, 1888-10-31
THE LETTER WRITER.
Lord Sackvi1le Informed that
He is No Longer
Acceptable as Great Britain's
Representative.
Statement of the Case by
Secretary Bayard.
Invited to Resign.


of the president the secretary OF state to-
day informed Lord Sackville that for
causes heretofore made known to her
maiesty's government his continuance in
his present official position 10 the United
States is no longer acceptable to this gov
ernment and would, consequently, be det-
rimental to the relations between the two
countries.
The grounds Of this action on the part
of the United States are stated in the re-
port of the secretary of state to the pres
ident dated the Doth, which are as fol-
lows:
To tie PresidenE-The undersigned
has the honor to submit for your consid-
Grafton the following statement with a
view to receive your direction thereon.
On the 4th of September last a letter
%purporting to be written by one Chas.
T. Murchison, dated at Pomona, CAL,
was sent from that place to the British
minister at this capital, in which the wri-
ter solicited an expression of his views In
regard to certain unsettled diplomatic
questions. between the United States and
Great Britain, stating at the same time
that such expression was sought by him
for the purpose of determining his vote
at the approaching presidential election.
He stated he was u naturaliZed citizen of
the United States of English birth, but
still considered England the mother coun-
try and this fact led him to seek advice
from the British representative in this
country. He further stated the informa-
ton he sought was not for himself alone
but for him to give certain assurance to
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 the question now in controversy
between the United States and Great
Britain, and both directly and in directly
imputed insincerity in such conduct. To
this letter the British minister at once
replied from Beverly, Mass, under date
of the 18th of September. In reply he
stated that ANY political party which
openly favors the mother county 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
question with Canada which have been
unfortunately reopened since the rejection
of the (fisheries) treaty by the Republican
majority in the senate and by the presi-
dents message to which you allude, all
allowances 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 cor
respondents assurance of secrecy, in
which the minister concurred by marking
his answer private" he undertook to
advise a citizen of the United States how
to exercise the franchise of suffrage in the
election close at hand for the presidency
and vice presidency of the United States,
and through him, as the letter suggested
to influence the votes of many others.
Upon this correspondence being made
public the minister received representa-
tives of the public press, and in frequent
interviews with them intended for publ
cation. added to impugnments which he
had already made of the good faith of
this government in its public action and
internal dealings also. Though ample
time and opportunity has been afforded
him for disavowal, modification or correc-
tim, of his statements, to some of which
his attention was called personally by the
undersigned, yet no such disavowal or
modification has been made by him
through the channels in which his state
ments first found publicity. The question
IS thus presented whether it is compatible
with the dignity, security and independ-
ent sovereignty of the United States to
permit the representative of a foreign
government in this country, not only to
receive and answer without disapproval
and confirm by his repetition the asper-
slons upon its political action, but also
to interfere in its domestic affairs by ad-
vlslng persons. formerly his countrymen,
as to the political course of citizens of the
United States. As between this country
and Great Britain there can be no contro-
versy as to the complete severance of the
ties of original allegiance by naturaliza.
ton. The disputes on this point were
finally put at rest by the treaty of patu
ralization concluded by the two countries
on the 18th of May, 1870. Therefore, it
will not be commended, nor Yves such con-
~tention ever admitted by the United
States, that citizens of the United States
of British origin are subject to any claim
of their original allegiance.
The undersigned also has the honor to
call attention to the provisions of section
5335 of the revised statutes of the United
States by which severe penalties are Wis
tied upon citizens of the United States
who, with or without the authority or
permission of this government, com
mences or carries on any verbal or written
correspondence or intercourse with any
form of government or any officer or agent
IheraOf aithar With infant Tn Influence