Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-06-25
Mr.. Bayard Mistaken.

the Washington Post, Mr.. Bayard
while erring in regard to minor poin
of history, is entirely right as to tn,
main point.
Speaking of the part taken by hi
grandfather, Mr.. James A. Bayard, il
the election of Mr.. Jefferson, a sub
ject which he had already discu ssed a
length in his address to the student
of the Missouri University. the Secre
tary of State now makes the following
additional statement:
"When Mr.. Jefferson nominated m,
grandfather to the French mission
and he was confirmed by the Senate
he declined it upon two grounds. The
first was that he would be taking mon
, ey from the Treasury which he had
not earned, this view being based up.
on the fact that under the old system
the minister to France was paid, in al.
dition to salary of $4,000, an soutfit
of 1900 and then an Unfit of about
$4,000, and these two latter sums he
received if he occupied the post but a
month. The second ground of his de-
clination was that to accept office un-
der Mr.. Jefferson wonld impugn the
motive which had actuated him in Sc
curing his election"
AS to the grounds 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 ALL but by
John Adams, who was Jefferson's pre-
decessor in the Presidency. Mr.. JEFF
ferson did not become President until
March 4, 1901, and the appointment in
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. 19, 1901.
"SIR: l beg you to accept my thanks
for the honor conferred on me by the
nomination as Minister to the French
republic. Under most circumstances
should have been extremely gratified
with such an opportunity of rendering
myself serviceable to the country; but
the delicate situation in which the late
Presidential election has placed me
forbids me exposing myself to the sus-
picion of having adopted from impure
motives the line of conduct [ pursued.
Representing the smallest State in the
Union, without resources which could
furnish the means of self-protection, /
was compelled by the obligation of
sacred duty so to act as not to hazard
the Constitution upon which the politi- |
cal existence of the State depends. |
The service / should have to render
by accepting the appointment would
be under the Administration of Mr.. |
jefferson; and having been in the
number of those who withdrew them
selves from the opposition to his cleo
ton, it is impossible for me to take an |
office the tenure of which would be at |
his pleasure. You will, therefore, par
don me, sir, for begging you to accept |
my resignation of the appointment. I i
have the honor to be, with perfect con-
sideration, your very obedient sery-
ant, JAMES A. BAYARD.
ITO the President of the United States.u
Three days later. on Feb. %, 1901, |
Mr.. Bayard, writing to personal
frie,d upon the subject, also used the
following languages:
"You are right in your conjecture as
been nominated Minister to France,
concurred in mem. con-, commissioned,
and resigned. Under proper circum-
stances the acceptance would have
been complete qualification; but under
the existing / thought the resignation
most honorable. To have taken $1S,-
600 out of the public treasury with a
that no public service could
be rendered by me, as the French Gov
ernment would have waited for man
who represented the existing feelings
and views of the Government, would
have been disgraceful. Another con-
sideration of great weight arose from
the part took in the Presidential elec-
ton. 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.. Jeferson's pleas
ure. My ambition shall never be graft
fed at the expense of a suspicion. :
shall never lose sight of the motto of
the great original of our name." e
The spirit of all these expressions is ]
IDENTICAL. The statesman of 1901 and !
The statesman of 1855 speak the same
language. It is proud, high-toned.
and uncompromising II shall never
ose sight of the motto of the great
original of our name.u writes Mr..
James A. BayarG; Sans peur ct sans '
.eproche was evidently the guiding 5
principle of his career, and the same B
must be said of the present Secretaryl