Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-11
Aitbmon6 Enquirer.
BY RITCHIE, DUNNAvANT, TYLER L WISE.
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FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY IL.
"oUR AMATEUR DIPLOMATS,

class carriages" In that land of intellectual
men, Book Bier and Butterbrod. a sneering
parvenue is no less recognised PhiliSter be-
cause an additional Frederick dor admits him
to the same softly padded compartment with
the reisning Crank Duke of Pumpernickel-
Ierrenboncn-Springwlrz or some lordly Eng
lander. Nor is gentleman in any mannerde
graded by putting his weed side by side with
the we'll Drowned Meerschaumen Of Herren
Schulze and Mueller. sturdy Speise- Buerger
occupying the Zweite Klasse; nor yetfor ohoos-
! ing to share fresh air and hard boards with
short petticoated Maedchen and bare legged
Bauern.
There is no mistaking ether-one will us
certainly be numbered with the higher order
of men, as the other will be incontnently
doomed to the realm Of snobdom, though he
be ever so cunningly fripped up in all the elabo-
rated finish Of affected gentility.
! To some, it is decrecd by nature TO walk the
broad earth princes among men, in the noblest
use Of that lordly title-while others ignorant
of the characteristics and susceptibilites Of this
higher order Of beings, writhe and squrm in
their lower spheres, and rejoice in an opportu-
nifty to vent their envious mcanness and craving
jealousies in derogatory filings at what they
call 'the more heavenly moiety of the race.
The New York Tribune bctraying its own
position and catering to the taste oftS own class,
! in its article to which We referred yesterday,
has found vent for some Of this ''baser matter.
in the volume Of its editorial brain, in worse
than unworthy Sneers at the genuine gentleman
who represents our Government at the Court of
St. Cloud
Almost a coluinn Of disreputahle abuse is
iceringly directed at this honored statesman;
manifestng the same vindictive spirit which
has for long time characterized all its attacks
upon HIM. That such man as John Y. Mason
should be thus maligned. cannot be with
out some reason, plausible to the ismized
fanaticism of the philosopher Of the Tribune"
There is key to it, but we forbear to show it.
Possibly, the foreign experience Of some body
connected with the Tribune Office, might
explain the reason for thus endesvoring to in-
lure such noble man. Possibly, among wor-
thy Americans sometime back, somebody might
not have found place on the distinguished
Minister'S friendly lists.
Whatever may be their origin and motive,
there can be no doubt that these unmanly and
unmannerly taunts, can only excite disgust in
the minds of thousands Of worthy people, who
have known Mr. Mason at home, or enjoyed his
acquaintance abroad.
This gentleman's good name is the especial
property Of his State. Prominent among the
statesmen Of Virginia, he has repeatedly been
clothed with the responsibilities Of high official
station. urged upon his acceptance He is 4
favored and favoritc son Of most favored Com
monwealth. who slorieS in her noble children,
Having enjoyed to(crab!e opportunities Of
knowing his position abroad, we can say. in
all sincerity, that our country can find in no
public station man better suited 10 his post.
1t is true that he has never been fondlcd and
dawdled into negotiator, by dancing attend.
ance at foreign Courts, during his early man.
hood. But he has hada much better training.
In active political conflict with worthy CON-
petitors, and in high judicial and executive
positions, he has found opportunity and neces-
sity for every preparation requisite to diplo-
matte station. The facility with which he
labors is extraordinary. Almost invariably
in his Office By 6 o'clock. 4. ~, we
have frequently known him to accomplish
! 4 hofnro midi
day, the mere transcribing Of which would oc-
cupy two secretaries until sundown. Of the
mass Of labor which Mr.. Mason has accom-
plished during his mission, some estimate may
be formed We were with him for eighteen
months. In this time there was recorded. Of
strictly official correspondence alone, more than
three thousand pages Of neatly written FOOLS
cap: and the semi.offic and extra official cor
respondence Of the Office may be estimated at
an equal amount
Certainly, then, Mr.. Mason cannot be ac-
cused Of want Of industry. And We arc
equally willing to try the question on the
test Of ability The Dillon case sprang out
of negotiations at Washington, where 4 trca-
ty was concluded in direct contraventon to a
clause of the Constitution Of the United States.
The treaty was necessarily violated The
French Government had thus very just ground
Of complaint The arrangement Of the matter
was entrusted to Mr.. Mason, who settled it
without yielding farthing Of indemnity. with
out in any manner exciting the distrust Of the
French Government; complimentary salute
to the French Hag was the final result, and
Mr. Mason even obtained the withdrawal OF
! Mr.. Consul Dillon from San Francisco. The
Soule affair was managed with even more
tenacious maintenance of American dignity and
interest, and vet without affordins shadow OF
offence to the French Government in all this
delicate transaction. Another flaw in the con-
sular treaty, created another serious question
of consular privilege, at Marseilles, involving
the jurisdiction Of the American Consul in
cases Of mutiny on merchant vessels, and here,
too, Mr.. Mason's negotiations prevailed in like
manner and extent.
! During the Russian war, the French embar-
go on lead entirely deprived our leading i'm
porters Of their usual supply Of this article
Mr.. Mason's pro,apt Intervention and untiring
application was sufficient to obtain discrimi-
nation in favor Of American merchants, permit
ting them, under proper precautions, to export
lead from France. This single item Of efficient
service was worth far more to our commerce
than the whole amount Of his official remunera-
ton could compensate.