The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-20
THE MISSION TO FRANCE.

THE MISSION TO FRANCE
The Onio" announces the appointment OF
John Y. Mason, of Virginia, as Minister to
France. 1t was undoubtedly Mr.. Marcy's de.
sire, and the Presidents purpose, to assign this
mission to Mr.. Dix but the indications of dis
satisfaction at the South were so strong, that
they were both overruled Mr.. Dix tried hard
to propitiate the Slave Power, explaining, dis
claiming, protesting and eschewing Abolition,
deprecating agitation, smiling upon the Com.
promise, hugging the Fugitive Law, recalling
the services he had formerly done in behalf of
Slavery against Anti Slavery agitation; but
nothing would avail. The Southern press ad-
mitted his plea, SO far as to authorize him to
take his place in the ranks of the Democratic
party but it added
"He however committed most fatal error.
in lS4S, in joining the Van Buren, detection,
and lending the influence of his name and ac-
knOwledged talents to defeat the National De-
mocracy in the memorable canvass of that
year. From this unfortunate bunder it will
be exceedingly difficult for General Dix wholly
to recover. However much disposed the Ma
tiOnal Democracy Of the Union may be to for
give and forget the past, confidence is thing
they cannot be expected to take up and lay
aside at pleasure; and however little inclined
they may be to condemn his general course
upon the Abolition question, they cannot wholly
obliterate from their minds the fact that, in q
great and momentous crisis he was against
them-giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
His friends, then, have no right to marvel or
complain, should such an unfortunate remins-
cence have tendency to materially mar his
prospects for the future"
Very good 1t will crafty every sincere
friend of liberty to learn that he has permission
to stay at home. The man who covers before
despotism at home, cannot be trusted to con-
front despotsm abroad. If we must choose
for our representative at foreign court
stakeholder, or the Northern man who
can stoop to degrade himself to please the
Shareholder, we choose the former. He will at
least have courage enough to stand erect, and
vindicate the dignity of the nation before any
foreign potentate The true representative of
America abroad would be the man who at
home hates oppression and has never bent the
|
we repeat if we cannot have such man, give
US the Southern master in preference to any of
his Northern vassals. Masterdom may be re-
spectacle voluntary vassalage, never!
AS to MIR. Mason, the New York Epening
Post is deeply dispeased We fear, from the
following remarks that its confidence in the
wisdom Of the Administration is beginning to
be shaken. After characterizing Mr.. Mason
as kind of agent or "borer" for steamboat
companies, it proceeds
" From this sphere he is now translated to
one for which he possesses no qualifications
one for which he has neither the natural nor
acquired endowments, neither the capacity, the
political and diplomatic knowledge, nor the
business habits which are necessary to fill it
with honor The lobby at the Capitol has lost
ford and good-natured member, but the dip
lomatic corps Of our country has gained moth
ing. There ia yet one point of view in which,
a. political optimists we are bound to present
the case to our readers The removal of Mr.
Mason from the Hobbies at Washington puts an
end to the danger of mischief from his agency
in that quarter, and restores him to his origi-
nal inactivity"
After all, the Administration may proceed
on the assumption that as nothing is to be
done at the Court of France the suitable man
for such position is he who is exactly quail
fed to do nothing Wisdom consists specially
in the adaptation Of means to an end.
Ion, the wellinformed correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, throws some light upon the
scheme of the monster monopoly in New York,
J for the construction of railroad to the Pa
} cifc:
"The company expect to obtain from the
United States very large grant of public
lands and also contract for carrying the
mails and troops and public stores, and also an
advance or loan upon the contract. Obtaining
all this they expect to sell their bonds in Lon
don, and thus obtain funds to construct the
: road The scheme may succeed, but it is not
to be disguised that the tide is turning against
such speculations. There are sixty millions of
American securities now awaiting negotiation
in England in addition to the four hundred
millions of such securities as are already held
in England or elsewhere in Europe. Luckily,
these railroad bonds cannot be now brought in
! for payment. They have some years to run,
and perhaps We may be able to continue to pay
the interest on them"
We are glad that Col. Benton-the great ad-
vocatc of a real national highway to the Pa
cifc, for the benefit of the People, and not
grasping speculators-wil be in his place in
the next Congress, to look after these m alters
: ONO ELECTION The Democrats have elect
cd Medill, Governor, by large majority 1t il
said by the Cleveland True Democrat ths
Lewis lind. Dem has as large vote as Bar
rere (Whig) The Independent Democratic
ticket has succeeded in Lake, Geauga, Ashta
bula, and Cuyahoga. Trumbull has elected ar
Independent Democratic Senator. Herrick
Ind. Dem, is returned from Lorain; j. w
Vance, Ind. Dem, is returned from Knox anG
Monroe, With special pleasure We hear o
the election of Dr. Norton s. Townshend n
, Senator from Medina and Lorain. The vot'
on the Maine Law is not yet ascertained.
, +. M. PEAsE, Of Brazoria, Texas, has beer
! elected Governor of that State, by majorlt.
Of & aaa Tha tntal vota ia bant az 200