The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-25

moval Of Mr.. Walsh, just removed from the con-
sulate of Paris, we hope there will come a change
In regard to the whole of our foreign consular
arrangements. II is notorious fact that the whole
system as it now exists, is the laughing stock OF
the world. When empires are totterng, and
thrones are crumbhng to pieces, in every part OF
the globe, ii certainly behooyes this nation to have
such representatives abroad as will do credit to
the republic whose glorious example the nations
everywhere are endeavoring to initiate and to
have men in every foreign port where consul il
required, who is something more than the mere
unsalaried agent Of people who come trading to
that port.
We have many good men abroad as consuls ;
but the great majority are foreigners; and all Of
them, with but few exceptions) are obliged to
sustain themselves and the dignity Of the flag of
the great nation they represent on fees, which in
nine cases out of ten, would not pay for their
cigars and tobacco. Some Of them receive no fees
at all. For instance, Buenos Ayres has been
blockaded for FIVE or six years-and the consul,
Mr.. Graham, has resided there constantly, al
though five American vessels have not visited
there during that period. Fortunately for him,
and for those friends who take an interest in his
welfare, the price of "jerked beef" is only cent
pound, and he has not yet starved. We hope
General Taylor will examine this subject and
give it the deliberate attention its importance
demands at his hands. Give us a new sys-
tenn. Select a certain number Of the important
consulates and give to the consus liberal salaries,
and make it law that they shall engage in
no other occupation. AS for the lesser ports,
let there be commercial agents or vice consulates
hat, ,,tb of
all the money they can.
Such an arrangement would satisfy the mer-
camille community, and best comport with the dig
nifty and character of the only democratic republic
on the face of this beautiful earth
Mr. CLAYTON AND rHK NEWSPAPER PREss.-
We believe it is universally acknowledged, that
the office of Secretary OF State of the United
States, is a very important and digni6ed one. No
person will dispute this, and the American people
would be very sorry to seeit degraded in any way.
We believe, however, that it is degraded by the
present incumbent, Mr.. John M. Clayton. 1t Is
very well known, that Mr.. Clayton has an interest
in certain newspaper-that he loaned the North
-Arnerico~, published in Philadelphia, the sum of
thirty thousand dellars, for which he took as secu-
rity, mortgage or note of the same amount on that
economy, Mr.. Clayton has degraded the office Of
Secretary Of State, by making it penny-a-llning
shop for the paper in which he is interested and
under the instinct of selfinterest, has, several
occasions, given to the journal IN which he has a
pecuniary interest, intelligence of national and
important character, which, although it is COM
mon property, and belonging TO the country at
large, he has withheld from all other journals.
We consider this conduct as highly censurabe
in the Secretary of State. 1t is a degradation 10
the office which he holds, to make it appure.
nance Of any newspaper, and most of all Of aJour-
nal in which he is interested as mortgage, and
thus promoting the interests of tidy penny aiming
for 1t in the office of the Secretary of State. II
the first time In the history Of the country that
that Office has been used in such way, and we
hope it will be the last We look upon all the In.
telligence which the government possesses
nonal propery and If il is consistent with the in
teress Of the country to make it public it should
not be given to journal only, and that journal
one in which the Secretary of State Is personally
interested