Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-28
MR.. PIERCEs sACkvlLLe.
A Notable Precedent for President
sIeveiand's Action.

A Notable Precedent for President
sIeveiand's Action.
On May 90, 1876, President Pierce address
ed to The senate and house OF representa-
tves the following letter:
"To the Senate a,.d House Of Represeatdf'rcs;
have ceased to hold intercourse With the en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenlpotenti-
AIRY OF her majesty the queen oi Great britain
and Ireland near this government. La making
communication OF this fact IL has been deem
ed proper by me To lay before The cohsress
the considerations OF Indispensable pubiic
duty which have led TO the adoption oil
measure of so much Importance. They
appear In the documents hercnith transmitt-
ed To both houses FRANKLIN PIERCE.
"Washlngton, Goth OF Nav, 1856"
Mr.. CHAMPION, the British envoy in ques-
ton, had been guilty OF grave breach OF
diplomatic etIquct and an oflense against thu
sovereignty Of the United States AS a neutral
power, by taking part In the enlistment OF
Anne lean citizens I'm the foreign legion OF The
British army for service against Russia In
the Crlmeap war IL is true that the actual
enlistment took place on Canadian territory,
but il was clearly shown that both Mr.
Champion and his consuls had participated
in the matter by financially assisting
men to Journey 10 the Dominion for the pur-
poe.
On Dec 1855, Secretary Of State Marcy adj
dressed a communication 10 the British gov
eminent demanding the recall OF Mr. Cramn-
ION on the ground that by his conduct he
had placed himself in such position as to DC
una Gee ptable to the American government
and people. Lord Clarendon, the British
foreign minister. delayed his answer until
April 30 1856 hen he replied In letter
containing "A full, unreseryed, and unqualit-
ed disclaimer OF all intended offense on the
part of the British government and express
ing the conviction of the latter that Mr..
Champion had no desire Or purpose to com.
init any dsrespect 10 the sovereignty OF the
United States. While conciliatory in tone.
however, the dispatch contained no response
to the request of the United States cabinet
for the recall Of Mr. Champion, and at the
same time the English press referred 10 the
American demands as "An clectoneering
trick, f" - bid for the presidency" Manu-
featuring political capital etc.
Accordingly President Pierce, feeling that
the self respect OF every American citizen
required that the original demand OF the
United States should be carried into execu.
ton, caused the secretary OF state to forward
his passports to Mr.. Champion, and 10 inform
him that the government would hold no fur-
ther relations with him Minister buchanan
was at the same time directed tn inform the
British cabinet OF this decision, which was
universally approved by men Of al shades OF
political opinion in this country. Diplomatic
relations at Washing on between the two
countries were not resumed until tweve
months later, when Lord Napier arrived TO
take charge OF the legation. IL should be
added that the United States government,
while insist ny on the fact that Mr.. Champion
was unacceptable as envoy, expressly dcclar-
ed that there were no mputations on him as
a gentleman.
tmay be OF interest TO add that only few
years previously Spain bad occasion to act in
"A similar manner toward a British ambassa-
dor. Sir Bulwer LYtton, the envoy at Madrid,
had received instructions from Lord Palmer.
ston, the English foreign secretary, Or ivately
10 advise Queen Isabela's government to
strengthen the administration by calling men
belonging to the liberal party to its councils
The Spanish government was exceedingly
indignant at such piece of interference, anu
addressed the following note TO Sir Bulwer
Lytton:
'For reasons which the 10 atty OF the Brit
ish people and its government can not other
wise that appreciate at thcir true value, her
Catholic mslesty's government has resolved
to put end 10 all these fatal contingencies
by transmitting YOU your PASSPORTS aud re-
questing you within the term Of forty
hours, or sooner II possible, 10 quit this capt.
tai, for circumstances urgent,and there would
be- much To lament II IL were 100 late"
Sir Buwer LyttOn left immediately. d.
pomatlc relations were suspended for twelve
months and then were resumed as IL nothing
had happened, Il new envog being appointed
This Ia not the first occasion on winch Lord
SacKvie has got into a scrape. In March,
1871, being at the time secretary OF the Brit
ish embassy at Paris and charge des archives,
he got scared by the outbreak Of the com
mune and boted from The city. leaving the
archives to take care Of tbems Ives Within
a couple Of DAYS his place was taken by Mr..
(now Sir Edward) Malet, his subordinate In
rank who remained In charge OF the embassy
throughout the whole Of the commune. For
his courage and pluci on this occasion Mr..
Malct received the order Of the Bath and has
since been promoted over the head OF his
senior, Lord Sackville. 10 the rank OF am
bassador at Berlin Lord Sackvile was with
in an ace OF being forced to leave the diplo-
matte service At the time for his conduct in
deserving his post. and was onl saved from
q ssrace by his relationship TO Lord Derby,
whore brother-inlaw he is.