New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-27
MR.. BLAINE TO JACOB r. SIIlPHEHD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Dec. ,, ISL.


WASHINGTON, Dec. ,, lSol)
JAcoB l.. sHIrHEnD. Esq. Ne,r-lo"k.
SIN: General stephen A. IIufbat, our Minister TO
Peru acting witA perfect official propriety returns TO
the state Department the letters yOu nave addressed to
Inn in regard to claims against that Government IN
which You profess to have an interest. During the
first interview you had with me IN August Et-t, |
advised Won that it not proper FOR To correspond
with the American Minister in regard To private c" ms
and That the necessities ana coie'es 81 the SITUATION
rcuuircd a Minister give attention only 10 such pr
vatc interests were submitted TO MS attention WIN
the saucO: aud the responsibility oi the lepdf'ntht
Yuu indicated your recognition OF the Illness
OF this rule and your intention OF complying
with H. ana YOU mentioned me names OF several uis
euished LAWYERS. well known 10 the pun'y, VINO would
soon proceed to Peru IA tine representatives, OF your
claims promptly gave You we assurance tnai IL any
one of the eminent gentlemen named by you
should go TO Lima on any professional business,
and kindly Offices Of the American Minister IN
MS and Quoting confidently as you did tue alleged
opinion OF my diSnghSheI predecessor Mr' ENHits, as
10 the validity ana value of the COchet CIa when You
oa on na @al n Tong l csnrac
ter and make report thereon TO me, when du.y he
faithfully performed Beyond this you had no right 10 de
mand expect any ana from the state DtpaImc ana
your holding private CORES POHdence with General
urlbut gross niractiOn every rule OF promlety
Nothing could more rapidly tend TO destroy the character
and influence ot an American mission IN iolcisn
country to nave it suspected that was entertain
ing aud manipulating private claims against chat couE-
try aside from instructions Of his Government.
rules pro riety. | wish for your sake could stop
there bui IN one OF yO letter. you deliberately make
but Offering, You do 10 place large interest in your
claim subject 10 his cOntroi-ln effect Offering him
brlne with scarcely attempt at disguise. For tins OF
fence deem il my GtIty 10 advise you That you can
no longer appear all attorney III any case before the
State Department. shall submit NuuI correspondence
President with the view Oi determining whether
fur notice should he taken o. your 10y the At
tOTioy General.
me Only p4l!aIion or excuse | lind in your
rcapOndeuce It's cXtravagdnO ANA extra
pear tnat You are actually unable TO take sensible and
rational Of the claim IL when you INA me ihdl
you possess many hundreds oi nil ion, oil dollars. Aa
yOuT CeTjc SpOndcuCc in almost every Inc TO be-
thaj Of q man boring under a dclusUn am inclined 10
bcicV" chat you mas not nave properly weighed and
therefore morally Responsible Tor The improper
proposals You nave made.
an dis posed to til, view from your mex
folly NTuug lengthy letters TO General DIrl-
bat Informing him al the view Ci tiIt state Department
ia regard G., your claims. business, of the
pIgt.u,l. 10 communicate its O"n views to United
Sidc, Ministers abroad ANA your assuming 10 give any
assist 4Hcc tut subject wound have been piece OF
pfrstnptIuH ndI yUI written tIc n,n But under
iurIuduic hdIUcuItIpn NOu communicated "a, the
views ot Department these cNtray ana absurd
stores which, as | have recently earned, You
have been talking To every man That NOdA llslun
The list OF names you give rs brIu5 already
prosecution these claims embraces the names
al some forty My U' INC most eminent capi-
ta.isis New YORK aud among your alleged attorneys
are come tLs mos, "a. unSuIsHrd OF the American
bar. snail be- surprised 10 has tnat any ui tines.
gentlemen ever aaihOI4Xcu you 10 use lis any
more than 1 authorized you to present your claim 10
General nurDdt.
IAaye written at this length order that you might
acquainted WIN the reasons winch may induce the
Government restrain from prOsccutig yJh ior an at
sdcl be LIS duty. a.u sir your oocd.cut servant
JAMES q. BLAINE.