John Welsh to Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, August 8, 1878
Mr. Welsh to Lord Salisbury.
My Dear Lord Salisbury: On my visit to you this morning, I made an appeal in behalf of my government for the pardon of Condon, when you kindly said you would bring the matter before the cabinet on Saturday. Permit me now to repeat what I then told you, that it was but a little while since I had made a similar application in a more formal way, and it had been refused. Since then, however, the action of your government has brought to it so much honor that I thought it a moment when the exercise of mercy might possibly be peculiarly agreeable, particularly in answer to the prayer of a friendly government which had shown so deep an interest in the case as to prefer the prayer already three times, and would, no doubt, continue to do so, but always most respectfully, until it should be granted. The belief in the United States is that Condon, an ardent Irishman, who had served most honorably in our war, was the victim of circumstances in his wrong-doing, and that, having been eleven years in prison, he has learned wisdom, and may well be restored to his family in the United States.
Whenever the prayer has been presented to your government it has been ordered to be presented by Congress, and it has been accompanied by the respectful request of the President, through my predecessor or myself.
It has been made with all the authority as to its source, and earnestness as to its substance, that could be given to it. Has not the dignity of your laws been fully satisfied? If any punishment will reform, certainly eleven years must have done it. Therefore may you not, under such circumstances, exercise mercy, and, in doing so, relieve yourselves of the care of the prisoner, and the country of his presence, and thus act justly to yourselves, mercifully to the prisoner, and most courteously to the people whom I represent, in common with whom, in this case, I feel a very deep interest?
I trust that Her Majesty’s Government will be able to take a favorable view of this matter, and enable me to send Condon back to his family.
I believe it would be recognized by the President and Congress as a most friendly action.
I am, &c.,