The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-29

Senate on Thursday, is o step in the right
direction. The fault is that 1t does not 90 Tar
enough. I. gives to our ministers to France
and Englani fifteen thousand year, without
outfit, in lieu of nine thousand year with an
outfit equal to another years sa airy. The in
crease is thus equivalent to $3.50 q year.
When it is borne In mind that the deficiency in
our foreign ministers purses has usually been
$4,000 at least per annum, an increase Of $3.50
will seem petty enough. Nor can any sound
reason be discovered for excluding our ministers
to Russia, Prussia Austria and Spain from the
benefit of the augmentation. Hen in their
position require to spend as much at st. Peters
burg. Berlin, Vienna and Madrid as at London
or Paris. In word the rejection of Mr. Bay
ards and Mr. Brodhead's amendments, coupled
with the adoption Of Mr.. Masen's, is what might
imve been expected of set of close, calculating
storekeepers; but hardly the 'sort'of thing that
BELTS the Senate of the United States The
whole matter is exceedingly simple, and re-
solves into a plain question of supply and
demand. tu~r
Fit be excusable to pay our Post Office and
Custom House clerks worse than footmen, lest
a relish for government pap should spread, and
the proper independence of the American citi
zen be jeopardized, there is surely no reason
why the same system should be extended to our
representatives abroad. The duties entrusted to
the former class of cheap officials are not of 50
intricate or responsible nature as to be beyo nd
the reach Of the humblest intellects ; so long as
man can live on $500 year, we may b,
sure that offices remunerated with that salary
will be courted, and, as a general thing, will
be suitably filled. Not SO with the Office Il
ambassador or minister plenipotentiary. Too
many instances we could mention in our own
history abundantly prove that the ability
requisite for thorough discharge Of the
functions Of these pooI is given to few. Akuow-
ledge Of the nice details of diplomatic science of
international law and usage, of foreign nations,
governments and languages is indispensable to
an ambassador but it can only be acquired by
men Of finished education and large cap acity.
If, again, we reject from this already small
class of persons, those who from habit, i'll
health or personal predictions, prefer life
of case or q mercantile or professional career
to the service of the State, we shall find that
our choice is limited to so small q group that,
at the rate embassies are increasing, the
United States hardly furnish suitable occu-
pant for each vacant post. Party jealousies
have OF late years still further reduced this hit
tie band; and now, the embarrassment
which awaits every new administration, when
the distribution of its foreign patronage
comes before the Cabinet, is so formidable
Is to constitute one of the greatest diff
,ulties in its path. That difficulty does not
rise, people suppose, from the hostility to be
incurred from The rancor Of disappointed can
aidates; but simply from the sheer impossible
ty, under our present system, of finding able
men who will consent 10 fill the vacant posts.
The members Of the last six or eight admins
trations will bear US out in the statement
Called upon by the country to send representa-
tives to dozen foreiga courts, they have, one
and all, seen themselves obliged to confer the
Office on individuals whom they knew to be Ut
terly unworthy Of the honor and incapable Of
filing the station with credit to themselves o.
the cssntry.
The phenomenon is peculiar to the United
States. Great Britain, France, Russia, Austria
and other first class Powers fiad nearly as much
embarrassment in choosing their ambassadors
out Of The host of suitable candidates as we in
average mea to take such Offices or
in conferring them on the least outrageous Of
the incapable competitors. The difference can
not be ascribed to any national inferiority OF
ours. Able men are as plentiful here as there
1t is solely due to the manner in which the post
Of foreign representative is remunerated Eu-
ropean governments pay their foreign min. sers
SO literally that poor men Of intellect eau at.
ford to seek the distinct on: we remunerate
ours so badly that wealth is with us the first
requisite for the Office, aud poor mea ca513t
venture TO accept it. The fruits OF the 5, a.,m
ire apparent. 1t has happened once or twice
that a rich man, like Abbot Lawrence,
has combined diplomatic ability with
riches |; but for every exception of this
nature We could mention ten instances
where the country has been disgraced by the
blunders of wealthy blockheads. This must
continue to be the rule so long as we pay nine
thousand year to public officers who are
forced to spend twenty to keep up the neces-
sary appearances Of their station and the dig
nifty Of their country. Every year in fact
the necessity is becoming more imperative.
The natural increase and diffusion of money
are enhancing the cost Of living throughout
the world; where twenty suffices now, twenty
five may be required ten or twenty years
hence.
The perverse tcnacity of Congress in refus-
ing to amend this portion Of the law, or in
efecting such partial alterations as the
one carried last Thursday, can neither
be defended on traditional usage, nor ra-
tional argument. When the sum of nine thou
sand dollars was selected as q proper emolu-
ment for our foreign ministers, 1t was sufficient