Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-11-09
SOME HIsTORIO PREOEDENTs.


AS Secretary Bayard says in his commun.
ications TO the President in the Sackvile
West matter, "precedents are not wanting
as to the question under considerations
foreign ministers have been dismissed or re.
called upon request, two of them under Cir
cumstances of considerable interest.
The most historic case is that of Citizen
Genet, who arrived in the United States in
1893 as minister from the French Republic.
AT that time two treaties made with France
during the Revolutionary war were claimed
by the French to be still In force. One was
treaty of alliance, defensive and event.
ual, and the other commercial treaty.
Under the latter it was claimed the French
privateers could enter our ports and sell
their prizes, as well as obtain supplies, a
right not to be granted to any nation at war
with France. England and France were at
war, and the question Washington's admin.
istration had TO decide was what attitude
the United States should bear toward the
belligerents. 1t was finally decided that
the treaty of alliance had been abrogated
by the treaty of peace with England in
1888, but there was more doubt about the
commercial treaty.
The government, however, issued a pro-
clamation of neutrality, but concluded to
receive Genet He had landed at Charles.
ton, S. G., in French frigate, and in his
journey northward had met with many pub
lie demonstrations of approval. He ar.
rived in Philadelphia, then the seat of gov.
eminent, and at once put on the airs of an
autocrat. 4 great banquet was given In
his honor, at which he sang the "Marseil.
laise, md tho gnesta, Wearing ibe red csp
OF liberty, took turns in punging knife
into the severed head of a pig, which rep.
resented the lately beheaded King Louis
XVI. 1t is needless to say these proceed.
ings caused great excitement in the United
States British and French sailors met in
armed conflict in the streets, the populace
generally taking sides with the French
Genet undertook to fit out privateers, and
endeavored in many ways to embroil our
government with England Washington
gave Genet an official reception, but in a
very cool and business like way, and in a
communication some weeks later Jefferson,
who was Secretary Of State, informed the
Frnchnmn that he wonld not be permitted
to fit out vessels against England, and this
notification was emphasized by the arrest
and Indictment oi two of Gene = recruits.
Genet then became insolent and demanded
that Washington should convoke Congress
with whom alone he desired to treat. JEFF
iurson informed him that the President was
the only channel OF communication BE-.
tween this country and foreign nations, and
n request was at once made on the French
government lor Genets recall The request
was accctlrd to and Genet was ordered back
Ia France
II was in respect TO the enforcement of
the neutrality laws that the government
was again compelled To send home foreign
minister. During the Crimean war enlist.
uent offices were opened in Canada for the
British army. Mr.. John Champion, after.
wards Sir John Champion, was then the
British Minister at Washington. II was
during the Presidency Of Franklin Pierce,
and VIM. l.. Marcy was Secretary of State
During the year 1865 the government in
formed England that it would not permit
the neutrality laws to be violated, but not.
withstanding the decided tone of Marcy's
communication, enlstments for the English
army were secretly made in New York,
Philadelphia and Cincinnati. AS soon as
the facts became known to the government,
request was made for the recall of Mr..
Champion, 10 which no attention whatever
was paid. Thereupon the President sent
Mr.. Champion his passports. The dignity
of England was nightly ruffled at the
peremptory proceeding, and it was several
months before II successor to Mr.. Champion
was sent to Washington.
Such are two of the more notable cases in
our history The offense of Lord Sackville
is as great as these, for there is no rule of
international comfy more decided than that
a foreign minister shall not interfere in the
local struggles of parties, or in any way in.
trigue against those who are charged with
the direction of State affairs. That he fell
into a trap set for him by party struggling
for power in no degree mitigates his offense,
II was his duty To hold himself entirely aloof
from all parties. His punishment is severe,
but he brought it upon himself, and it is
entirely just.
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