The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-19
Secretary Marcy's Intersections 20 sr Com
suls Abroad-What nexts

suls Abroad-What nexts
Nothing since the inaugural address Of Gen.
Pierce. has given more lively sense Of exube-
rant satisfaction to the country than Secretary
Marcy's circulars to our plenipotentiaries,
charges, secretaries Of legation, and consuls
abroad He has gained, from these good ola
time Instructions golden opinions from all sors
of men, women. and children. Hence, being
persuaded thereunto by yearning desire ruiiy
to discharge our duty to the public, we took
occasion. day or two ago, to express our com
mendations of that democratic republican re-
formation appertaining to the official costumes
of our diplomatic corps which reduces them
from the highfaluting composites of iunkeyism
to the primeval simplicity and blue yarn stock
ings of good old Doctor Franklin.
Actuated by a similar purpose now, we have
word or two to say in appreciation of the Of
fetal letter to our consuls. But first, we must
confess that the order to the secretaries Of lega-
ton, that they are to be careful not to exceed
in the amount Of their drafts, the sum to which
they may be entitled in account with the United
States, at the date of the draft has very
suspicious look about it, Does our cautious
Premier distrust these gentlemen, or suspect,
notwithstanding their papers, and Congress
sonal recommendations. that here and there,
perhaps there may be Jeremy Diddler among
them? No harm DONE anyhow, in keeping
sharp eye upon the treasury Our secretaries
of legation are generally young men and it IS
well they should be thus admonished against
the temptations of foreign courts. They may
be dazzled and led astray; but it is well, we re
peat. that they should understand that beyond
the sum of two thousand dollars year the
government can't pay the expenses, for that the
day of extra allowances has gone by. Let
them remember the example of good old Doctor
Franklin, in his maxim that
"A penny saved is twopence clear
A pin day 8 groat year"
and lay up something against the contingencies
of another election.
But to the consuls. The Premier sets out by
declaring that the employment of foreign clerks
in our consular Offices is bad practice, and
ought to be, and, in point of fact, must be,
abandoned. Very good as far as practi-
cable. hut rather tough upon the con-
suls, for Americans, even abroad, are &C
customed to higher scale of charges
than foreigners. And how will that work?
And how Will Messrs Soule Robert Dale Owen,
Belmont, and other distinguished foreign born
ministers, and other officials abroad like this
thing? But the order will have the effect Of eX
tending among us knowledge Of foreign Ian
guages which is eminently desirable. Mark,
then, the far reaching sagacity of our Premier.
and admire. And then they must report every
fee if it be but single tee and even if they
get no fee at all, that fact must be reported,
which is all right. And the exaction of fees
for the verifcation of passports, which might be
dispensed with, must be stopped That's good.
II is Ben Frankln's view o. the subject to
hair. No tricks upon strangers, if you please.
And then the Secretary informs his consuls
that people are accustomed to travel all over
these United States without passport, which
we believe is true but still, to many Of our
consuls abroad this may be valuable infor-
nation.
Another point Of instruction Of the pure de-
mocratic school is this-that If our consuls think
they are imparting dignity and Importance
to the place where the business of the consulate
is transacted, by calling it La CtanceAerie,'
and the clerk in their employment LIE Chan
celier' they are very much mistaken, There
is no law Of Congress for it. 1t won't do
1t is the trick Of the charlatan. Our Pre-
mier despises such Frenchifed nonsense, and
won't have it. La ChonceHerier' Take
it down, and put up Clerks Ofice,' so that
cto1-o
French Chancellor of the Exchequer. La
ChanceYerie r' Contrast the contemplate
cockneyism with the sign of the patriotic son
ofwax near Columbus. Ohio, illuminated with
the American spread eagle. and inscribed in let
tiers of gold" E Pl1vi5us Unum, j. Watkins,
shoemaker and how paltry the consular hum
bug appears We are positively glad that Sc
cretary Marcy has ordered " La Cbancellerie"
and :" LIE Chancellor" to be taken down. They
smell of the moustache - dem fine kwecha,"
white kid gloves and ''e1trait de cologne"
Down with them. Il bGs La ChcnceHerie! "A
bas lie Chancellor! Vive la Repu6iique -
Viue le bon homnle, Doctestr Franbltnt
Furthermore, our consuls will understand
that they are to remain at their posts unless
upon leave Of absence. No more troloping
over Italy and the Alps on pleasure excursions.
leaving the onfce III the of the clerk. Then,
again, the consuls are to furnish the department.
gratis we suppose, with everything they can
pick up relating to il" scientific discoveries, to
progress in the arts. to agricultural develope-
ments. and to general statistics in foreign coun-
tries" the object being publish book. by the
government every year, Of the information thus
collected Beautiful idea, that, and quite plum
for the public printer! But if Secretary Marcy
can't afford to pay for such services, we dare
say that where it is valuable, the New YORK
HERALD. as heretofore will allow an equivalent,
and print all such information and spread it
before the world without charge to the treasury.
Thus, in the Pickwickian sense. we can exclaim