Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-06-24
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE "a, 1853.
secretary MaIcy's Instructions 10 our Di.
plomatistS.

plOtnatistS.
short time ago, the Washington Union
informed the nation that the President and
Cabinet having, in the main settled the business
Of appointments to office, were about to apply
themselves to the important forcigU relations
Of the country. The nation was glad to hear
j, thinking it quite time to have a little atten
ton given to ie" items of that sort.
As an earnest Of so desirable an occupation
on the part of our chief men at the eat of
government, we were favored with the publ
cation Of some letters missivc, in the shape of
instructions to our representatives abroad. IN
these letters, our foreign ministers, charges.
and consu,s, those who are expected to uphold
The honor and interest Of their country abroad.
and TO aid their countrymen in obtaining their
rights of the officials of foreign courts are told
some things which they are to do. and more
which they are not to do These letters the
nation Is glad to see olso, and we see common
datlcns of their tenor, from all sides In
single instance, we have noticed n decided
eneer at Mr.. Secretary Marcy's instructions on
dress, and his requirement that .4mer,cdnS only
euUuu Bc tlllpIUNtu Us CItTkS III our foreign
national agencies But the sheer came not
from an editor Of American birth, but fir, m one
who, though he may have the privileges of an
American citizen, has his sympathlcs too close
ly engaged on the side of the most powerful
deepotism which the world has ever seem to
create any surprise at his conduct on the SUBJ
lect in question.
with the largest part Of our people, the mar
vel would be that there could have been any
occasion to issue such instructions. 1t would
not have come into their heads that ono author
lied to represent his country abroad in civil
capacity, could, by any possibility, have
thought it became HIM to lay aside the citizens
dress, characteristic of his countrymen on all
occasions-those Of highest ceremony at the
chief seat Of Government, las much as those of or
binary inerc oNrse-and to rig himself out in lace
and spangles, by way of Initiating the usaccs
of foreign colrs. Yet, it seems the thing has
been done, and there has been So grea pro.
pensty to such snobbish exhibitions. that
public rebukc of so un-Amcncan practice is
called for by the head of our Government.
No wonder that there has been SO frequent
a complaint that our foreign representatives too
often seemed ashamed of being Americans
afraid to let ont an American sentiment at n
foreign court, or to show sympathy with any
feeling akin to what at home is warm in every
BOSOM Honorable exceptions to such conduct
there have been, which we are proud of. and
glad will all be to see any measures taken
which VIII aid in keeping alive, ana properly
active, true American spirit, wherever an
AMERICAN certainly an American rt,a},j pre-
SCENTS hiasclf abroad. The minister ur consul
abroad has no business to be taking upon him
self airs of special consequence as an Ancricln
freeman-to lie swa"gcring in plain coat-to
he making impertineu, comparisons between
the institutions Of our country and those of
others, but he should never lay aside his Amer
Ican character for a moment. 1t should sur
round him like an atmosphere Of his own, in
which he would move with case, because h
drew ha life from 1t.
Court dresses arr as alien to the whole Spi il
Of our institutions as fondtl tenue, he
military arm Of the country has its proper in
sigma, On occasions of ceremony at home
ana dofoau' % proper Ior 1t 10 s"o" t"'h'
Rut what would be thought of an American
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