Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-01-03
MR.. PIERCE'S sACKVlLLE.
A Notable Precedent for President
IeveIand's Action.

A Notable Precedent for President
GIeveIand's Action.
On May 90, 1876, President Pierce address
ed TO the senate and house OF representa-
tives he following letter;
''To the Senate aud House Of Representatives.;
Ihave ceased TO hold Intercourse with the en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipotentl-
airy OF her majesty the queen Of Great Britain
and Ireland near this government In making
communication OF this fact II has been DEEM
ed proper by me to Law before the congress-
the considerations OF indispensable public
duty which have led to the adoption OF a
measure OF SO much Importance. Ihey
appear in the documents herewith transmitt-
ed To both houses FRANKLIN PIERCE.
washington, Goth Of Nav, 1867
Mr.. Champion, the British envoy In ques-
ton, had been guilty OF a grove breach OF
diplomatic etiQuet and an offense against the
severe gnty OF the United States as a neutral
power, by taking part in the enlistment OF
Ameican citizens In the foreign legion OF the
British army for service against Russia In
the Crimean war; 1t is true that the act IL
enlistment took place on Canadian territory,
but II was clearly shown that both Mr..
Champion and his consus had participated
in the matter by financially assisting
men to journey to the Dominion for the pur-
pose.
On Dec. 1855, Secretary OF State Marcy adj
dressed a communication to the British gov
ernment demanding the recall OF MIR. Cramr-
:on on the ground that by his conduct be
had placed himself in such a position as to DC
unacceptable TO the American government
and people. Lord Clarendon, the British
foreign minister, delayed his answer until
April 80, 1856 hen he replied in n letter
containing full unreserved, and unquallh-
ed disclaimer of all intended offense on TIE
cart of the British government aud express
ing the conviction of the latter that Mr..
CHAMPION had no desire or purpose 10 com
NIT any disrespect TO the sovereignty OF The
United States. While concIliatorY In tone,
however, the dispatch contained no response
TO the request of the United States cabinet
for the recall Of Mr.. Champion, and at the
same time the English press referred 10 the
American demands as San electioneerng
trick" "a bid for the presidency" Manu-
featuring political capital" etc,
Accordingly President Pierce, feeling that
the self respect of every American citizen
required that the original demand OF the
United States should be carried into eXecu-
ton, caused the secretary OF state TO Forward
his passports to Mr.. Champion, and 10 Inform
him that the government would hold no fur
Their relations with him. Minister Buchanan
was at the same time directed TO inform the
British cabinet OF this decision, which was
universally approved by men OF all shades OF
relations at Washing on between the two
countries were not resumed until twe.ve
months later, when Lord Napier arrived 10
take charge of the legation. IL should be
added that the United States government,
while insisting on the fact that Mr. Champion
was unacceptable as envoy expressly dcclar-
ed that there were no imputations on him as
n gentleman.
1t may be of interest 10 add that only a few
wears previously Spain had occasion 10 act in
ciFufl nrI nj tlaCa an
dor Sir Bulwer LYttOn, the envoy at Madrid,
had received instructions from Lord Palmer
ston, the English foreign secretary, privately
To advise Queen lsabella's government 10
strengthen the administration by calling men
belonging TO the liberal party 10 its councils.
The Spanish government was exceedingly
indignant at such piece Of interference, and
addressed the following note 10 Sir Bulwer
Lytton:
fish people and its government can not other
wise that appreciate at their true value, her
Catholic msjesty's government has resolved
to put an end to all these fatal contingencies
by transmitting YOU your passports aud re-
questng you within the term OF fOrty-eight
hours or sooner IL possible, 10 quit this CAPT.
tai for circumstances urgent, aud there would
be much to lament II IL were too late"
Sir Bulwer Lytton left immediately. d.
plomatic relations were suspended FOR twelve
months and then were resumed as II nothing
had happened, a new.envoy being appointed
This is not the first occasion on which Lord
SacKvllle has got into scrape. In March,
1871, being at the time secretary OF the Brit
ish embassy at Paris and charge des archives,
he got scared by the outbreak Of the com
mune and bolted from The city, leaving the
archives TO take care Of themselves. Within
a couple of DAYS his place was taken by Mr..
(now Sir Edward) Malet, his subord Innate IN
rank, who remained in charge OF the embassy
throughout the whole OF the commune. For
his courage and Dluc( on this occasion Mr.
Maet received the order OF the Bath and has
since been promoted over the heal of his
senior, Lord Sackville to the rank OF am
bassador at Berlin Lord Sackville was with
In an ace OF being forced TO leave the diphO-
matte servc e III the time for his conduct in
deserving his post and was onl saved from
sgrace bv his relationship to Lord Derby,
whore brothpr-in. law he Is.