Year: 1871

.


tary Fish.


WASHINGTON. January ga lettel
from Mr.. Motley, dated December q
has been published, in which he says
after alluding to his recall: "It would
be impossible for any diplomatic agen
to believe himself more thoroughly
possessing the confidence of the gov
ernnent which he had the honor t.
serve than l supposed myself 10 enjoy
at that moment. No intimation of 8
contemplated change had been made tt
me, no shadow Of difference of opinion
existed between the President and
government and myself as to oul
relations with Great Britain or any
other power, or as to the general polio,
OF his administration, and | was al tina,
very period engaged in as delicate and
confidential diplomatic correspondence
with yourself and the British Govern
ment upon several important matters
as could well be confded by the Gov
ernment TO it's foreign agent. The re-
port in the newspapers | dismissed as
an idle rumor, the President Of the
United States being incapable, as | be.
lieved, of thus dealing with a public
servant whom he himself had 80
recently appointed. Had any change
been contemplated I felt certain that
should have been privately informed Of
it first and the public afterwards. Had
any charges against me of derelction
of duty been possible, l was sure
they would have been preferred to my
face, so that might have the opportu,
nifty OF answering them. No man has
the right to doubt that in such case
would have at once offered my rcsigna-
ton.


At the end OF Mr.. Motley's long let.
ter he says: I have thus recorded in
my last official act a solemn protest
against the outrage, as | believe, entire
ly without precedent, OF my peremptory
removal


The Motley correspondence is down
to the 30th of December, at that date
Secretary Fish addressed letter to Mr..
Moran, Secretary of Legation, saying (:
Mr. Motley having closed his mission
asks no permission, but assumes as a
right to place his statement on record
questioning the taste and denying the
right Of this assumption, he neverthe-
less allows place in diplomatic records
of the country to Motley's history OF
the end of his mission.


Mr.. Fish remarks that Motley says
it has been rumored that he was re-
moved from the post of Minister to
England on account Of opposition to the
San Domingo treaty made an eminent
Senator, who honors him with his
friendship. Secretary Fish says men
are apt to attribute the causes OF their
own failures or their own misfortunes
to other than themselves, and to claim
association or seek partnership with
real or imaginary greatness with which
to divide their sorrows or their weak
ness. There can be no question
as to the identity Of the eminent
Senator at whose door Motley is waiting
to deposit the cause Of his removal but
he is entirely mistaken in seeking a
vicarious cause Of his loss in confidence
and favor, and it is unworthy of Mot,
ley's real merit and ability, and an in
Justice to the venerable Senator alluded
to, to whose influence and urgency he
was originally indebted for bis nomi,
nation, to attribute to him any part in
the cause Of his removal


Mr.. Fisher states that among the
reasons for the recall of Mr.. Motley;
that shorty after his appointment, and
before he left this country for his port OF
duty, it became apparent that upon a
question Of controlling interest at that
moment occupying the attention of the
thoughtful and the prudent to restrain
the passions which had been excited by
eloquent declarations and powerful
rhetoric, Mr.. Motley accepted the
views upon which the popular excite
ment had been stimulated, and was
brought to the verge Of dangerous ir
ratim, rather than those which the
President claimed to be sound and
based upon the true principles of public
law.


Mr.. Motley. writes to Mr.. Fish. IN.
DER date of December 9TH:


Referring to my No. 525, have now
the honor to state tina: your No. 2S5
accom- panying the letter addressed by
the President to Her Majesty the Qreeu
announcing my recall, was received
by me on the 22d ult On the 9th inst
| had the honor Of taking leave of Her
Majesty, and stating, in accordance
with your instructions, the desire Of the
President to maintain the friendly rela
tions which now so happily exist be
tween the two countries Having
thus closed my brief mission to this
court, | think proper to place on record
a statement Of the manner in which il
has ended. On the Goth Of June last
read in the telegraphic intelligence from
the United States, Of the London Jour.
nal an account, unofficial but verified
BY subsequent events, that the Presi
dent had signifed his intention Of re
moving me from my post 1t would be
impossible for any agent to believe him
self as more thoroughly possessing the
confidence Of the Government which ht
had the honor to serve than l sup
posed myself to enjoy at that moment
No intihation Of the contemplated
change had been made to me. No diff
ference of opinion existed between the
President and his Government and my
self as to our relations with Grea
Britain or any other power, or as to thu
general policy of his administration, anC