The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-03
TIE Diplomatic Career Of Mr.. Pieroe's Ad
naturalization.

1853. The famous diplomacy of the early
Statesmen of the republic-that skill which
piloted our bark safely through the dangers Of
the last and the temptations OF the beginning Of
this century--is far outshone by the exploits OF
Marcy and Pierce. Astuteness, prescience,
firsnness coupled with moderation have never
been more happily exemplifed.
At the period Of the Inauguration, many q1es-
of Importance in our relations with foreign
ficulties with Great Britain on the subject OF
Central America had disturbed the last hours OF
TIE Fillmore Cabinet. aud called for prompt at
tention. The disputes in relation TO the fisheries
were still unsettled. The state Of our COM
mercial intercourse with France placed our
merchants and shipowners at q grave disadvan-
tage, which it was Of the highest moment to re-
move. Incessant chickering's between American
citizens and the colonial authorities of Cuba,
rendered some final disposal of the questions at
issue between the United States and Spain alb
solutely indispensable. Our relations with
Central America were Of the most uncertain
and unsatisfactory character. New treaties as
States were obviously required. Altogether,
on entering the Office of State, Mr.. Pisrce's
Secretary must have seen at glance that his
post was to be no sinecure, and that serious in
convenience and hardship would necessarily
ensue from neglect or delay in the discharge Of
his official functions.
Accordingly, Mr.. Marcy set himself to work,
off .vo,, ,srty~
Am essay on diplomatic coat tails
While our interests in Central America were on
the verge OF ruin; while our whole fishing in
terests lay ct the mercy Of British cruisers;
while France continued to tax our ships with
out law or reason, and while Spanish deputies
fired into our steamers, and imprisoned our citi-
zena, Mr.. Marcy could find nothing more wor-
thy Of his official care than the cut of consular
attire. Broadcloth, buttons and breeches,
seemed to him far higher objects of thought
than the industrial, commercial and political
concerns Of the nation. The people were anx
iously expecting some manly assertion of Ameri-
can rights, or at least some learned exposition
Of modern International law: but all they got
was an elaborate--and to do the Secretary jus
tice-an ingenious treatise on the art of dress.
This point settled, our relations with France
and England were next deemed worth a mo-
ment's consideration. Unfortunately these
were grave subjects, not to be disposed of in as
brief space as consular coat tails. Moreover
Mr.. Buchanan, our Minister to London, would
not allow himself to be made a cat's-paw to
Mr.. Marcy's ambition: when the Secretary
intimated that he intended to settle the fishery
and other questions, the Minister replied that
be was perfectly able and willing to manage his
own business. Marcy did not then know that
the prospect Of failure in the negotiations was
quite as great as that of success: having ascer-
tained this fact, shortly after Mr.. Buchanan's
reply reached him, he eagerly embraced the
opportunity Of relnquishing the task he had
tried to nsurp, and ut once handed ever the
whole business to the minister at London. The
only connection he has since had with the mat
ter has been the conclusion of an absurd bar
gain with the British Provinces by which we
admit their exports free, while they continue
to tax ours.
Our intercourse with Spain has been of DIFF
ferent character. In addition to our former
grounds Of complaint against Spain, the outrage
committed upon the ':Black Warrior" stimulat-
ed the Cabinet to demand of the Spanish 60
vernment prompt PREPARATION for the past and Sc
curity for the future. Most warike dispatches,
il is said, were sent to Mr.. Soul6, and a vipor-
ous demonstration was anticipated, not only by
the American people but by the world at larg.
Those dispatches were treated with contempt
by the Queens Cabinet, and Mr.. Soule nearly
received his passports, Wherenpon, members
Of Congress, nj The instgation of the Execut. !,
moved to place ten millions at the disposal OF
the President, to enable him to "act as circum-
stances required" The impression which was
meant to be produced by this motion was that
Mr. Pierce intended to redress our injuries i. n
self. The Senate however, took leave to ak
'or some more definite explanation Of tbe
Presidents object; and the reply is the twai-
ling message which we published yesterday.
That document-whichi is more like an editorial
n New Hampshire paper than any thing
slse-expans nothing, says nothing means
nothing. 1t reiterates the sentiments of the
motion for the ten millions. and admits thas mn
TO this time bullying md diplomacy have bots
tniled to excrt redress or satisfaction from Soaiu
Bnt the means the PreiAeat thinks of employ
ing to obtain redress for cur wrongs arc still
left to conjecture. In point q fact the admin
stration does not desire to bind itself to pursue
any particular line of policy; oil it wants is
the ten millions, to be spent as ii chooses. The
net result of the Pierce Marcy diplomacy with
regard to Spain has been to place the country
in worse position than it has yet occupied
and TO give Spain every reason to suppose that
We can be deaed with impunity.
The rest Of Marcy's diplomacy presents
bold contrast TO the foregoing. Hitherto W.
have had nothing but inactivity folly, an
waste of time. Our foreirn relations on TIL