The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05

| of the South. Say this in converse
| ton constantly. Make opportunities to
say that you know this is my position aud
that authorize you to declare itn During the
voyage repeated this conversation to Mr.. Mot
| ley. for had no idea of doing anything dsloyal
| or even disagreeable to him; but he at once de-
sired me to say nothing on the subject in En-
gland. He declared l should embarrass him
greatly if assumed TO discuss political matters
at all, or to speak in any way for the President.
was naturally amazed at this reyoking the
order of the President. but attributed it to the
| extraordinary sensitiveness of Mr.. Motley. He
had shown in one or two instances Jealousy
unworthy of him. I had intended to give
breakfast party before / left Washington, and
| 20 invite the British minister, Mr.. Motley, Mr.
Fish and Mr.. Sumner to meet the President.
| who had consented to come, but Motley made it
a point that / should not give the party. He
said 1t would be unbecoming in me as secretary
| OF legation, to invite the President to meet the
| British minister. He did not feel that he could
invite the head of the state, and he did not wish
his subordinate to do so.
Mr. Motley did not show me his instructions
! on his arrival, nor did he even say word to
! me of his intercourse with the Foreign Office
| any of the points in dispute with the United
| States but had, of course, access TO the ar
chives OF the legation, and thus saw his instruc-
| tons and read the account of Motleys first in
/ CerVleW
| Foreign Affairs. | had not known of his differ
| ence with the State Department in America out
said at once to Mr.. Moran the first secretary of
| legation, that the minister would be removed.
| He had disobeyed his orders. and knew that
General Grant would not endure disobedieuce in
| a subordinate Moran agreed with me as to the
| disobedience. Motley had said far more than he
/ had been ordered to say. He had been charged
to do everything to cultivate friendly relations,
| to express desire on the part of the new gov
| and he had instead recited the
wrongs that England had inflicted, and
| done this in menacing and almost offensive
| tone, which only the good temper OF the British
| government prevented il from resentiug on the
| spot. Moran and talked over the matter
| Was greatly grieved, for was attached to Mot
| ley and wanted to see him succeed; but could
| not go to my superior and tell him that he was
| disobedent He had not invited my suggestions,
| and did not feel authorized to approach him
| on the subject. / felt all the more delicate be-
| cause he knew so we'll my relations with Gen
eral Grant.
| him that thought he might be able to change
| Mr.. Motey's course. | said the minister was
very susceptible to praise; that he seemed to
consider himself Mr. Summers minister rather
| than that OF the government. but that this,
| came, perhaps, from an excess of gratitude be-
| cause he thought he owed his appointment to
| Sumner; aud if he could be made to feel more
| pleasantly toward the administration it might
| recited some things he had said and done which
| / thought the President would approve, ard
| urged him TO write me letter which l could
show Motley commencing these acts. General
Grant at once complied with this suggestion.
But when the dispatch arrived in Washington
reporting the interview with Lord Clarendon, the
result that had predicted to Moran occurred.
The President at first insisted on the immediate
recall of the disobedient minister Mr.. Fish
was equally enrased, and even indignant, at the
extraordinary action of the envoy. but he was
less peremptory. He persuaded the President
| not to take the step of removing his most i'm
| portant diplomatic subordinate in the first
months OF his administration; and showed the
| General how the necessity might be avoided.
| Mr.. Motley was Informed that he had transcribed
| his instructions, and that the further negotia
| tons of the subject would be conducted in the
| United States, and not at London. He was also
| directed to notify the British government that
| the views he had presented were disapproved by
his superiors. This, it was supposed, would in
duce Mr.. Motley to resign, but he swallowed his
humble pie. ond made the declaration required
TO Lord Clarendon. He could not, however.
bring himself TO utter the words in person. and,
therefore, wrote them, which saved him a part
of his modification but lett the record in the
| archives of the Foreign Office of England
was inexpressibly panied at this situation,
| for was fond Of Motley rs every one was who
| was thrown much with him. knew how his
| proud spirit must have been stune, and thought
| | knew how / could have saved him some of his
suffering; but he did not offer me his confidence,
| and l could not intrude. About this time, only
| four months after my arrival in England. Gen.
Rawlns died He had in his possession o num-
| Der of important papers relating to General
| Grant which only he or / could arrange, as we
| were the only two who had made the matters to
| which they referred our study. 1t was very de-
sirable that these papers should not fall into 9th
er hands. and | telegraphed at once to the Pres
ident that, unless he forbade, should return to
| America This in accordance with his per-
mission to me when left. received no refusal,
| and made ready to start, writing, however, to
| the President IN advance, and requesting him to
explain to the Secretary of State the reasons for
my return, and relieve me from the appearance
OF dsrespect in not applying to him for my leave.
When found was to return l talked again
| with Moran about our chief. was anxious to
! do the minister service and thought if / could
| carry a submissive message to Washington l
| might save him further humiliation. and perhaps
| the loss OF his place. Finally [ determined to
| say something delicatey as possible to the
ladies OF his family. told them that from my
/ knowledge of General Grant was sure he
| displeased, and that believed it all-important
| for MIR. Motley to change his course; but that
| did not venture to approach him on the subject
which he had never preached to me. They at
| once begged me to speak to him frankly, assur
| ing me that he would not be offended. did so,
and he took my interposition in the best possible
| spirit, admitting at once that he might have
erred at the start, but declaring his intention
/ now to carry out the wishes of the government
| even If they were contrary to his own. He i'm
| plored me to make this fully known to the Presi
| dent and to Mr.. Fish. and to inform him Of the
result; and thanked me cordially for my interpo-
| siton.
| When returned TO America found the head
| of the government extremely dspleased and my
messages did not have the full effect desired;
| the explanations were insufficient. l therefore
wrote to Mr.. Motley and advised him to send me
| letter which might show to the President and
Mr.. Fish. repeating in the strongest words he
could use the verbal messages he had sent
through me- This he did promptly, and thanked
| me for the suggestion
| read this letter to the President and the Sec
rotary of State, and they seemed to feel that
there was now some probability that their in
structious would be obeyed; but they determined
to risk nothing, and the further discussion of
! the points at issue was not resumed in London.
Even this was not sufficient, high strung as Mot.