Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-07-10
OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON
TIE ACT TO REMODEL OUR DIPLOMAT
&c AND CONSULAR SYSTEMS.


The act of the last session Of Congress- pretending
TO 'remodel" the Diplomatic and Consular systems
of the Government, was found upon examination to
he SO embarrassed by absurd, contradictory and I'M
constitutional provisions, that its literal execution Is
IN utter mpossibility. The Secretary OF State, nc
cordingy submitted the act to the Attorney General
that he might give it effect by official construction
The opinion of Mr.. Gushing, which has been printed
for the instruction of our diplomatic and consular
agents. is q masterpiece of legal construction With
sharp and searching criticism, he exposes the defects
and absurdites of the act, and with singular ingenul
ty and logical method binds its di.jomcd fragments
into symmetrical unity. To sIrapeless and incr,
muss Of clumsy legislation he impurs order aud vi
tality. While Mr. Gushing displays perfect ease
and information iu discussing the details of the act
he lifts his arguments to the elevation OF general
principle and adorns it with abundant philosophical
and historical illustration. lie accomplishes his
difficult task with the skill of the scholar and the
success Of the susacious statesman.
LAW PROFESSOR AT WILLIAM & MARY.
Mr.. William Green of Culpepcr has been appoint
ed to succeed Judge Scarburs Professor OF
Law in the Faculty oil William aud Mary College,
In professional learning, Mr. Green, by common oon-
SENT is allowed to excel any lawyer in the State His
accession to the Faculty Of William and Mary will
rive additional distinction to this venerable insttu-
tion.
THE BRITISH AND FRENCH COMMANDERS.
The Paris correspondent OF the New York Com
mercal Advertiser refers to the fact that many CIR
cumstanccs were the Independence Beige
relating to political and army affairs before appearing
in the Moniteur, and that that paper simply copies
without endorsing them, and states that some months
ago one Of the correspondents OF the Independence
Beige WAS taken into the confidence OF the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has been ever since
furnished with the materials for his communications,
whenever occuson called for it. Thus the writer says
in one of his letters:
"Lora Raglan and Gen. Pcllissicr held different
views unon certain point The latter, in the execu.
ton of pan he had forwarded assigned to the Eng
lish army the position he Judged proper Hesitation
and remonstranccs were heard at the English head
uunrers and it seemed rs though oil unity OF action
would be paralyzed by misunderstanding between
the Generals But Pcssicr showed that ho was fol-
lowing out the plans of the two governments, and de.
clarcd that he would pursue bis original idea at all
bnZards The English, who had supposed they might
stil di,cuss now saw TINT there nothing lett but
to act, and sort Of gencrnlshp n.chicf has since
been exercised, by him who, indeed, has certain
right TO it, from the fact that he is the commander OF
tho most numerous of the four armies. This UNITY
of command continues the spokesman of the Foreign
Department, Will doubtless be maintained ny mutual
consent"
This article is going the round of the French pa
pers, the government having thus managed, through
the medium OF foreign journal, TO Givo circulation
to nn important fact, in n way of which the allies
cannot reasonably complain, however much they
may dislike the intelligence itself, and the publicity
given to it.
KNOW W-NOTHINGISM IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
We find in the New York Daily Times full ar-
count Of the late proceedings of the State Council of
the Know Nothing party in Massachusetts,, in refer
ence to the proceedings Of the National Councii III
The action of the delegates to the Ma
tional Convention fully endorsed tile platform OF
the majority of that Convention was dsaiirned, and
the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved That this organization be henceforh
known as thn American Party i'll Massachusetts, and
does hereby sever all connection with the majority of
the National American Council recently assembled ut
Resolved, Tint this party affirm with renewed en-
crgy the distinctive principles of Amcricanlsm' which
we have heretofore expressed.
in attempting to send papsts into the late Council at
affords ground for suspicion that they
have other and ulterior objects in view, which they
seek TO strengthen by an alliance with the American
party.
lv le,lpcd 10 use NIL constitutional means to effect
the restoration of the prohibition clause of the Mis-.
souri, Compromise. and TO secure free institutions i'll
Kansas and Nebras ka
Resolved, That the intcres: Of the whole country
ttptnn on,I n
the people Of Massachusetts and the Free States and
we invite the cooperation Of men Of all parties
in Massachusetts and the Free States, to maintain
and advance the principles we profess.
Resolved That the Massachusetts, Council declares
that a the principles of the order shall be henceor-
ward everywhere openly avowed and that each
member shall he at liberty to make known the exist
ence of the Order and the fact that he himself Is q
member; aud it recommends that there be no conceal
meut of the places of meeting of subordinate Couu-