Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08
DIPLOMATIC SYSTEM OF THE U. STATES.
Letter to Hon. A. p. Butter, U. s. Senator from
s. Carolina The Diplomatic System Of he United States
CnAaLEsroN, SEprEMBER 20, 1858.

CHARLESTON, SEPTEMBER 20 1888
DEAR Sin: The publication Of the new instructions
from the State Department to diplomatic funcuonares
the usual interest taken in appointments and to dc
the grayer portion of the community justice the serious
character of many questions Of foreign policy seem to have
aroused more than degree OF attention towards
the diplomatic system of the Government II is true that
the circular of Mr. Marcy differs in scarcely any mate
rial points from the uniform tenor Of the Governments
former Instructions and that the exaggerated approba
ton of large portion Of the radical press of the country
is calculated to pjure the effect of these instructions
udicious in themselves and published with the quiet pro-
prety Of ordinary official communications To repre-
sent the Secretary of State as heroic tailor inspired
with fierce zeal for Quaker reform to deprive the Ame
riean eagle of its heraldc thunderbol and substitute
in its terrible taons gigantic pair of shears to melt
up in the furnace of popular Indignation the tawdy glory
Of gold lace and embroidery strikes the imagination per-
haps OF an excitabe people But we may still be per-
mitted to doubt whether, after all Mr. Sandfords ap
pearance at the Tueries in plain citizens dress will
be considered by impartial history as the next most i'm
portant diplomatic event to the solution of the Turkish
question The truth is that the fussy and udicrous
ments Of portion of the press upon simple matter
change Of dress is painful exhibition OF pue
ry than any conformity with any extravaganza of off,
cal uniform Once let it be understood that the Ameri
Minister is to appear amid crowd OF laced and
gilded dresses in plain black coat and that coat be-
distinct uniform as if he wore the stars
brodered on his breast and the stripes his brceches
1t lis simply matter of national taste, and the least said
about it the better. Gen. Pierce and Mr. Marcy have,
fortunately higher claim upon the respect Of the coun
try. In their diplomatic selections they have shown
strong desire to ability and character and in more
than instance have gone without the narrow line Of
party divisions to show their appreciation OF past services
They anxious that the representation OF the country
abroad shall be wise resolute and Courteous and per-
haps may not be amss therefore at this time to con-
slider how fur the organization OF diplomatic system
is calculated and preserve that sort Of national
representation which the interests and dignity OF the re-
public require.
Ought we to have any regularly organized diplomatic
service This question has been discussed by some OF
the leaders of the political press with astonishing gnor
ance of the facts of the countys history, and the
narrowest Of economical grounds. If the choice, indeed
is be between diplomatic service badly organized,
pudiciousy selected and inadequaey paid, and the
of special Ministers for special occasions the latter is of
preferable but only because the regular organiza
ton is unfit for its work, and not because there is not
useful and necessary work 1t to do The idea
Of large portion of people is that the ordinary
routine Of diplomatic life consists Of elaborate social
trifing that gtterng uniform and graceful gossip
coury and educated taste for wine and Wo-
make up threefourths of ambassadors require
ments Now that good manners and good digestion
necessary elements in perfect official character of
any kind is both reasonable and republican to main
tain and honestly regret with our cherished notions
of republican perfecbity that Sir Richard Pakenham
the amiable British Minister at Washington should have
had it in his power to say to the Examining Committee Of
the House Of Commons:
hope shall not be considered saying any thing dis
respectful the President of the United States, but must
beg leave observe to the committee that when gave
dinner and the President dinner, think my dinner
rather the better of the twoRepo Of Official Salaries, H.
O., p 800.
But surely it is very view Of the amenities of
social life to suppose their decent discharge incompatible
with attention higher duties and the history Of the
world as well the of any thinking man,
should convince that the great interests Of great En-
pires like England, France Russia could not be
and not trusted to mere gourmands and fribbes.
Hard work requires hard sense and when the exterior Of
diplomatic life looks trivial turn t, its results and see
what has really done in preserving the peace ami mod
flying into harmonious action the complex interests Of the
world If nations came into contact rare occasions,
and in controversy only upon large and important ques
tions it might to hold diplomatic intercourse
only such special emergencies But If two centuries
ago it found good for the of the world TO csab
sh regular and constant of national communion
1on surely the increasing cosenes of national relations
not only in point of interest but in physical and mate
rial point Of yiew must have strengthened that neces
sity The great object of regular diplomacy is not,
after all the negotiation Of disputed points but the avoid
ance of all necessity for discussion far possible by
prompt explanation and full and free information to
the real interests Of diverse nations The existence Of
informed and regularly organized diplomatic body at
every national capital, from St Petersburgh to Washing
ton is the highest and most impressive tribute to the
force Of public opinion that the world has What
does such system but that every nation feels that
its conducts fairly open to the worlds investigation and
that each of its actions must be capable of explanation to
the official criticism Of its associate nations To refuse
participation in this representation is TO disavow
our interest in the community of nations, and
voluntarily deprive ourselves of legitimate share Of
national influence Ii stands to that free inter-
change of opinion among the Governments OF the world
must facilitate the business Of life by giving correctness
to national information soothing national preudices and
extending clear and precise notions of national charac
ter interest and strength. That valuable service has
been done the country by the ordinary action Of
guar diplomacy no one familiar with its history
deny Take three examples selected indscriminately-
the conferences between Mr. Rush and Mr.. Canning on
the subject Of the South American republics the inter-
ference Of Gen. Cas in relation TO the famous Quadrupe
Treaty on the Slave Trade and the very important dis
cussion between Mr. Everett and Lord Aberdeen in re
ton the fisheries resulting in the full of the Bay Of
Fundy to our fishermen.
On either Of these occasions and the last especially
had there been regular medium Of diplomatic inter-
COURSE the formal appointment of Embassy to discuss
and settle the points under consideration would have in
all probability lost the opporune time, given stiffness
and disadvanageous warness to the conferences and
most likely ended in defining rather than removing diff
ferences. Besides which, the great English orator
said confidence is plant Of slow growth" and in the
discussion of conroyered matters common sense and
perience teaches that great point is gained where
the negoators from long acquaintance have learned not
merely personal respect but that readiness Of trust which
springs only from personal acquaintance. But, in add
ton oil this the Government perhaps more proper
ly speaking the people Of the United States have mani
tested Of late very keen nerestn the policy Of Europe
Whether for good evil, 1t is evident that the revou
tons of Europe exciting powerful sympathy among
the Of the country and it is OF the highest i'm
portance that We should be accurately informed to
what is passing If must be doing, at least let us
know what do Now there is other reliable means
Of information than educated diplomatic body men
who from their positions, able to see impnrtay nnd
10 learn correctly the rotations Of parties TO each other
If the action Of this Government to be affected by events