Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-11-08
WEST MUST GO.
Tho President Has Sent Minister West
His Passport.
A History of the Case.

ernmcnt, and would consequently be detri
meu.al to the relations between the two
countries. The grounds for this action on
the part of the United States are stated in
a report of the secretary Of state TO the
President, dated the 10Th inst, which is as
follows
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
! WASHINGTON, ID. C., October %, 1888. !
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
burporting to be written by one Charles +.
Murchison, dated at Pomona, Cal, was
sent from that place TO the British Minis
Ger at this capital, in which the writer solc-
tied an expression of his views in regard
20 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 naturalized citizen Of the United
States, of English birth, but that he still
considered England the motherland, 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 assurance to
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
been 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 rs 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 -presi
dency 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 the representa-
tives of the public press, and in frequent in
terviews with them, intended for publica-
ton, added to the impugnments which he
mad 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, modification or correction Of
his statements, 10 some of which his atten-
| ton was called personally by the undersign-
! cd, yet no such disavowM or modification
has been made by him through the channels
in which his statements first found 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 a
! 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
iere with its domestic affairs by advising
persons, formerly his countrymen, as to
their political course as citizens Of the Unit
| ed States.
] AS between this country and Great Brit
! ain there can be no controversy as to the
! complete severance OF the tres 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 it will not be contended, nor was
such contention ever admitted by us, that
citizens of the United States of British ORR
gin are subject to any claim of the country
/ of their original allegiance.
The undersigned also has the honor TO
call attention to the provisions of section
1896 OF the revised statutes of the United
fuf hoy lish Nnn a1snx riGif
ed upon the citizens of the United States
! who without the authority or permission
of this government, "causas 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 'to 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 encouragement of
! the United States be directed to these en-
actments in order that an investigation
J 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 TO the conduct of its minis
ter, as above described but without result.
| 1t therefore becomes necessary for this
government to consider whether as the
/ guardian of it's own self-respect and of the
integrity of its institutions, it will permit
further intercourse to be held 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 to the
maintenance of international intercourse
THAT diplomatic representative must be
| persona grata to the government TO which
| he is accredited. If, by his conduct, he
renders himself persona non-grata, an an
nouncement 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 TO her
majesty's government with an expression
of the opinion of this government in regard
| thereto. Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) II. +. BAYARD.