The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-12
The Mission TO France-HOyv will Hon John
Y. Mason dos


The Mission TO France-Hoxv will 7Ion. John
Y. Mason dos
1t is al length officially announced that Hon.
John Y. Mason, of Virginia, is appointed Minis
ter to France. We have had dreadful time in
arriving at the solution of this problem. For
six long months running through the hot spasms
Of June and July. and the terrible ordeal Of the
dogdays the Washington newsmongers and the
politicians have harassed and worried the coun-
try with their fears, and doubts and hopes, and
conjectures, concerning this mission to France;
but all to no purpose. They began early in the
spring. with Mr.. Dix then successfully Marcy,
Cushing, Wise of Virginia, Cobb Of Georgia,
and others were tried but each in his turn was
dropped, for Dix, after all. was to be the man.
Then it was suddenly discovered that there
had been sharp correspondence between Mr..
Dix and the President on the subject, resulting
in positive information to Mr. Dix that he would
not answer And finally. the long agony is
ended in the appointment Of a man overlooked
in all the estimates of the newsmongers and the
politicians, being no less parsonage than the
Hon John Y. Mason. of Virginia
Now, the first questions that arise are-who
is this JOHN Y. Mason what is he what has
he done what can he do?+what are his ante
cedents his capabilities, his experience, his re-
Communications for this mission to France at
this crisis? 1t is manifest that we have reached
a crisis, and great crisis, in orr relations with
the Old World and that henceforth our diplo-
matte business with France as the arbiter OF
peace or war in Europe, must necessarily be Of
the highest Importance; and still more impor-
tant in reference to the balance of power upon
our own continent.
1t is well understood even a. Washington,
that the existing relations between England
and France are of the most pacific character;
it is believed in the best informed political cir
Giles of Paris and London that secret alliance
in regard to American affairs, under the advice
of Lord Palmerston, has been entered into be-
tween Louis Napoleon and the British govern
ment. In this arrangement it is believed that
Louis Napoleon has secured the full consent of
England to the establishment of the imperial
dynasty, in consideration for his cooperation in
the anti-slavery, antirepublican policy Of Eng
land in North and Central America and the
West India islands.
The policy of England is to distract and
divide these United States upon the slavery
question. Otherwise their march to the COM
mercial and maratime supremacy of the seas
is inevitable, and their ultimate position as the
overshadowipg and controlling power in the
earth is manifest destiny" But if the North
and the South can be divided upon the slavery
trouble into two or three separate confedera-
eies England instantly regains her ascendancy,
and republican institutions fall into anarchy,
to the permanent advantage of those despotic
European systems which claim the rights of
oppression ''by the grace OF God" The policy
Of England, then, towards US hinges upon the
slavery question; and the interests of Louis
Napoleon aud his dynasty, we fear, have made
him in this deep-laid policy the ally Of Lord
Palmerston. Hence the overtures for that
tripartite treaty concerning the island of
Cuba; hence the interest betrayed by France
concerning Mexico and Hayti. and the appoint
ment of Mr. Soule, manifest destiny" man,
as our Minister to Spain. The reception
of Mrs. Beecher Stowe in England,
and the crocodile tears of Stafford House for
poor old Uncle Tom have deeper signifca-
ton than mere abolition philanthropy. We may
detect the true meaning OF these manifesto
tons in the late movements OIL British
enisaries in Cuba, contemplating the sub
stituton in that Island . the Jamaica ap-
premiership scheme for the present Spanish sys-
TEN of slavery. The success of that movement
would shut the door of Cuba against US more eff.
fectually than the combined armies and navies
of all Europe. But as il is also the policy of
the Napoleon dynasty to check the further ex-
pansion of our country and the progress of our
institutions by balance of power in the Gulf
ofMexico, we may rely upon it that, as far as
his cooperation may be required to shut us out
of Cuba, Louis Napoleon will act with England
against US. against the South, and against the
further extension of our Southern system of
slavery.
Hence then we repeat the Importance of
this mission to France, and the paramount duty
st. Cloud the centre of European diplomacy,
man competent to appreciate and circumvent
the Interior designs of England and France
against this dangerous republic through our
Southern institution Of slavery. And here our
unanswered questions recur. Who is Mr.. Ma
son what was he what are his recommen-
dations and capabilities for this important mis-
sion to France at this great crisis in the contest
between monarchcal and republican institu-
tons After this long delay in hitting upon
our man-after all those six months of troubles,
anxieties and motley embarrassments-ha we
hit upon the right man at last, or have we only
secured man that will do in plain sailing.
trusting to luck for all difficult contingencies?
Let US see. Mr.. Mason, we believe, has been
q member Of Congress- a local Judge in vir-
ginia, was for time Captain Tyler's Attorney
General. and afterwards, to the end Of his term.
Captain Tyler's Secretary of the Navy. He
IL NJ, Dill, Al