The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-12
The Mission 4, spain.

The Mission 10 Spain.
The resignation OF M. S0ule, the appointment
and Geclination Of Johr'C. Breckenridge, and
the snal appointment Of Augustus Cesar Dodge
to the mission OF Spain have folio we'd each
ether with such rapidity as to leave little time
for comment. We.notice, however, in the print
which represents the free soil wing of the de-
mocracy in thia city, q tardy protest against
the action Of the Executive, and a vehement on
slaught upon Mr.. Pierce on the ground that
the appointment of Mr.. Dodge involved a breach
Of faith to q former friend of the Presidents.
What folly'is this? Does any one blame the
rattlesnake for biting, or the dog for barking?
Where have the free sellers been these many a
day to know the Presidents character so badly
as to expect him to fulfil a promise or to keep
his word i? Have they-tor none have had
better opportunities than themselves--have
they been cheated, and kicked about for the
past two years to SO little purpose as this ?
More political sagacity, if not more philosophi-
cal resignation, was certainly to be expected Of
them. AS to the fitness Of Mr.. Augustus Cesar
Dodge, why, there don't seem to be much fear
Va Ac " 0nSWCAAuHs AuCIC 10 llttlG VI uOtHluH
to be done at Madrid, but to go to balls and
dinners the Senator from Iowa can be trust
ed to 60 through this branch of the diplomatic
business. He is said to be ignorant of French
and Spanish but really this may prove an adj
vantage, instead of q drawback. Impairment
grandees, for instance, may sneer at the ladies
Of his family, to their hearts content, Augustus
Cesar will continue to smile in placid uncon-
sciousness, and no %sanguinary duels or national
quarrels need be apprehended. The newspapers
may abuse him; he will write no foolish letters
to make himself ridiculous. Wrapped in the
mantle Of his ignorance, and necessarily occu-
pied-as he necessarily viii be--in the vital
business of learning the etiquette of the Spanish
Court, the chances are that Mr.. Dodge will exc
out bis term in respectable obscurity, and will
be considered q very remarkable parsonage
when he returns to the backwoods of Iowa. It
was the least the President could do to appoint
BIN, as the Senator had generously sacrificed
himself to help the administration; and as he
is a~native, and a quiet inoffensive man-though
his name is Augustus Cesar--we see no reason
why the appointment should be censured.
Nothing is clearer than that Madrid will be
more talked Of here during the next year or
two than the United States in Spain. M. Soule
will soon be on his way home; and, though
doubtless his own course has rot been f~aultless,
he has o budget Of complaints to make against
the Cabinet which, ii managed with anything
like ordinary dexterity, cannot fail to create a
sensation. Now, M. SoulG possesses a vast deal
of French tact and address; and If he can
manage to curb the violence of his temper, will
be likely to prove o far more formidable op-
ponent than Mr.. Marcy expects. His ground
work is good. Shortly after he left this
for Madrid, instructions were sent him
relative to the Black Warrior case. They
were the joint production of Mr.. Dudley Mann
and Mr.. Pierce, chiefly the former and Mr..
Marcy had adopted them and acquicsced in their
propriety. They were, as is pretty we'll
known, very strong in their language, aud
directly to the point to avoid misconception.
therefore, M. Soule, adopted their very words
in his despatch to Calderon de la Barca, aud
a categorical answer within twenty
Tour hours. The answer came, fatty refusing
the demands of the American Minister. The
question arose, what was next to be done? Mr..
Dudley Mann, and NJ. Soule were for strong
measures, and warning the Spanish government
tfat they must take the consequences of their
act. No other course in fact would have been
consistent with the previous desp itch to the
minister. But Marcy, whose stamina was ma
ferially impaired by the conflict on the Ne.
trasRa bill, had grown timorous, and would
buster no longer. Pierce, too, naturally averse
to bold measures, was as anxious to get out OF
the 'crape as he had been has.y in getting into
II. Further instructions of a conciliatory ma
ture were accordingly sent to M. Soule. These
of course placed him in a ridiculous position
at Madrid, ard the revolution breaking out at
the time, he availcd himself of the opportunity
TO leave the city, and consult with his brother
ministers at Paris, London and the Hague
Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Mason me. M. Soule at
Ostend, decidedly approved his course, and
wrote letters home TO that effect. Meanwhile
however, Marcy's letters showing less and less
backbone, Soul6 wrote out a letter Of resigna-
ton and sent it TO a friend, q member of the
administration, requesting him to deliver it
in bis judgment he could no longer
hold the Office OF minister with credit or honor.
The friend, deeming the proper moment alrea-
dy arrived, sent in The resignation at once; and
hence the changes noticed above.
All these transactions will afford fair material
for n crusade against the administration. Mr., Blu
whom we have no hesitation in holding
responsible for a statement contained in an ar
ticie in the London Globe of 26,h January-re-
in yesterday HERALD-does not un-
derstand what is passing here, and seems to
as little Of what is taking place in Eu-
rope. Thus he did not know that Soule had
resigned though he had parted from him only a
short while previous, and though bis resignation