Year: 1869

Hold Diplomatic Appointments-His Instruc-


tiOns Not Yet COmpleted--Ais Connection


with the Ostend Manifesto and Views Upon


the Alabama and Cuba Questions.


The sixth section OF the act of March So 1862 has
led to some misunderstanding in regard to the mill
tary status Of General Sickes our recently ap-
pointed Minister to Spain. The section alluded to
prOvides:-


That any officer OF the army or navy of the
United States VINO shall, after the passage of
this act -, accept or hold any appoint
OF the government, shall be considered as
having resigned his said Office and the place held
by him in the military or naval service shall be
deemed and taken to be vacant, and shall be filed in
the same manner as II the said officer had resigned
the same.


Under the wording of this section 1t has been
tended that General Sick!es in order to render him
self eligible to accept the Spanish mission, should
resign his position in the army, and; in point OF fact,
the difficulty was raised and discussed in Official
circles shortly after Sickes was rendered and
accepted the position of representative at
Madrid 1t appears that General Sickles wishing
70 understand clearly what would be the effect of
his acceptance Of the diplomatic position, wrote to
the Secretary OF War, asking in tue usual form for
one years leave OF absence In answer to this ap-
plicaton he received from the War Department a
letter. calling his attention to the provisions of the
act of March 30 1859, and suggesting that probably
under the provisions Of that act he might be COM
PEELED to resign his rank in the army in order to
render himself competent to accept diplomatic
position General sickles promptly replied to this
letter, setting forth his views of the intent and
meaning of the act in question, and thereupon all
the correspondence on the subject was submitted to
President Grant for his opinion. The PresIden t
carefully examined the arguments ON both Sides
and finally decided that In his opinion the act was
only intended TO apply to the case OF officer on
the active list ana that General Sckles had been
retired, his could not in all fairness he brought
within the purview Of the law. SO the upshot OF the
whole matter was that Sickes was declared to be
strictly eligible without resigning his position in the
army. The act itself, IL is well known, was passed
10 meet specified case-that Of General Fitzpatrick,
our Minister to Chile, who had not been retired, and
who therefore stood the way Of the promotion or
officers inferior TO him in rank In the
case Of retired onicer, however. no such
obstacle presented itself. retired onicer
does not stand in the path an obstacle to the ad
vancement of his interiors. General Sickles plainly
stated that he would not accept the mission to Spain
should his resignation from the army be declared a
sine qua non. lie regards his position in the army
as quite as honorable as any diplomatic compliment
that could be conferred upon him, and, being for
life, as far more desirable. The statements, there
fore, that appear to-day in three or more New York
papers, that General sickles' case Is still in doubt,
and that lie was in consultation with Secretary
Rawlins or Attorney General Hoar about
the matter yesterday, are simply destitute
OF particle OF truth. Not one word
has been said TO him the subject since his arrival
here by the President any member OF the Cabinet
On the contrary he has had three four interviews
with both Grant and Fish regarding hts Instructions
and Is not to be supposed that under such circum
stances he would be left in the dark were there still
any doubt as 10 his military status.


As regards his instructions, OF course General
SicSles Is not permitted to speak, and therefore, in
hts intercourse with his most intimate friends he
refuses TO say a single word. But TINS much may be
stated that his instructions not yet completed,
and he Will have to return here again before his
final departure Tor Madrid. II Secretary Fish ever
had any idea OF opening negotiations for the pur
chase OF Cuba 1t is to be presumed that he has now
abandoned 1t, for am assured such subject Is
TO he included the instructions TO Minister sickcs.
Mr. Fish probably recognizes the fact that long be-
fore any negotiations with old spain looking to that
end could have time TO bring forth fruit the Cubans
themselves will have settled the question far other
wise.


The private views OF General sickles on this and
other questions now occupying the public mind are
well known IN New York; but nevertheless, some
reference to them in this connection viii not
he altogether Inappropriate. First, as regards
Cuba Sckles holds the national view. lie favors the
recognition Of Cuba, its annexation, and the acqui-
sition OF Mexico Canada, the other British provinces
and all territory lying naturally in our road to re-
publicanizing the American Continent, provided 1t
can be accomplished honoraby and with the consent
of the people Of such countries. In that respect
Sickles is what might be called progressive demo.
crat. Indeed, his sympathes In that direction and
particularly as regards the recognition OF Cuba,
were so well known here that they were raised as an
obstacle to his appointment when his name was first
suggested for the Spanish mission II was predicted
that ne would be too hot-headed, indscreet
and pronounced in his efforts TO advocate
cuban independence, and that he would thus
prove an undesirable selection for the Spanish mis-
sion His supposed connection with the famous
Ostend manifesto was revived and used az an argu-
ment to prove that he would drag our government
into unlooked-ior difficulties and dilemmas. Such
arguments, used by cunning enemies, some Of them,
too, not without hope Of securing the mission for
themselves not without producing some effect,
and In point OF fact went some way towards secur-
ing the rejection OF Sickes even after positive
promise from President Grant that he should get the
appointment. IL Is only justice to General Sckles
20 state what was his real connection with the
Ostend manifesto. When the news OF the
memorable meeting OF Buchanan. Soul6 and
Mason, OF Ostend, reached here IL was
generally circulated and accepted as fact that
Sickles was the author Of the manifesto The truth
of the matter, however, Is that the document was
written by secretary Marcy, and sickles, who hap
pened at the time to be In this country, absent from
his duty as Secretary OF Legation at London, was
entrusted with the charge of bearing the document
TO Europe and made the channel by which to convey
TO the diplomatic trio OF Buchanan, soulc and
Mason the views of Mr.. Marcy on the subject.
.salr- performed his duty strictly. lie visited the


lf. insters at their respective scenes OF labor
tla planned to each what was required by the
Nsarosary OF state There his connection
Aic the business ended. While Buchanan
ais absent at the Conference sickles was
y charge VI the Legation at London, and therefore