Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04
THE COURT CIRCULAR.


Whatever we may have thought of the wisdom
Of the SECRETARY or STATES Circular last year to
our Ministers abroad, respecting the style of dress
they should adopt in their official character, we did
not regard it as entitled to the importance given to
it by the press generally, and believe, if we even
copied the Circular, it was not made the subject of
comment in our columns beyond the playful letter,
several months ago, of our friend Major Downing.
The Ulioa, we remember, though in general so
sparing of laudation, was struck with the origi
nality of the Circular that it extolled it most
happy Democratic conception, alone enough to place
the worthy SECRETARY high on the roll of Illus
trious American statesmen, but who, we dare say,
never dreamed that by so simple an act he was
achieving Immortality and several papers, in the
spirit of the Uiaion have denounced certain of
representatives abroad as aristocrats court syco
plants for conforming their Dress to the usages
of the society in which they were placed, or the
gulations of the Government to which they were
credited.
But whatever the motives or the purposes which
prompted the Circular, or however much we may
have wished that the worthy SECRETARY had, before
he issued it, remembered the old saying, with which
he must be familiar, de mininlfs non carat lee, we
glad to see more practical and less objectiona-
BILE construction now authoritatiyely given to this
State paper, which has furnished food for SO much
anxiety abroad and discussion at home Our coun-
try has the good fortune to be represented at Of
the leading courts of Europe by distinguished and
esteemed son of the Old Dominion. He has had
the good taste, if the Union will pardon us, to
appear at Court in style Of dress which not
only was becoming to his fine person, but which
custom had sanctioned in our public Ministers
from the days of DR.. Franklin. For this judicous
course he has been severely reprimanded by Demo-
cratic prints out of his State, but with commend
able fidelity to State pride he has been defended by
the respectable Democratic journals within it. Fore
most among these is the Eichmona Inquirer, which,
while it stands up for the Minister gives hit at the
Secretary, whose Circular however, il kindly ex-
tenuaes by softening its rgor to official request
instead of mandate We are glad to see this, the
more especially as the construction Of the Enquirer
has been endorsed by its insertion in the Union,
from which paper we copy it into our own columns.
We hope that when this relaxed view of the Circu-
lar shall reach England it will induce our excellent
Minister there to resume the obnoxious costume
and restore himself to his wonted place in the di-
plomatc circle on occasions of State.
FROM THE UNION OF YESTERDAY.
DIPLOMATIC CosTuAE-JUpaE MAsoN.-We mistake the
regulation Of the State Department in regard to the
tune Of American Ministers abroad ifit be
apefemptory order As q suggestion subject to modf-
cation to disregard circumstances might re-
qure, well enough but if absolute and urgent
Injunction to be gdy executed without reference the
customs and requirements Of the court it equally
absurd and mschieyous innovation The reception of
foreign Minister by Government is of duty,
but OF grace and accordingly the Government may i'm
pose conditions the favor The Minister must accept
the privilege with the conditions else decline it alto
gether This Government may refuse receive the
representatives. OF foreign nations unless they appear in
particular costume, but it has right to force its own
representatives another Government in disregard Of
the usages and rules Of the attempt to do this
would involve the country in needless trouble and enbar
rassment lift did not utterly destroy the efficiency Of it
diplomatic system.
In Judgment, the American Minister at Paris con
suited the interests Of his country and the dignity of hi
position in conforming the usages the court in
selection Of his dress In intercourse with thu
Government he the plain black dress Of Amer
citizen; but Of social festiviy he
forms to usage and appears in and this he does
in obedience to the known desire of the court which
he resides 1t should be the object of diplomat to make
the best possible impression with view to his efficiency
in the service of the country. With this design doubt
less Judge MASON resolved against his own personal
feelings, present himself at the French court in the
most acceptable to the Government. 1t under
stood that he very successful in propang the fave,
Of the Government, and that unusual marks of esteem
bestowed upon him in consequence of his compliance
with reasonable request and thus, by display Of the
common and dexterity characteristic of the man.
Judge MASON has position which enables him to
accomplish the object of his mission with efficiency and
success ish'nond Enquirer.
The PUBLIC PRrNTER-Though fully appre.
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