The North-Carolina standard., 1850-01-02
THE MISSION TO AUSTRIA.

which the appointments Of Webb was made, the ad-
rancement Of his outfit, and his sudden departure
from the country on the Of tho couvsnipe Of the
Senate are alike dscredable to the cabinet and to
be disreearded by the Senate in their action upon this
appointment, cannot for moment be supposed.
From the New York Home Journal, (neutr.l)
The Austrian government BY ito late acts has be-
come an outlaw from the worlds good opinion.
There are soOljodeng men amonG who say 'Gst ts;.
land send to that court Of s!augh
ter. If policy require that ours, the pure and most
powerful of the many nations that sympathize with
Hungary and the martyrs of freedom, must send an
ambassador to bow before this bloody throne, at least
he should not be one by whose careless selection
here, and trivial bearing there. the Emperor might
think his crimes in American remembrance were pass
ed gaily over to history.
It seems to us that if there was ever diplomatic
trust which required the appointment of just such
man as Mr.. James Watson Webb is not, it is the
chargeship to Vienna at the present moment. The
overules the ordinary restraints Of personal courtesy,
or of literary silence upon such matters and calls up
on all who represent any portion of the voice OF pub
lie opinion to speak openly and strongly. We could
not ourself, honoraby avoid expressing an opinion,
because we chance to be better informed upon this
class of subjects than most editors. With diPlo-
matte passport kindly given US by one of our foreign
ministers had access, fue years, to the courts
of Europe and, from the unconspicious rank given
by such a merely nominal Introduction, we had the
best possible opportunity (that of the unnoticed to
observe. We know perfectly well what court STAN
the esteem in which the American government will
be held, in the person of this, its new diplomatic
fanctionary, and the Interpretation that will be put
upon his ability to obtain the Office.
A court is small society Of men, and foreign
envov spite of the facts which might correct such an
10 oEod exponent
countrys character and opinions. In the ordinary
relations between governments, nations dignity IS
vaguely weighed by the comparative dignity and In.
telIipence of any man sent to represent 1t but
sovereign and his ministry have played part upon
which the verdict of distant nations is OF moment
then change of ENJOYS is looked upon an oppor-
tunity, which no government would lose. of express
ing its approval dsapprova; and even if the new
minister has no formal instructions on the subject
good or i'll will by his manners and bearing know
by the kind of man chosen to express the feeling OF
distant nation, whether that nation is sitting silent
ly in judgment upon what has been done, or is
thoughtful of nothing but diplomatic fornlalities and
unimpor,ant bestowals of Office. Mr.. Webb's mis-
sion to Austria will be recognized one mans graft
cation Of vanity, and one mans search after new va
rieties of pleasure, and nothing more. But, with the
headsman's axe quckenng or retarding by the smile
OF the fown with which other nations look on at the
imperial butchery, is it of importance what Amer
ica expresses by its envoy! Would there be diff
srenee in the effect on Austria between the presence
Of man like Calhoun, for instance-who would look
on at that gay court never forgetting for a moment
how its murdefous Emperor stands arraigned before
God and the tribunal Of nations-and man like Mr..
Webb, who would think of nothing, as he has gone
thihss for nothing but his own personal aggrand1e-
ment and Pleasurea In tho trivial character Of this
appointment the Austrian ministry will read that
America has no disappsoval to express Of its blood
thirsty policy; aud the world will read that let
despot crush and butcher he will, the Pursst Of
before, and seek amusement at his court with u-
interrupted international appreciation.
While our country's Christian aud moral inde-
pendence il thus painfully compromised by the tri-
fling appointment of Mr.. Webb. there is also the
lesser evil (Which of itself would not have induced
mise of national dignity by an uniting repre-
sentative. As we said before, we speak with knowl-
edge ON this point, and those Of our read
en- who have never seen the new envoy to Austria,
that he is Of the stamp which, in Europe, least wins
respect. Wanting the directness and republican
simplicity which would best represent our institu-
tions and first class Of men, he has, in his social
phase, afectaton Of suPer6ne manners which will
convey, to polished European, just the impression
which is given of Us in England by caricatures. In
the refined court circles Of the continent men res
pected whose department is simple and straghtfor-
ment but nothing is ridicued and avoided than
pompous and poor imitation of snowy manners, in
sincere adectaton of frankness, clumsy and fusome
gallantry, and blindness of tact which knows
neither the time, place, delicacy Of anything
than Just such man, in short, as the new minister
sent by our government to Austria.
Of Mr.. Webb's total want of the attainments ne
cessary in the discharge of diplomatic duties, it were
useless to speak, for government obstinately re-
fuses to recognise the need Of them. We do not
speak, either, of the objections to his appointment
which have weighed heaviest at Washington. We
confne remarks solely to his intrinsic qualica-
lions for the Office, and, by all usage Of public jour
nails, to stop at these is courtesy of very unusual
forbearance. The unftnesses we have mentioned
belong to the natural stamp of the man, rather to
coarse animal nature out of place in the walks Of in
tellect and refinement; but he has one other dsqua
fcation for diplomacy. which, to great degree, is
the result of his vocation. We have space only to
allude to it. 1t is that prejudced one-sidedness of
view, which, with all political wranglers and parti-
sans. becomes a second nature. MI. Webb would
public measure or any public man in this country.
As there are English diplomatists at Vienna, Eng:
lish travellers and foreigners who speak English,
and as Mr.. Webb's tongue Gas all who know him
are aware) gets beyond his reason with any deyree
Of convival excitement, he is likely to thoroug
nisrepresent our country, and broadly to malgn
three-fourths of the statesmen who most honor It.
Those of our cultivated who have lived abroad
will at once understand US, when ws say that lib
sa and generazed estimate of political parties, and
fair, unprejudiced judgment of our public men, are
absolutely necessary to do justice to our country in
conversation with foreigners particularly for one who
speaks with diplomatic and official authority.
The nations Of Europe exercise over each others
policy monitory restraint, which powerfully keeps
in control the abuses of sovereign power. In our
distance by space and time, and in the youth and diff
fefent character Of our government, we have found
convenient reason, in former years. for calling our
selves New and another World, and meddline with
aothng but what directly concerned our commercial