condemning the Nomi-
nation of Robertson.
THE FACTS IN THE FISH CASE.

New YORK, May 19-The following letter
from Gen. Grant to Senator Jones, of Nevada,
is printed. This letter also contained one to
President Garfield, which Senator Jones delv-
cred to hims
CRY or MEXICO, April "a, 1881
My Dear Senator-I see by the latest dis
patches received here from the capital of our
country that the deadlock in organizing the
Senate is not yet broken, and nothing has
been done by the President to allay the bitter.
ness which must be engendered by his most no
cent appointments; When the first batch of
nominations for New York was sent in was
delighted. believed tlen the President had
determined to recognize the Republican party
and not faction But his nomination of the
next day convinced me that the first act was
but part of deep laid scheme by somebody
to punish prominent leaders for being openly
friendly to me- | cannot believe that Gen,
Garfield is the father of this policy give
him credit for being too big man to descend
to such means for the punishment of men who
gave him hearty support tn his election, and
who are disposed to give him tho same support
now, for the offence of having had former
preference for some one else for the office
which he now holds. But Garfield is Presi-
dent and is responsible for all the acts of the
Administration Conkling and Plat are the
chosen Senators from the great State of New
York, and that, too, against all the opposition
OF an Administration created by the same
party that elected them. This should give
them all the stronger claim to be consulted in
the matter of appointments in their State
When it comes to filling the most influential
offices in their State without consulting these
Senators it is great slight. When he selects
the most offensive man to be found it becomes
an insult and ought to be resented to the bit
ter end. sincerely hope the President will
see this and correct his mistake himself and
restore harmony to the party. He owes this to
not have been elected. Nobody believes that
he could have carried the Stale of New York
without the active support of her present SEN
ators. Their passive support would not have
answered. Without the State of New York
General Garfield would not now be President,
His forwarding Robertson is not only offensive
to the New York Senators but it is offensive to
New York Republicans The change of Ba-
deau and Cramer, the two appointments in
which L felt strong personal interest, was
very dlstasteful to me, the first because of our
personal relations and my wish that he should
be kept where his office would support him
until he finishes some work he is engaged up
on, 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 the department. II Is true Mr.. Fish
resigned, but he did this from a sense of
honor, supposing it to be the duty of repre-
sentatives abroad to give a new Administra-
tion the opportunity of saying whether they
were wanted or not.
Very truly yours,
U. s. GRANT.
Hon. J. P. Jones, United States Senator,
Washington, D. c.
WASHINGTON, May 10.
Gen. Grants letter to Senator Jones, put-
lished to-day, has ELECTED the following au-
thorltatlve statement regarding the circum-
stances attending Mr.. Fish's retirement from
the diplomatic service and the selection of Mr.
Cramer to succeed him as Charge d. Affaires
at Berne. When Grant was in Washington in
March, shortly after Garfeld's Inauguration,
ne made several requests of the President, of
which the latter made written memorandum
of in Grants presence. The request in regard
to Cramer was that he might be transferred
from Denmark to more southerly climate.
Gen. Grant specified that he did not ask
higher grade, only milder climate. The res
ignation of Nicholas Fish from the Swiss mis-
sion, the same grade as Denmark, opened
way for complying with Grants request, and
the President promptly atailed himself of it
IN supposed compliance with Gen. Grants
earnest wish personally expressed. In regard
to the resignation of Mr.. Fish from the Swiss
mission, papers on file in the diplomatic bu-
reau of the State Department show the follow
ing facts:-On the 18th of February last Mr.
Fish, Charge d. Affaires of she United States at
Berne, Switzerland addressed to Mr.. Evarts
the following:
enclose herewith a despatch rendering nv resg-
nation feel that cannot longer retain my position
here with justice to myself and family. When ac-
cepted it hoped it would soon be restored to it's
former tank and pay, and you were kind enough to
lead me to believe that upon restoration should be
retained in Office know what a flood of
applicants tho announcement of my resignation
would create and therefore, to protect the Depart
ment from them, l send my resignation in an I'M
numbered dispa,ch to you.
On March 18th, in communication addressed
to Mr.. Blaine, Mr. Fish wrote:
On the 9Th ultimo addressed to your eminent
predecessor in office dispatch marked Separate"
WEIGH enclosed in private letter 10 Mr.. Evarts.
My reasons for so enclosing it solely to pro-
tect the department from possible and almost in
evitable annoyance which disclosure of its con-
tents, might impose on the department. have now
honor to enclose herewith a copy of the same and
now for the first time place the same on file here
n shall await your wishes as to the time when
have timely notice by cable concerning the time
when may expect my letters of recall.
Mr. Fish's letter of resignation referred to in
the foregoing note to Secretary Blaine is given
in full. 1t is marked Separate" and was dupli-
Gated to Mr.. Blaine.
This letter of resignation was formally ac-
cepted by Secretary Blaine, coupled with the
advice that Mr.. Cramer now at Copenhagen
had been appointed his successor and thanking
Mr.. Fish for his kindly sentiments expressed
in reference to the administration.
On April 4th, several days before Secretary
Blaine's letter accepting the resignation had
reached Mr.. Fish the Secretary having re-
ceived an intimation that Fish would be glad
to remain in the diplomatic service offered
him the mission to Denmark which is the
same grade as Switzerland. Blaine made the
offer in cable in these words, would it be
agreeable to you to 60 to Denmark"
Fish answered the same day. by cable "No
ceeding day, April 9th, Fish again cabled to
Blaine, "Can have Berlin" As the admins
tration was not able to tender Mr.. Fish the Ber-
linimssion and as he had declined Denmark