Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-15

1871. 1t ls in behalf of the common ipterest
We have that representative of the United
States here (Rome) should be 40 situated as
70 De able to efectually and successfully
exert himself in strengthening the excellent
relations existing between the two countries ::
that we must sincerely state the impossibility
We should experience in making Keiley's Sc
lection acceptable to His Majesty, and we
address warm appeal to the good amity of
tue American government in order he might
ooilge US by appointing another candidate to
Rome. The change of Keiley's destination
would save US the painful necessity to insist
with the Washington cabinet upon reasons
which indeed ought to render such a nomi-
nation unadvissble. I expect with confidence
the presidents decisien and the reply of the
secretary of state, which you will please let
me know at once by telegram.
(Signed) MAuc1NI.
Kelley in letter to the president April 2Sth
says, From the evidence you have brought
to my notice that the present Italian govern
msnt holds such preiudices concerning opin-
ions expressed and still entertained by me in
respect of certain public transactions now
historic in that country as to render it i'm
possible that my presence in Italy would be
either agreeable to that government or to me
or useful to my own government, l recog-
nlze the improperly of retaining the COM
mission with which you honored me and with
thanks for the confidence expressed in ten
dering it beg leave to hereby resign it."
Secretary Bayard writes Baron Fava April
3Oth, acknowledging the receipt of a copy
OF the cablegram received by him from the
Italian minister of foreign affairs, conveying
the sentiments of the Italian government in
regard to the alleged utterances OF Kelley in
Richmond, in 1881, from which it appears
that the expressions in the question are con-
sidered by Senior Maucini to constitute the
individual who uttered them persona non
grata to the present King of Italy, and that
this fact has been brought to the knowledge
of the President. Bayard says he recognizes
the full and Independent right of the King
OF Italy to decide the question of personal
acceptability TO him of an envoy of this gov
ernment, and says that sin the selection of
Kelley the President was actuated by hearty
desire to cement and strengthen the ties of
respect and friendship, so long existing be-
tween Italy and the United States, and be-
lieving him to be gentleman of high honor
and intelligence. and animated only by the
sincerest sentiments of respect and duty to
the government to which he was accredited,
he was duly commissioned to proceed on that
of your government on the subject has caused
the arrestion of Keiley's movements and he
has returned to the President his commission
as minister to Italy, and the object of Senior
Maucinis communication to you is therefore
accomplished.
On May 4th Secretary Bayard informed
Baron Schaetfer, the Austrian minister at
Was hingtOn that the President had appointed
Kelley to succeed Manners as minister at
Vienna. May 8 Baron Schaeffer handed
Bayard the following translation OF a tele-
gram from Count Kalaoky to himself, dated
May 8 "We regret the nomination of Kelley
as minister to the imperial court, and his
sudden departure from America, as here, too,
like in Rome. prevail scruples against this
choice. Please direct in the most friendly
way the attention of the American govern
ment to the generally existing diplomatic
practice to ask, previously to any nomination
of foreign minister, the agreement of the
government to which he is accredited. The
position of a foreign envoy welded to jew
ess by civil marriage would be impossible
in Vienna"
Secretary Bayard then proceeds to say,
''The question thus raised by your govern
ment involves principles of the greatest i'm
portance and has no precedent as yet discov-
IL
mitted the matter to the consideration of the
president am instructed by him to inform
your government through you that the ground
upon which it is announced that the usual
ceremonial courtesy and formal respect are
to be withheld from this envoy of the United
States to your government, that is to say, be-
cause his wife is alleged or supposed by your
government to entertain q certain religious
faith and to be member of certain religious
sect, cannot be assented to by the executive
of the government of American people, but
it must be emphatically denied.
Religious liberty is the chief corner stone
of the American system of government and
provisions for its security are EMBEDDED in the
written charter and interviewer in the moral
fabric of its laws. Anything that tends to
invade right so essential and sacred must
be carefully guarded against, and am salts
fled that my countrymen ever mindful of the
suffering and sacrifices necessary to obtain it
will Fever consent to its impairment for any
reason or under any pretext whatever. So in
harmony with this essential law is the almost
equally potential unwritten law of American
society that awards respect and delicate con-
sideration to the women of the United States
and exacts Difference in treatment at home
and abroad of mothers, wives and daughters
of the republic.
The question is objected to by its agents
on the sole ground that his welded wife is
alleged to entertain religious faith which is
held by many of the most honored
and valued citizens of the United States.
1t is not believed by the President that
doctrine and practice so destructive of re-
ligious liberty and freedom of conscience, so
devoid of catholicity, and so opposed to the
spirit of the age in which we live, can for a
moment be accepted by the great family of
civilized nations, or be allowed to control
their diplomatic intercourse. Certain it is it
will never in my belief be accepted by the
people of the United States, nor by anv ad-
mInistration which represents their sent-
ments.
On motion of Mr.. Logan the membership
of the military committee of the Senate was
increased from 8 to 10. and the chair appoint
ed Mr.. Henderson to the new place.
Adjourned.
The majority report of the committee on
rules proposing the revision of rules, was
ordered printed and laid over until Tuesday,