Year: 1876

LNc AtpOTt M s)cNeUchS q CQot.


Washington, May 25.-The foreign
affairs committee submitted their re-
port in the Schenck case to-day. 1t
says the questions presented for in
quiry and consideration were as fol-
lows: First, Whether it is proper for
an American minister to allow the use
OF his name and consequently of his
Off cial position, for the two cannot be
separated, to further the sale of Amer
lean property in the open markets of
the country to which he is accredited.
End, Whether his relation to vendors
of property have been such as to cast
suspicion upon his motives and subject
his action to unfavorable criticism.
3rd, Whether his subsequent action
in connection with the company or its
shares by dealing in them or other
wise is compatible with the proper ex-
ercise of his diplomatic functions and
the maintenance of position of hon
or and usefulness at his post of duty.
After considering and sitting the mass
of testimony, the committee concludes
that Gen. Schenck, besides having
been director of. the Emma Mining
Co., was engaged in speculative opera
tions in stocks with Trenor w. Park
the vender of the mine, with General


Woodruff. his Secretary of Legation,
and upon his own account to the ex-
tent hereinbefore stated, in such man
ner as to subject the name and station
of minister of the United States to
criticism. The committee, therefore.
find as TO inquiries announced at the
beginning of the report First, Upon
the authority of the dispatch of the
Secretary of State, that it was not
proper for an American minister at
the Court OF st. James to connect him
self as director with the Emma Mining
Co., of London. This position is con-
firmed by the. e.authority of Phillimore.
who says: I'm truth, every State
ought by expressly forbidding their
ambassadors TO combine engagements
in private trade or commerce with the
sacred duty of representation, to pre-
vent any question of any kind ever
arising" 2nd, That the relations of
Gen. Schenck to the vendors of the
Emma mine were of such character
as to cast suspicion upon his motives
and subject his action to unfavorable
criticism, but the committee believe
that lie was not guilty of fraud or
of any fraudulent intentions in his
connection with the company or ven
d ors of the mine. 3rd, That his sub
sequent speculative dealings in shares
of the company was not compatible
with his diplomatic station and the
maintenance of position of honor and
usefulness at court near which he
was accredited. The committee.
therefore, submit the following reso-
luton and unanimously recommend
its passage by the House Resolved,
That this House condemns the action
of Gen. Robert c. Schenck, U. s..
Minister at the Court Of st. James, in
becoming a director OF the Emma
Silver Mining Co., Of London, and
speculations in connection with the
shares Of the said company and vend-
ors thereof, as ill-advised, unfortunate
and incompatible with the duties of
his official position. Hewitt. In pre-
sentipg the report, said 1t was the
unanimous verdict Of the committee,
as 1t would doubtless he OF the House
and country that they had conformed
to duty with profound sense of the
consequences to Schenck after over
forty years in the public service, and
with sincere desire to shield him, if
possible, at the close of that career,
from the censure they were now re-
luctant!y constrained to infiict. Had
only his reputation been concerned
the mantle of charity and silence
might have been drawn over the fact,
but unhappily. the honor and dignity
OF the people of the United States be-
came necessarily involved in the af-
fair when, upon receipt of n copy of
Schenck's letter Of resignation, the
administration failed to recall him at
once from his mission, for lie deliber-
ately violated in this letter after ex-
plicit notice from the Secretary Of
State the we'll settled principles


which should govern the conduct of
our Representative abroad. Itwould
have failed la Its duty II 1t had admit