The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-28
.ABBEvILLEs s. C, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY % 1851


That system (r we may SO call it out of re-
spect to what it ought t6 be- or perhaps
out of respect to tho .lipibmatic systems of
other nations) is wholly discreditable to our
Government, and to our people. In moth.
ing else have We shown such a resolute
.fogyisna, such an absolute obedience to an.
'cient habits and practices. Is it because it
is impossible to effect reformations in the
face Of aspirants for place-for place with
out peculiar merits or qualifications9
Our diplomacy is not system under
which our great State maintains intercourse
with other nations; it is mere means of
compensation-arcserve force or agency by
which individuals arc to be rewarded, fami-
lies gratified, and pride, republican PRIDE
a little flattered and caressed. We speak
thus without the least disrespect to individ-
uals. We complain Of system only be-
cause tits disgrace to the nation-to the
people. -
We are By no means clear that the at
tempt will ever be successful of carrying on
the government by system of moro COM
pensation, as Burke says, bit of white
stone here and aFbit of black stone there
"a piece of tesselated work. BY this rs
it may, such q principle'or plan of action
can meyer be acceptable when applied to our
intercourse with other nations.
With ali defence, then, is it not possible
for Mr.. Buchanan's new government to
open new set of books, in reference to our
foreign acc"untss is it not possible to Or
ganize our Diplomatic system on the score
Of qualifications and nnerit2 If we could
feel authorized todescend to fair review
of theipast, we think it would be in our
power so to contrast our immense short
comings and awkward failures, with what
we might have done, what we are qualified
to do, and what thepeople ask us to do,
rs to impress upon the Administration
the Importance of dcyising some radical
change in our system of representation
abroad. -
We lave an, instructive horror of the
commen way of parcelling out Diploma
fists and Consuls, to tie States, according
to their respective populations. 1t looks
like dividing mp the offices at once, and
thus closing the accounts. of an adminstra-
ton. Now, it must. be apparent that, in
referencosto the discharge of duties apper-
taining to the West-tlie in!erior-Wcst
ern men are most,likely to be best qualified
for public service It is. SO of the Whole
Indian and Land Departments, and, in our
Judgment, i is so too; generally, Of Terrific
rial and other officers. It is equally mani
fest, in reference to The foreign, service, that
the old States are more likely to be able to
furnish men of higher qualifications than
the West. . Whatw would laskyis, only
that there shall be a certain fitness of,hings
"a certain propriety of -action-such as
shall receive the endorsement Of somebody
besides mere applicants and their warm
political friends. And it is right that it
should be SO; and the wonder IS, that a
man car be found to confer offices in viola
tion of this isprinciple, not that men are found
to-accept them. -
We. would like to see little progress.
then, ir diplomatic Offices, 1t is no reason
because. these are federsl.offices that they
should: be counted out Ike pennies to a
family of boys on a muster day; as well
might the boys be mustered into the ranks
and compelled to DO heavy soldiery duty.
Thereis ns fitness in such way of doing
business, no propriety, no justice, and it Of:
ten happens that it is disgraceful to us and
to the nation.
With feeling that our countrymen are
sborr to immense amplitude Of qualifications
and powers pf usefulness, we deny, never.
theless, that every halter can shoe horse,
Or everydawyer.pull tooth. We ask only
that qualifications shalkweigh down mere
local claim,-that qualifcations-and we
think that amongst these, in these times,
should be true Democracy-should be held
at least las the highest requisite of repre-
senfation abroad,
Topics for General Conversation.-
Whatever can interest only in particular
place is frivolous; whatever can interest
only those who have pursued a particlar
course of study is pedantic. Those topics
of conversation capable Of interesting all
tolsrably infarmedmen are dignifed and ele-
'gant. They are those on which men OF
all. p1acsss6Bd@ professions may converse
with eactfhsr. Human nature and char.
actep in geSeral; events which affect the
public, and, consequently, politics; polite
literature, which delights every moderately
refined man; as much of sciences, arts, and
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