The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-31
VESTS WALKING PAPERS
THE PRESIDENT PREFERS HIS
ROOM TO HIS COMPANY

President Based His Action 4 The
Pomona Letter Writer May Be
Amenable to United States Laws.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30.-By direction of
the President the Secretary of State to-day
informed Lord Sackville that for causes
heretofore made known to her majesty s
government his continuance in his present
official position in the United States is no
longer acceptable to this government, and
would consequently be detrimental to the
relations between the two countries. The
grounds of this action on the part of the
United States are stated in the report of the
Secretary of State to the President, dated
Oct. 30, which is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Oct ~ 1888
The undersigned has the honor to submit for
your consideration the following statement,
with a view to receive your direction thereon.
On Sept. 4, last, a let ter purpOrting to be
written by one Charles +. Murchison, dated at
Pomona Cal, was sent from that place to the
British minister at this capital, in which the
writer solicited an EXPIRE sion of his views in re-
gard to certain unsettled dipl m tic questions
between the United States and Great Britain,
stating at the same time, that
such an expression was sought by
ll1l LOT UDe PURPOSE Oh uIltl his
vote at the approaching presidential election.
He stated that he was naturallZed citizen of
the United States of English birth, but that he
still considered England his motheriand, and
that this fact led him to seek advice from the
British representative in this country He fur
ther stated that the information hp sought
was not for himself alone, Sbut to
enable him to give certain assurances to
many other persons in the same situation as
himself for the purpose of influencing and de-
termining their political action as citizens Of
the United States of English birth, but who still
regard 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 controve sy and
unsettled between the United States and Great
Britain, and both directly and indirectly lLl-
puted insincerity in such conduct.
To this letter the British minister at once
replied from Beverly, Mass, under date of Sept
13, last. In this reply he stated that ANY
political party which openly favored the mother
country at the present moment would lose
popularity and that the party in power is fully
aware of that fact" and that in respect to
questions with Canada which have been un-
fortunately reopened since the rejection OF the
(fisheres) treaty by the republican majority in
the Senate, and by the Presidents MESA e to
which you allude," ''all allowances
must therefore be made for the
political situation as regards the PreS-
Dental election" The minister thus gave
his assent and sanction to the aspersions and
imputations above referred to. Thus. under
his correspondents assurance of secrSyN, in
which the minister concurred by mai'klnss his
answer private" he undertook to advise citi-
| zen of the United States how to exercise the
franchise of suffrage in an 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 representatives of
the public press, and in frequent interviews
with them, intended for publication, added TO
the imputations which he mad already made of
faith of this IN
and international dealings. Although ample time
and opportunity have been afforded him for
disavowal, modification or correction OF bis
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 1t is
compatible with the dignity, security and indie
pendent sovereignty of the United States to
permit the representative OF a foreign govern
ment in this country not only to receive and
answer without disapproval, and confirm by
his repetition, aspersions upon its political
action, but also to Interfere in its domestic
affairs by advising persons formerly his coun-
trymen as to their political course citizens of
the United States.
As between this country and Great Britain
there can be no controversy as to complete sew
erance of the ties of original allegiance by nat
uralization. Disputes on this point were finally
put at rest by the treaty of naturalization con-
cluded between the two countries on May 13,
1870, therefore, it will not be contended nor was
such contention ever admitted by the United
States, that citizens of the United States of
British origin are subject to any claim of the
country of their original allegiance. The under
signed also has the honor to call attention to
the provisions of section 5,335 r. s. of the
United States by which severe penalties are
visited upon citizen of the United States who,
without the authority or permission of this
government, Commences or carries on any YER
al or written correspondence or intercourse
with any foreign government or any officer or
agent thereof" either with an intent to infiu-
ence the action of such government or its
agents, In relation to any disputes or controver-
sizes with the United States, or with an intent
ito defeat measures of the government of the
United States" Those penalties are made
equally applicable to every citizen of the
United States. not duly authorized, who
"counsels, advises or assists in any CORES
pondence, " with similar unlawful intent. The
undersigned respectfully advises that the atten-
ton of the Attorney General OF the United
States be directed to these enactments in order
that an investigation may be made with a view
to ascertain whether they have not been vio-
lated in the present case by the correspondent
of the British minister.
BY your direction the attention of the British
government has, in spirit Of comfy been
called to the conduct OF its minister as above
described, but without result
1t therefore becomes nee ssary for this gov
ernment to consider whether as guardians of its
own self-respect aud of the integrity of its in-
stitutions, it will permit further Intercourse to
this capital. II is to be observed tbat precedents
are not wanting as 10 the question under
consideration. 1t Is settled rule, essential
to the maintenance Of international intercourse
that a diplomatic representative must be a per
soma grdttd to the government to which he is
accredited. IT, by his conduct, he renders him
self a persona mon 0rdtid, an announcement 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 duly
communicated to her majesty's government
with an expression of the opinion of this gov
ernment in regard thereto. Respectfully sub
mitted. T. f. BAYARD.
MINISTER WEST SHOWN THE REPORT.
At the British legation this evening ac-
cess was denied to oil newspaper men, and
they were Informed that Lord Sackville
had nothing to say. An Associated Press
reporter managed, however, to have a copy
of the report Of Secretary Bayard
to the President sent TO the min
lister. After about half an hour
Lord Sackville in person returned the copy
to the waiting reporter and cordially ex-
pressed his thanks for having had an oppor-
tunity to read the report, which he said he
had not seen before He declined to express
any opinion in regard to it, saying: "I
have nothing to say"
"Then you will say nothing about it
to-nightp
Nothing, nothing" answered Lord Sack
Vile.
al am absolutely at quiet"
Lord Sackville's face, as he said this, wore
a pleasant smile and he did not seem in the
least disturbed at the turn affairs had