The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-14
SACKVILLE SENT HOME.
The British Minister at WASH
ingtOn Dismissed.
Why He Was Given His Passports
By Our Government.

Washington and the United States are
stirred up as they have not been in years. 1t
sarare event for foreign Minister to be re-
puested to leave his post in such abrupt and
anmistakabie language as has been addressed
to Lord Sackville, the British Minister, by
President Ceveland's direction.
The circumstances which led to this state
Of affairs are as follows:
On the 4th of September last letter pur
porting to be written by one Charles r.
Murchison, dated at Pomona, CAL. was sent
from that place to the British Minister at
Washington, in which the writer solicited an
expression OF his views in regard to certain un-
settled diplomatic questions between the
United States and Great Britain, stating at
the same time that such an expression was
sought by him for the purpose of determining
bis vote at the Presidential election.
To this letter the British Minister at once
replied from Beverly, Mass, under date OF
18th of September last In this reply he
stated that ''any political party which
openly favors the mother country at the
present moment would lose popularity, and
that the party in power is fully aware of that
fact; and that in respect to the questions with
Canada which were unfortunately reopened
since the rejection Of the Cfisheriesl treaty by
the Republican majority in the Senate and
by the Presidents message to which you al.
lude, all allowances must, therefore, be made
for the political situation as regards the Pres
idential election The Minister thus gave
his ascent and sanction to the aspersions and
imputations above referred to.
Considerable correspondence took place
between the two Governments over the affair,
and when those in authority at Washington
saw that the English Government was more
dillatory in its action than was consistent
with the dignity of the United States, a
Cabinet meeting was called to discuss the
mattr.
The session Of the Cabinet began at II
o'clock and continued until 1.30, and at 3
the note which has set the whole world talk
ing was sent to Lord Sackvile.
This action on the part Of our Government
was reached after the matter had been fully
considered at tho Cabinet meeting. 1t was
there shown by the dispatches received
from Minister Phelps at London that the
English government was disposed to take
their own time about recalling their repre-
sentative hero; that there were certain mat
ters in controversy that could only be settled
after full hearing, and that possibly no de-
cisive steps would be takrn by the British
Foreign Office for some days.
In view of these facts it was decided that
this Government should take the initiative.
and Lord Sackville's dismissal was then and
there agreed upon.
The form Of Lord Sackville's dismissal
was as follows:
'tMY LoRD-By direction of the President
/ have the honor to inform you that for
causes heretofore made known to Her Males
ty's Government your continuance in your
present official situation near this Govern
ment is no longer acceptable, and would con-
sequently be detrimental to the good rela-
tions between the two powers. / have the
further honor, by direction Of the President.
to enclose you letter of safe conduct
through the territories of the United States.
1 have the honor to be your obedient ser
want, T. F. BAYARD."
As further evidence that all official rela-
tions were at an end between the British
Minister and the Department Of State,
cross the boundaries of the United States was
enclosed.
The Secretary of State was instructed by
the President to prepare statement in
form which should accompany the notifica-
tion. The tenor Of this having been agreed
ppon it was enclosed with the notification.
Secretary Bayard's Statement.
The action Of the President in breaking off
the official relations of Lord Sackville with
she United States was based upon state.
nent Of all the facts of the case which was
laid before him by the Secretary OF State.
This statement is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Oct g, 1858.
To the President:
The undersigned has the honor to submit
for your consideration the following state
ment, with view to receive your direction
thereon:
On the 4th of September last a letter pur-
porting to be written by one Charles F.
Murchison. dated at Pomona, Cal, was sent
from that place to tho British Minister at
this capital, in which the writer solicitei an
expression of his views in regard to certain
unsettled diplomatic questions between
the United States and Great Britain, stat
ing at the same time that such all express
sion was sought by him for tie purpose
of determining his vote at the approaching
Presidential election. He stated that he was
q naturalized citizen of the United States, OF
English irth, but that he still considered
England the mother country, and this fact
led him to seek advice from the British rep
resentative in this country. He further
stated that the information he sought for was
not for himself alone. but to enahle HIM to
-aiye certain assurances to many other per-
sons in the same situation as himself for the
purpose of influencing and determining their
political action as citizens Of the United
States of English birth, but who still re-
garded their original obligation OF allegiance
as paramount. The letter also contained gross
reflections upon the conduct of this Govern
ment in respect to questions now in contro-
versy and unsettled between the United
States and Great Britain, and both directly
and indirectly imputed insincerity in such
conduct.
To this letter the British Minister at once
replied from Beverly, Mass, under date OF
the 18th of September last In this reply he
stated that ANY political party which open
ly favors the mother country at the present
moment would lose popularity, and that the
party in power is fully aware of that fact,
and that in respect to the questions with
Canada, which have been unfortunately re-
opened since the rejection of the tfisheries]
treaty by the Republican majority in the
Senate, and by the Presidents Message to
which you allude,' all allowances must
therefore be made for the political situation
as regards the Presidential election" The
Minister thus gave his assent and sanction to
the asperations and imputatons above re-
ferred to.
thus, under his correspondents assurance
of secrecy, in which the Minister concurred
by marking his answer Private" he under,
took to advise q citizen of the United
States how to exercise the franchise of suf-
frage in an election clos, at hand for the
Presidency and e.Pres;dency of the
United States, and through him. as the let
ter suggested, to influence the votes of many
Others
Upon this correspondence being made pub
lie the Minister received the representatives
of the public press, and in frequent inter-
views with them. intended for publication,
added to the impugnments which he had al
ready made of the good faith of this Govern,
ment in its public action and internatlonal
dealings. Although ample time and oppor-
tuni v have been afforded him for the dis