Remarks in the Senate, May 2, 1872.
Mr. Cameron, having moved to take up a joint resolution reported by him from the Committee on Foreign Relations, “permitting certain diplomatic and consular officers of the United States in France to accept testimonials from the Emperor of Germany for their friendly services toward the subjects of the Emperor during the war between France and Germany,”—Mr. Sumner promptly protested:—
I must object to it with my whole soul. I consider it a most vicious proposition, utterly untenable. The Constitution of the United States says:—
“No person holding any office of profit or trust under them [the United States] shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign State.”
Not even from the German Empire. Congress has followed one rule from the beginning, I believe,—never to allow its diplomatic agents to receive anything from a foreign power. It has allowed its naval officers, who have rendered some humane service at sea to the subjects of a foreign power, to receive some reward or recognition, some honor, some compliment; but it has never allowed any person in its diplomatic service to receive any such reward, honor, or compliment. I think the Senate will see that this rule proceeds on a ground from which we cannot depart. It is, that our representatives abroad must be kept always above all suspicion of acting under foreign influence, or the temptation of foreign reward. Nor should we, Sir, be gratified, I think, to see these representatives abroad wearing at their button-holes the insignia of any foreign power.
I hope, Sir, the Senate will not take up this matter again. It ought to be allowed to drop out of sight.
The matter was dropped.