The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-15

Cur Washington correspondents letter, pub
ilshed IN another column. throws some light or
the reasons which Influenced the administration
IN the selection OF our foreign ministers. We
care not, at the present moment to follow the
writer III bis acute analysis Of motives and his
careful classification Of the men who have shared
the spells; he himself like the members of the
Cabinet, seems. to our thinking to take con-
tracted view Of the question, and to forget
abiding principles in his elaborate study Of de-
tails. The only point worth considering in
connection with the foreign appointments is
whether the country is represented by men
who will do US credit in the hour Of need. or
not. The bulk OF the American people
care not one straw about Southern demoera.
cles or Northern coalitonsts or hards or sets
or silver grays or bunkers, or barnburners or
any other Of the factions which have sprung
into lie from sordid struggles for plumber
what they desire is that the politicians who
are selected by the government to represent
them at foreign courts should be men Of IN
blemished character, Of staanch fidelity to the
spirit Of our institutions. and Of such expert
ence that they shall not disgrace US by blum
ders of policy. Ii they can be satisfied that
this is true Of General Pierces nominees
they viii not inquire what faction Of the de
mocracy was appeascd by their appoint
ment; if, on the contrary, it could be shown
that they are men whose private standing is not
reputable, or whose public career neither COM
mands esteem nor inspires confidence, the
people will not be satisfied with the excuse that
it was necessary to conciliate this or reward
that faction Of any political party whatever.
The whole mischief of the foreign appoint
ments began in ignorance Of this fact. The
Cabinet-for General Pierce had little to do
with it-seemed 10 regard themselves in the
light Of gang of robbers who had Won rich
prize through the aid of fellow conspirators,
and whose first duty it wac to reward the latter
for their services; no thought took they either
Of the responsibility incurred by themselves or
Of the weight Of the trust they conided to their
nominees The Office was notbing-the duties
were nothing-the public interests at AXE
were nothing-the national honor was nothing:
the only thing they cared for was that John or
james who had helped them to defeat the
wings, should receive his fair share Of the plua-
der The Marcy rule Of conduct was their
guide throughout.
Else. how ever could they have appointed
such man as Soule to Spain? Were there no
respectable Americans to lie had, that it was
necessary to choose French socialist, who but
9 few years ago was ignomniously expelled from
his own home in consequence Of bis assaults
upon public morals and social order "a man
the nominating convention. and who, during
his congressional career. attracted public notice
but once, and that by ST ,ech that would have
disgraced the national councils Of any civilized
country who, during the CANVASS. perambu-
lated the Eastern States with single speech
dent, and which he dared net deliver in New
York foT fear OF its being reported "A man
whose principles, if be has any nobody knows
and whose whole life has stamped him
with the character Of chaIlasan? Will
it be any satisfaction to the American peo-
pie, when they hear Of this man making
himself and us ridiculous by his rholomon-
tade about war in Paris, and submitting to
the indignity Of having bis speech to the Queen
altered by the Spanish ministers so as to appear
in the decent shape in which we publish it this
morning, to know that his appointment was
some branch Of tie Southern democracy?
Having appointed one socialist to Madrid, it
ives perhaps but natural that another Of diff
ferent breed should be sent to Naples; and Ro-
bert Dale Owen was accordingly appointed
Soule confined the exercise Of bis noxious pro-
prehensve in his philanthropy, was pest here
as well as in England. He would have been
entirely unknown had it not been for the infde
paper be once started here in conjunction with
Fanny Wright. This seems to have given him
a claim to the favor of Dudley Mann; aud as
the democrats Of Indiana were anxious TO get
rid Of him, there was double reason for his
appointment AZ in the case OF Soul6. his fit
ness foT the post and the credit he would re-
feet On this country were never once con-
sioered.
With Belmont the case was difereot lie
bad neither been o French socialis. nor "a Eng
lish infdel He was never banished from any
country, TO our knowledge. His forte lay in
different direction, Some few years ago be was
q clerk Of Rotbschilds' at o few hundred thalers
q year. At the request of Nine. Rothschild
when the Josephs failed, he was forwarded to
New York, and In course Of time became the
agent Of the house in this city, In the dis