Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-02-28
A new .Bounaarv Question


A new boundary Question"
Ii appears that the Mesia affair is not the
most important question Of boundary which the
sagacity Of Secretary Marcy will be called upon
TO adjust Another and very important one. af-
fecting nothing less than the inaliensble right
pertaining 10 the cut and color Of tncle SANS
coat. has been brought upon the taps by the re-
sident minister near the British Court. II will
be remembered that during the last year. in
struetions were issued from the State Depart
rent to American Ministers aud Consular agents
ahroadto dof the lreries of the respective Courts
near which they resided, and 10 appear oeea-
sions Of State in the dress Of American citizens
These instructions have been regarded by some,
and disregardon by others, among the American
functionarics We presume a part of them, like
peacocks, have an innocent- innate fondness for
fancy eolors. while the rest had not taste
sufficiently cultivated to appreciate them. Johnny
Mason, doubtless in wise consideration Of the pc
culior adaptedness OF his porty person to the gau
dy trappings of the military court costume, has,t
appears. borrowed dashng suit Of the same, and
made son depor before the ''uncle's nephew" in
gold lace aripe--whte vest-eaglc battons-
blue coat, Notwithstanding collar--daps,
chapean and side arns Mr.. Mason is evidently
fogy, and generation for Diplomatic instructions
cannot make him one. The siad sobriety of
black coat would be out of place in the volatile
French capitol, and Johpy has therefore been
not only q la mode, but facetious and nmnsing-
How delightful must hive been the Fetadie rirdHt
which he presented Of the heroic Hudribfas, as,
with sword, ehapeau and other martial decora-
tons, he made his obiesanoe in the presence of
Empress Eugene
But We must return 10 the important question of
sboundary'' to which alluded in the beginning
of this article. Ii originated from the exclu-
sion Of Mr.. Buchanan from She House Of Lords
on the occasion Of the opening OF the British
Parliament. The grievance the refusal of
TIE said Minister To comply with certain regula-
tons of the Lord Chamberlain, contrary to the in
structions he had received, requiring hin, TO ar
ray himself in the monkey show frppory of lace
and bright buttons--termed diplomatic costume
The London Examiner takes up the cudgels for
the wronged minister, and thus lectures John
Bull ON his foolish rudeness and the difference be-
tween gold lace and dignity. We shall here
leave the matter in the hands of the Examiner
and Secretary Marcy-not doubling that the lat
ter twill stand upon bis rights" and insist upon
the black boundary valiantly the aforesaid
minister once did for 5I-l0
'.But what, let us ask, is diplomatic costume!
1t is not necessarily blue and blaze of gold en-
bro1ery Ii varies with the habits of nations,
and tastes of Courts. The Persian does not APP
pear like blue bottle fly. The Turk has his pc
culiar dress. And the American has also his ap.
pointe diplomatic cstume IN plain black coat
His uniform is the uniform of simplicity Tho
plainness may he in very bad taste; but if, in
stead Of "a black coat it was the pleasure OF Tho
Amerisan Gorersment that its diplomatic agent.
should clothe themselves in smock- frocks a to0uio
be incumbent on orr Court 10 reeeipe them IN that
apparel. What right can we have 10 force the
repre- sentative of another Power into particu-
lar costume, or. in default to Slap the door in his
facet The representatives, of different States
may have different modes of wearing their gold
The monarchial wear il outside, the republican
carries It inside. The plain black cont is topical
OF the nation whose resources are not squander-
ed in appearances, but husbauded to make
a mighty power in reseye available whenever oc
casioD may arise. ~ is to be regrefief thai the
American Minister did not stand upon his right
to admission IN the dress Automatically assign
ed 10 him by his Government Upon the Lord
Chamberlain would then have been thrown the
absurd difficulty of deciding what is what is
not a diplomatic dress and new boundary ques-
ton would have arisen in the provinces of tai.
loring and embroidery.
There may be the same sort of distinction be-
tween the servants of nations in and out of livery
there is between the servants of private es-
tabshments;and the lace may not always express
the highest pretensions and dignity. Court eti-
quette may be thing of great worth. but Of
greater value still, according to notion,is the
cultivation of good feeling between this coun-
try and the people of the U. States, cordial
alliance with whom.always important, was never
so vitality important now. Our Ministers are
profuse and loud in their professions of anxiety
for peace, but earnest of this feeling should be
given in deeds, and every needless occasion.of
offence should be scrupulously avoided especi-
ally towards people peculiarly sensitive and ten
scious
The Charleston Standard says: "A friend from