The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-04
The Consular systena.


Thus it is called. Call it Burgundy said
Boniface, of his ale, "and it is worth guinea
a quart" Men are called gentlemen, politi-
clans are called statesmen, restrictive tariffs
are called protection, Kossuth is called pa
triot. Greeley philosopher. and the vagrant
consular bureau at Washington, 10 called
system. A system is defined to be an assem-
blsge Of things adjusted into . regular whole
q union Of principles, or parts, forming one en-
tire thing There are many parts in the consul
lar bureau but there is an utter want Of ad-
herence Of its parts. It is the human body
without the soul the form without the sub
stance. In addition to what we have said on
the subject, we propose further to expose its
practical absurdities promising that such An
organ for our commercial interest is an unmiti-
gated disgrace to each recurring sdministra-
ton. Perhaps in the whole range Of cur laws
no subject is more important and interesting
than that of its commercial agents. Whether
we consider the interests entrusted to them or
the honor of the public administration. their
Office is one of great delicacy and usefulness,
and. rightly administered, full Of political, so
cial and commercial benefits.
They go abroad as opponents of our mercan-
tile interests-the guardians Of our people in
other lands-and with them, to some extent, is
entrusted the honor Of the republic. They
speak for us-act for us. They are clothed
with public authority, and are thus accredited,
and are supposed to represent the public honor
rights and character. This is the theory Of
our consular representation abroad. Wepropose
to show that it is wholly inadequate to accom-
plish the end sought by its establishment.
Heretofore, we admit that neither our diplo-
matte nor consular agents have had much to do
in Europe. Governmental systems there have
been in antagonism to our own. They have
represented the Eastern-the Asiatic principle
while we have adopted the other extreme.
Europe, in the past has borne little respect for
US. She has not felt our power either in COM
merce OF politics We have not been necessary
to her. Her restrictive commercial system and
her social aristocracy. coupled with the variety
of her climates and productions, have made her
a whole, independent of us and Of our neigh
bors on this side of the water. Her plans Of
government national and international, have
been promulgated without consultation with
as. We have been endured as political power
"a State de .facto; we have not been con-
suited as State de .jure. Meanwhile, her
population has been crowding on produc-
tion, and the elements of our prosperity have
worked into the web of European industry.
Commerce has triumphed over restriction.
Necessity has repealed their exclusive laws The
time has come when the intrinsic power of the
United States as an element Of rule demands
Of Europe hearing. The day of our probation
is past; we have reached our majority in the
family Of nations; our political commercial and
social interests demand that we shall be recog-
nized de tactO ct de jure-that we shall be
heard as We are felt. 1t is idle for conservatism
longer to cultivate our initiative faculties
longer to ask us to follow and not to lead. If
not the public voice, the genius arc energy
Of our people-our truest exponents-de-
mand that our rights, and even our prejudices
and partialities, shall be respected. We occupy
an advance post in civilization and govern
ment, and our power is so strengthened by geo.
graphical defences and domestic productions as
to be out of the way Of successful assault from
any quarter.
Now, in this state of our intercourse and re-
lationship with other nations how stand our
consular and diplomatic functions? OF the lat
system are found chiefly in the incumbents of
the various diplomatic offices. In this light its
criticism is an ungrateful task That agacious
diplomatists Go not spring up like mushrooms
in night is very certain; that an able corps
can be fished out Of the muddy pool of partizan
strife or recommended into existence by letters
from interested Congressional lotteries, we have
no confidence. The consular department is a
very different affair. We have expressed our
views of the Importance of this branch of the
civil service. 1t strikes rs that the manner in
which it is conducted is great public evil. The
responsibility rests with Congress
1t is known fact that at least four-ffths of
the consuls receive neither salary nor legal fees.
This has been the case since the organization OF
the government Consuls have been compelled
to resort to every species of means whereby to
obtain living. The consular plan being one
altogether vagrant in its character, as usual in
such cases. and withal practically irresponsible,
the incumbents have not regarded Ass1selves
as acting under much more than government
passport and hence have not always felt the
restraints of the theories of the system, or even
the instructions Of the State Department. Every
consul recognizes the fact that he is commits
stoned by the President; but he does not fail to
remember that the power that employs him
does not pay him-tbat though he is acting un-
der the government, yet that all he does, for
which he gets any pay, is with those whose in-
terest is opposed to his government. What is
the practical, the inevitable effect of such
system? Suppose the Custom House Offices OF
this city were TO be filed with men by the Sec