The Springdale news., 1888-11-02
DEPARrMENr OF STATE.

honor to submit for your consideration the fol- lowing statement, with view to receive your direction thereon. On the 4th of September last letter, purportng 10 have been written by one Charles F. Murchison, dated at Po- mona, Cal. was sent from that place to the British Minister at this capital in which the writer solicited an expression Of his views in regard to certain unsettled diplomatic ques- uons between the United States and Great Britain, stating at the same time that such an expression sought by him for the purpose of determining his vote at the approaching presidential election. He stated that he was a naturaized citizen Of the United States of English birth, but that he stlll considered England the mother land, and that this fact led him to seek advice from the British representative in this country. He further stated that the information he sought was not for himself alone, but to enable him to give certain assurances to many other persons in the same situation himself, for the purpose of influencing and determining their political action as citizens of the United States of English birth. but who still regard their original obligations Of allegiance as para mount. The letter also contained reflections upon the conduct of this Government m re- spect 10 questions now in controversy and uH- settled between the United States and Great Britain. and both directly and indirectly im- puted lnstncerity in such conduct. To.this let ter the British Minister at once replied from Beverly, Mass, under date Of the t3th of Sep tember last. In this reply he stated that any politiealparty which openly favored the mother country at the present moment would lose popularity; and that i'll respect to the "ques- tons with Canada which have been uufortan- atelx reopened since the rejection ot the fisheries treaty blythe RenubI can majority n the Senate and by the Presidents message to which you aIIude. all allowances mustthere- fore be made for the political situation as re- pards fhe e4f1ent81I elerfian
 The Minister thus gave his assent and sane tion to the aspeFsions and impatatiens above referred to Thus. under his correspondents assurance Of secrecy. in which the Minister concurred by marking his answer ''prIyate, he undertook ta advise | citizen of the United States now toeXefeise the franchise of suffrage in aH ele ton close at hand for the presidency and Fice-PresideHeF Of the United States and through nim. as the letter suggested. 10 inffu- ence theyotes of many others. Upon th5s cor resp0ndeace being made public tae Minister rcceIyedthe represe ut1tivesff the pabliaBress. and in frequent interviews with them intended for publication, added to the mFusameats which he had already made Of tAls Government iu is pubic action and international dealings. Although amp.e time and opportunity have been offered bjm for the d5sayo"at mo5afica- ton or correction Of his statements. to some ef winch hzs attention Was called personally by the undersieHe |. get no such disayowal or mod- iheatlon has been made by hlm through the channels III which his statements first found publicity. The question k thus presented whether | Is compatible with the dignity, cuuty and independent sovereignty of the United States to permit the representative Of 6 foreign government in this country not only 10 receive and answer, without dIsappfovaI, and confirm by h5s repetition. aspersipIs upon jts political act OIL but also to interfere in IS domestic affairs hF advising persons, formerly his count.ymen as t9 thelr political course IS ttzeus ot the United States
 A between thrs country and Great Britain, there can be no controversy as to tie complete severance of the ties Of original allegiance by naturalization Disputes on this point Were finally pHt at rest by the treHty of naturaliza- tion concluded between the twe countries on the l3th of May, ls71 Therefore. fl wlll not be eo1tended, was such contention ever ad- mitted bE us that ti2ens Of the Unte1 States of British origin. are subject to any clam of the country of their original allegiance.
 The undersigned also has the honor to call attention to the provisions Of section 5}35 ef the Revised Statutes of the Ua.ted States, by which severe penalties are visited upon the cit lzen of the United States who, without the au- thority or permission of ,hls Government .'com- menee or carry on any verbal or written core i spondenee or intercourse with any foreign gov ernment. or any officer or agent thereof. either with intent to influence the action of such government or it's agents, in relation to any
 
 States, with an intent ito defeat the meas ures of the Government Of the United States Those penalties are made equally applicable to every citizen of the United States. not duly au- thorzed, who 'counsels, advises or assists in l any such correspondence" with similar unlaw- ful intent.
 The undersigned respectfully advises that the attention of the Attorney-General Of the United States be directed to these enact ments, in order that an investigation may be made, with view to ascertain whether they have not been violated In the present case by the correspondence of the British Minister.
 By your direction, the attention Of the Brit l ish c Ivernment has, in a spirit Of comty. been l called to the conduct of it's Minister as above dcscribed; but without result. Ii therefore i becomes necessary for this Government to con. l sider, whether as the guardian of it's own self respect and of the integrity of it's institutions l il will permit further intercourse to be held through the present British Minister at this capital.
 Ttis to be observed that precedents are not wanting as 10 the question under considera l ton. It is settled rule, essential to the nam tenance of international intercourse that a, diplomatic representative must be BerXO4u l grafd 10 the government to which he is ac. credited. If, by his conduct he renders him. i selfp es0Ba non af6ta. m announcement of the fact may be made to his government Tn the i present case all the requirements of eomIty have been fulfilled, the facts having been duly l communicated to Her Majestys Government i with an expression of the opinion of this Coy i errment ill regard thereto Respectfully sub l mitted
 tSigaedl E BAYARD. i . e-
 | Sullivan Is "Ihe Only ChamDiou.F