Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-06-27
MR. BAYARD MISTAKEN.
From the n. Y. Snn.l


According to report published in
the Washington Post, Mr.. Bayrri,
while errlng in regard to a minor point
OF history, is entirely right as to the
main point.
Speaking of the part taken by his
grandfather, Mr.. James A. Bayard, m
the election OF Mr.. Jefferson, a subject
which he had already discussed at
length In the address to the students of
the Missouri University, the secretary
OF state row makes the following ad-
ditional statement:
"When MIR. Jefferson nominated nv
grandfather to the French mission,
ana he was confirmed by the senate,
ne declined 1t upon two grounds. The
hrst was That he would be taking
money from the treasury which he
hau not earned, this view being based
upon the TACT that under the old system
tne minister to France was paid, in
addition to salary of $1,000, an .out-
Mt or $4,000 and then an Unfit of about
$4,000, and these two Latter snms he
received II ne occupied the post but a
month. Ihe second ground of his
under Jefferson would Impuun tbe mo.
tive which had actuated him IN secnr-
ing his election"
AS to the ground upon which Mr..
James A. Bayard refused the French
mission, they are here accurately ex-
pressed; yet the appointment was not
made by Mr.. jefferson at ali. but Inv
John Adams, who was Jefferson's
predecessor in the presidency. Mfr.
jefferson did not become president
until March 4, 1901, and the appoint
meht III question was made on Feb, 10.
ABOUT fortnight before. On the same
day Mr.. Bayard addressed to President
Adams the subjoined letter declining
the honor:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1901,
SIR: l beg you to accept nv
thanks for the honor conferred on me
oy the nomination as minister to the
french republic. Under most circum.
stances l should have been extremely
grained with such an opportunity of
rendering myself serviceable to the
country; but the delicate situation in
which the late presidential election has
paced me forbids me exposing myself
to the suspicion of having adopted from
impure motives the line of conduct
pursued. Representing the smallest
state i'll the union, without resources
whch could furnish the means of self
protection, l was compelled by the OBJ
hgatlon OF sacred duty SO to act as
not to hazard the constitution upon
winch the political existence of the
state depends. The service / should
render by accepting the appeint-
me 1t would be under the administra-
tion OF Mr.. Jefferson; and having been
IN the number of those who Withdrew
themselves from the opposition to his
election, it is impossible for me to take
an office the tenure of which would he
at his pleasure. You will, therefore.
pardon me, sir, for begging you to ac-
cept my resignation Of the appoint
ment. have the honor to be. with
perfect consideration, your very obedi-
enI servant, JAMES A. BAYARD.
10 the president of the United Safes"
Ihree days later, on Feb. 20, 1901,
Mr.. Bayard, writing to a personal
friend upon the subject, also used the
following language:
"You are right in your conjecture "a
to the office offered me. have since
been nominated minister to France.
cohcurred IN mem. con-, commissioned.
and resigned. Under proper circum,
stances the acceptance would have
been complete qualification: but under
the existing L thought the resignation
most honorable. To have taken SIS
600 out of the public treasury with q
knowledge that no public services
could be rendered by me, az the
French government would have waited
Tor a man who represented the existing
feelings and views of the government.
would have been disgraceful. Another
consideration of great weight arose
from the part took in the presidential
election. AS had given the turn to
the election, it was impossible for me
to accept an Office which would be held
on the tenure of Mr.. Jefferson's pleas
ure. My ambition shall never be graf
lhed at the expense of suspicion. I
shall never lose sight of the motto of
the great original of our name,"
The spirit of all these expressions ia
Identical. The statesman of 1901
and the statesman of 1885 speak
the same language. It is proud.
nigh-toned, and uncompromising.
81 shall never lose sight of the
motto of the great original of our
name," writes Mr.. James A. Bayard.
Sans peur ct sans Teproche was evident
ly the guiding principle of his career,
and the same must be said of the nres.
ent secretary of state. AS we have
seen, IN one or two subsidiary points of
our political history he has been led into
unlmportant inaccuracies; but in more
vital matters his principles and his
sense OF honor are alike without fear
and without reproach.