Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-11-15
WASHINGTON NKws And GOSSIP.

arriving mere on the day before yesterda,
with those of the America, Sailing four day
before, as we'll as those of the st. Louis. sail
ing seven days before) brought despatohe
for the various foreign embassies in Washins
ton, as well as to the Government up to th,
very latest dates from nearly all the Europea,
capitals We feel certain that they conve,
most interesting and exciting news. Wehav,
to say on the authority of private lette
from Paris, from distinguished American
addressed to the senior editor Of the Star, tina
during his very recent stay in Paris on hi
way to London, Mr.. Soule carefully abstainet
even from conversing with intimate friend
upon any topic about which his views, if 70
ported to the Government might, perchance
give offence. He conducted himself whit,
there with most scrupulous care. so as not t.
afford his enemies an opportunity to find faul
with his presence and bearing. So, it is yer,
certain that 10 has given no occasion for th,
Wanton insult offered to him by the French
Government, and through him, it seems t.
us, to the Government of the United States
Our impression is that, 80 far, the American
Government are not in possession of the COZ
respondenee with reference to this affair tina,
has undoubtedly transpired between Mr.. Ma.
son and The French Foreign Affairs Minister,
which fact must preclude full instructions on
the subject from going out by the next teamer.
Our impression also is, that in the probable
entire absence of specific allegations against
the conduct of Mr.. Soule in France, as the
reason for his treatment by the French gov
eminent, the United States authorities can
hardly fail to regard it as deliberate insult,
requiring the recall of Mr.. Mason and the
sending off of the French minister here OF,
in other words, a suspension of diplomatic
relations with France. True, France has, un-
der perhaps the most generally accepted in
depreciation Of the law of nations, the right
to be thus uncorteous to any American minis
tor not specially accredited to herself. Yet,
in availing herself of that right, without
valid reason for so doing she wantonly insults
the Government sending him abroad, and
must take what seems to US to be the natural
consequences of her course-not war, but
suspension of her diplomatic relations with
US. 1t strikes Us as clearly the duty of our
Government of the United States, at all haz.
ards, to sustain their representative against
whom personal prejudice only can be alleged.
Surely, if the ordinary courtesies cannot be
secured to them by the fo.ce of this Govern
ments position as q member of the family of
nations, no one Of Thorn may be reasonably
expected to be successful in the prosecution
of any diplomatic business of importance to
our national interests. Louis Napoleon, in
this case, is apparently calculating upon the
immunity which the present anti.radical tone
of French popular sentiment gives him, to in
dulge in tricks Of the "beggar on horseback. -
He has, however, gone too far, for his own
future, We feel assured.
We learn that the letters received BY the
different European embassies here, are full of
gossip over this affair.
lily Repaid the whole of the last
session Of Congress the spouting men among
the able and worthy gentlemen composing the
conservative portion of the Massachusetts, del
egation in the House of Representatives, to
our amasement at least, seemed bent on "out"-
the avowed abolition members
from that State. ALI will remember tho An
ti-Nebraska speeches Of Messrs. Valley and
Eliot, and that they were more ultra and ve-
hement against the guaranteed rights of the
South under the Constitution, than those of
any other members from that region Of the
This struck US as but an effort
to make sure of the Free Soil vote at home, or
at least Of fair share of it, in the election
Just passed. They thus assumed a position
FOR themselves and their other conservative
colleagues wholly antagonistic to what their
friends at home had been contending for ever
since the beginning of their struggle with the
Higher Law party there. Not content with
thus placing themselves on the record, on their
return home, all these gentlemen, perhaps
with the exception of Mr. Appleton, are un-
derstood to have taken active parts in coun-
selling the passage of the very ultra abolition
which were passed by the last
n Massachusetts, State Convention in the hope of
securing the triumph of Governor Washburn
and the return of their nominees for Congress.
Pray, what have they gained by their course
in this matter? Have they not sffeotually
Tut themielves of from the Southern Whig
party, as we'll as from tho Silver Grey Wings
If New York, who voted against Clark because
10 went as far upon the abolition platform as
hoy did?
The Free Sellers gladly used their self stul.
LITIGATION only to break the political heads of
these gentlemen, who had no sooner given in
their adherence to the most revolutionary an
.i-slavery doctrines, than they were practical
kicked down the back stairs, for men who
could, in all respects, be relied on to suit their
ourposes-for ultra and unmiti gated aboli.
ion South-haters of long standing. Every
nan of these gentlemen to whom We refer
irst above, has been debated, and such Abo.
itionists as We describe have been chosen in
heir stead +; and almost tho very name of the
Wing party of the State has been
obliterated.