The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-04-04

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This Journal, of the 18th January, undertakes
the very difficult task of mparting instruction to
Its readers, in relation to the history and character
OF our system of diplomacy. II has ven.,ired upon
a comparison Of the past, with the present condi-
ton Of that important branch Of the public service
This duty required correct information on the sub
Ject, and spirit of candor, which would render
Justice to the eminent men who have represented
our nation in foreign countries.
1t has classified the periods Of our dipIomacv. |
the first, during the Revolution the second, up to
the close of the late war with Great Britain: and
the third, subsequent to 1915. franklin, Jaw,
Adams, and Jefferson, are justly regarded by the
Museum, az having elevated the national charac-
ter abroad, by their skiful negotiations. In the |
second period, Rufus King, Gov. Morris, William |
Pinkney, J. O. Adams. lanes Monroe, Jonathan
Russell, Richard Rush, Albert Gaiatin and Henry
Clay, are regarded by the Museum, as among
our leading dipiomatiss Of the second generation
of American great men," To this catalogue Robt
X. Livingston, who associated with sir. Mon
roe in the purchase of Louisiana, may be added,
and, also, Gen. Armstrong, VIM II. Crawford,
John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry, and Oliver Ellis
worth, and the two Pinckneys, Of South Carolina.
The Museum asserts, that since the peace of
1915, our diplomacy has been steadily on the de-
cline" rarely has it happened that we have sent
a first class man abroad.'' "That there have been
able men employed in our diplomacy since 1915,
| we do not deny. Gen. Cass in France, and Mr.
Van Buren, in England, show that we have had
| some first rate in Europe" OF those who
now represent the country abroad, we know not
| one who has n high reputation as diplomatist
no matter how clever they may be other respects
If Mr.. Rives should be mentioned as an excep-
ton TO this remark, it should be recolleced that he
came very near involving the country in a war
with France abont paltry sum of money! The
readers of the Museum, who have attended TO the
subject, could supply the editors with the Of
other distinguished men in the diplomatic service
since lSl5-Ruls King, Albert Gallaiin, J. @.
Adams, Edward Livingston, James Brown, Louis
McIane, Edward Everett, Washington Irving,
and Henry Wheaton, have added as much I,rstre
to onr diplomatic annals, the career of Gen.
Cass whose labors in regard the right of SEARCH
entite him to the lasting gratitude of his country !;
or of Mr. Van Bnren, whose brief period at Lon
don, did not afford scope for the display of his ac-
knowledged ability.
But the wit of the Museum il exercised particu-
ary in relation to the mission TO Russia, which, il
says, has been mill in which broken down
politicians have been ground over, and either
Snooks has rendered some service to government,
and he is forthwith appointed Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipoieniary to the Court of St.
| Petersburg. He pockets the nine thousand dollars
outfit, proceeds TO Russia, is introduced to the
handsome Czar, who forthwith converts him from
radical to an absolutist-that is from spoon to
/ snob-lives for six or eight months in the frozen
l capital at the imminent risk Of his nose-draws for
l his first years. SALARY at the earliest moment when
the rates of exchange are in favor of such oper-
alton payng-comes home, takes his Unfit ( t$4 800 ]
, ! and in less than year is living his farm OF
plantation again, having cleared some fifteen
thousand dollars by the transaction" and ready
! TO afford the country the benefit of his extensive
! experience in the diplomatic line. This is no carl
cature, but a picture of rather subdued charac
ter than otherwise. There are dozen men now
living in this country who have been Ministers TO
Russia since 1928. The only one of the number
who ever staid at the post for any length of time
was thrown from his horse five times in one day,
at review, being once for each year of his resi-
dence in st. Petersburg-which disgrace undoubt-
edly befell him from his negligence of a good old
custom. His successors have moi seen fit to mi-
tate his example, If be true that the severity Of
the climate is the cause of our Ministers not being
able to stay longer in the Russian Capital it would
l Secuh tihh we nave n uTtcl Interest III IIlt
realization of the Muscoviie dream of the transfer
of the imperial residence, from the banks of the
, ! Neva 10 the shores of the Bosphor,ls"
| These remarks, upon the frequency with whicl
changes have been made at ST. Petersburg since
1925 are essentially correct, except in the amour
of the iaft, which is only quarters salary, O
S2,250; and the number of Ministers now vn.
is only rdhe, instead of twelve. The rapid change
at that Court has secured for thai Mission the nam
of the Russian job. The eloquent and eccentric
Mr.. Randolph remained at ST. Petersburg twenty
five days in lS29-spent the winter in London an,
returned to the United States in the spring Mr.
Buchanan continued from 1880 to '32 Mr.. vii
kns, from '33 to '34; Mr.. Dallas, from &c to '3s
| (has the Museum forgotten that these statesmen
are of the first class , Mr.. Cambreleng remained
year up to lS4l 4; Mr. Ingersoll spent year; Mr.
Bagby less than year. 1t may not be impertnen
to remark that all of these Ex- Ministers are Of TN
democratic party, and requested their recall and
If the criticisms of the Museum just, in the frs
part of the paragraph. Col. Todd, who was III,
Minister from lS4l 10 lS45, entitled to receive
credit for having continued at his post, instead u
following the example Of his predecessors, il
making job of the mission. So far from render
ing him this act of justice, stale SANDER hi
having been thrown from hisi horse five times il
| one day, at a military review, is introduced, Il
nenralize the effect of his remaining there, ant
| thus constituting exception 10 the general cri
| cism on that mission.
The incident referred to by the Museum, in such
garbled terms, the subject of commentator a
' the time by the Emperor for instead of being
thrown by the horse, Col. Todd thye,o tile horse
, and escaped WITHOUT injury, in a manner which
established his horsemanshp The story, magn
fed fve-old in crossing the ocean, was contradcted
at the time upon competent authority by the press
in New York and Philadelphia, and the wit of III,
! Museum is therefore stale the SANDER upon
' Minister, who, having served with distinction
, | throughout the second war Of independence the
bosom friend and associate in Of the lamentet
Harrison, and having conducted with acknowledged
| fidelity, a hazardous and important mission I,
| South America, under President Monroe, had tn,
S | diplomatic ability in the mission to Russia, t,
| which the Museum refers in such terms Of dspar
,, | agement, to win the appreciation, officially ex
pressed, of that eminent diploinatst, Daniel Web
ster and to acquire the esteem Of the Imperia
Government to which he deputed His mill
| tary character afforded better access To the Empe
i ror, and to his chief officers, which it is know
Col. Todd improved by securing increased respe,
| for the character and institutions Of his countr,
| and by advancing the interests of his countryme
who were extending their enterprises into that va
! l Empire He received the codaataJ