Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-09
WEST MUST GO.
The President Has Sent Minister West
His Passport.
A History of the Case.

her maiestys government his continuance
In his present official position in the United
States is nc longer acceptable To this gov
eminent, and would consequently be detri
mental 10 the relations between tho two
countries. The grounds for this action on
the part of the United States are stated in
T. report OF the secretary Of state 10 the
President, dated tho 10Th inst, which is as
follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WASHINGTON, ID, c., October ~, 1883.
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 letter
purportng 10 be written by one Charles r.
Murchison, dated at Pomona, Cal, was
sent from that place To the British Minis
ter at this capital, in which the writer solic
tied an expression Of his views in regard
TO certain unsettled diplomatic questions
between the United States ana Great Brit
ian, stating at the same time that such an
expression was sought by him for the pur-
pose of determining his vote at the approach
ing presidential election. He stated that
he was a naturaliZed citizen of the United
States, OF English birth, but that no still
considered England the motheriand, and
that this fact led him to- seek advice from
the British representative in this country.
lie further stated that the information he
sought was not for himself alone, but TO
enable him 10 give certain assurance 10
many other persons 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 regarded their original
obligations OF allegiance as paramount
The letter also contained gross reflections
upon the conduct Of this government in
respect to questions now in controversy
and unsettled between the United States
and Great Britain, and both directly and
indirectly imputed insincerity in such con
duct
TO this letter the British minister at once
replied from Beverly, Mass, under the
date of the 18th OF september last. In this
reply he stated that ANY political party
which openly favored the mother country
at the present moment would lose popular
ity, and that the party in power is fully
aware of that fact" and that in respect to
the questions with Canada which have
reen unfortunately reopened since the re
lection of the fisheries treaty by the repub
lican majority in the senate and by the
Presidents message TO which YOU allude,"
"all allowance must therefore be made for
the political situation as regards the presi-
dental election
The minister thus gave his assent and
sanction To the aspersiOns and imputations
above referred TO. Thus under his cores
pondents assurance OF secrecy, in which
the minister concurred by marking his an
swer private he undertook TO advise a
citizen of the United States how to exercise
his franchise Of suffrage in an election close
at hand for the presidency and vice pres-
dency of the United States, and through
him. as the letter suggested, 70 influence
the votes Ct many others
Upon this correspondence being made
public, the minister received the representa-
tives of the public press. and in frequent in
terviews with them, intended for puOl!ca-
ton, added t. the lmpugnments which he
had already made of the good faith of this
government in its public action and inter
national dealings Although ample time
and opportunity have been afforded him for
the disavowal mod tCation or correction of
his statements, 10 some Of which his atten-
ton was called personally by the undersign-
ed, yet no such disavOWdl or modification
has been made by him through the channels
In which his statements rstfound publicity.
The question is thus presented whether
il is compatible with the dignity, security
and independent sovereignty Of the United
States TO permit the representative Of
foreign government in the country not only
TO receive and answer without disapproval
and confirm by his repetition, aspersions
upon its political action, but also To inter
fere with its domestic affairs by advising
persons, formerly his cOuntrymen, as TO
their political course as citizens of the Unit
ed States.
ain, there can be no controversy as TO the
complete severance of the ties Of original
allegiance by naturalization. Disputes on
that point were finally put at rest by the
treaty of naturalization concluded between
the two countries on the 18th OF May, 1870.
Therefore il will not be cOntended, nor was
such contention ever admitted by us, that
citizens of the Uni ed ; a es Of British ORR
Gin are subject TO any claim Of the country
of their original allegiance.
The undersigned also his the honor TO
call attention TO the provisions of section
1886 OF the revised statutes of the United
States, by which severe penalties are visit
ed upon the citizens of the United States
who without the authority or permission
of this government, causes or carries on
any verbal or written correspondence or
intercourse with any foreign government
or any officer or agent thereof either with
an intent TO influence the action Of such
government or its agents in relation TO any
disputes or controversies with the United
States, or with the intent Ito defeat the
measures OF the government of the United
States These penalties are made equally
applicable to every citizen Of the United
States, not duly authorized who ''counsels,
advises or assists in any such correspond
ence," with similar unlawful intent.
The undersigned respectfully advises
that the attention Of the attorney general OF
the United States be directed To these en-
may be made with view TO ascertain
whether they have not been violated in the
present case by the correspondent Of the
British minister.
BY your direction the attention Of the
British government has IN a spirit OF com
ity been called 10 roe conduct of its minis
ter, as above described but without result.
1t therefore becomes necessary Tor this
government TO consider whether, a. the
guardian of its own self-respect and OF the
integrity Of its institutions, it will permit
further intercourse to be he d through the
present British minister at this capital 1t
is TO be observed that precedents are not
wanting as TO the question under consider
alton. 1t is settled rule, essential 10 the
maintenance of international intercourse,
that diplomatic representative must be
persona grata to the government 10 which
he is accredited. IT, by his conduct, he
renders himself persona non grata, an an
nouucement of the fact may be made to his
government In the present case all the
requirements of comfy have been fulfilled,
| the facts having been communicated - her