Year: 1871

which I felt myself entitled, that l hat
been jealous and faithful in the dis
charge of the high office with which
the President and Senate had honored
me No man has right to doubt thai
in such a case l would at once have Of
fered my esignation. Nineteen days
later than the appearance of the origi
nal announcement which was frequent
ly repeated and commented upon after
wards by journals in the United States
and this country, / had the honor tc
receive, on the 18th of July, a letter
from yourself, to the following effect:


[Private.l


am instructed by the President to
say that he finds it desirable to make q
change in the Mission to England, and
that he wishes to allow you the oppor,
tunity OF resigning, in case you feel in,
clined to do so.


Complying with the request con,
tanned in Your brief telegram re-
ceived a few hours earlier than your
letter Of the 18th of July, midnight,
which was to this effect; IL am di-
rected to say that the President would
like an answer by telegraph to my let
ter of the lst inst" l sent you, on the
l4th of July, telegram in cipher, as
follows: 81 respectfully request you to
inform the President that l feel COM
PEELED to decline the offer which he
makes me in giving me an opportunity
OF resigning, for considerations which
are get forth IN full in my letter Of to-
day."


The telegraph soon informed the
world that a gentleman was nominated
to the Senate as my successor, on that
same day, the 18th of July, and that
he was confirmed on the 18th. Events
all comprised within about forty-eight
hours, my letter of even date was sent
in the dispatch bag that day, but could
not arrive until many days latter. In
his letter he says, in compliance with
your request l have replied this day to
the above mentioned letter, by tele-
gram. The text above cited in
the telegram then given, Il have
now observed, in further sxplana-
ton, my course, that as no reasons
are given why | should resign my posi-
ton, which / was appointed to
by the President fifteen months ago,
with, believe, the unanimous
consent OF the Senate, as | myself
know OF none, and as | am not con-
scious of having ever omitted to carry
out to the best of my ability the policy
and instructions of the President dur
ing nv mission, fail to perceive why
should be asked to offer my resigna-
ton. Certainly it is not my wish to
embarrass the administration, which |
have always faithfully supported; but l
owe something to myself were | now to
make use Of that permission Ac-
cordingly, to resign, it would seem l
did 80 in order to avoid removal, which
| knew to be just, and escape the stig-
ma which / felt to be deserved As !
know the record Of my mission as it
stands to be free from intentional
fault, and as have no
reason to shun the scrutiny in this re-
gard, | do not like to have even the
appearance Of making a contrary ad-
mission. A man may sometimes be
permitted as a favor to resign a posi-
ton Of honor and respectability in order
to escape the examination, censure and
removal, but the resignation under such
circumstances is not voluntary act,
and does not seem to me to differ essenti-
ally from the removal. Snch proceed
ing on my part would perhaps be mis-
understood by many both at home and
abroad whose opinions ! value. | sup
pose that this letter reached you, al.
though its receipt has never been &C
knowledged, nor has single line, since
your above quoted letter, been received
by me, in regard to my removal or to
the appointment Of another gem
tleman. This the President hint
ed on the arrival of your dis
patch OF the 10th Of November
last 1t has generally been admitted in
our country that power and responsible
ity are insepsrable, and that republican
constitutions are founded upon reason,
justice and honor, and not upon arbi-
trary will. Yet the Government oil the
United States has brought as much in
jury to my reputation in an honor
able profession as it could do,
and there was not charge against me-
My ambition has always been to de-
serve the good opinion of my country
men. The American people are just
and honorable, and should be panied
if they believed me unfaithful to the
high trust reposed in me, or have been
at any time deficient IN resenting their
honor or interest The duties of the
minister of this court is laborious and
my whole time has been devoted to its
duties. The naturalization treaty, pro-
posed consular convention, attainment
Of the release by Her Majesty's gov
ernment Of American citizens con-
fined in the British prisons for
completely with Fenian matters, among
others especially intrusted to me, have
been either concluded or are upon the
point Of fulfilment as appears by my
last correspondence. AS to the so called
Alabama negotiations, / never received
power in regard to them. the Govern
ment having hitherto thought it best to
keep them suspended, and conduct
them when resumed in Washington,
and now in profound silence Of the
Government in regard to this sudden
change, l am obliged to seek enlighten-
ment at the source where a diplo-
matte agent does not usually ex-
pect his original and only in
formation as to himself and his mission.
From rumor alone l derived all facts
connected with the dismissal The
rumors alone have vaguely attempted