Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-01
ouR DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENT.

We are glad to see that the late action Of the
House Of Representatives elnbodcS rebuke to
those Of our politicians whose efforts to escape
responsibility for retrenchmcnts at home, by
;mpairing an important branch of the public
service, which remains necessarily unprotected
by the immediate syrnpathics Of their consti,
tuents, have lately furnished occasion for the
animadversions Of the press.
The prctcncc that our diplomatic establish
ment Offers fair subject Sr rctrenchment, is
in the highest degree ridiculous. Every man
acquainted with the subject must acknowledge
that it is already restricted to ali economy
which, in many instances involves rneanness
and absolute injustice to public servants. In
deed, the present rate of salaries, with -ery
few exceptions leaves the respective positions
open only TO two classes Of men the very
wealthy, to whom salary is no object and the
very needy. adventures who arc ready to grasp
at a precarous livelihood For the most part,
the great class OF sminently usefu! men, who
possess moderate means. backed by good op-
portunity aud capacity for profitable labor at
| home, are altogether excluded
The Importance Of this branch OF the scr.
vice has never received due appreciation among
the mass Of our politicians. 1t is on the edu-
cation Of statesmen abroad in diplomatic posts
that the efficiency Of our Executive Depart
ment for the management of foreign relations.
is almost entirely dependent. Whenever a
man who lacked the opportunity, has chanced
to be placed al the head Of the State Depart.
ment. the shoe has never failed to pinch. And
the fact that serious diplomatic mismanage
ment has more than once resulted from Con-
grcssional blundcrs is due 10 the fact that so
small aratio Of men educated in diplomatic po
s;tions obtain seats in the national legislature
Notwithstanding these drawbacks, however,
our diplomatic corps has not been behind any
branch Of the public service in faithful atten-
ton to duty, or in the achievement Of great re.
suits. No contemporaneous government. with.
! in the same time can boast so many achieve
ments Of diplomacy, either or the score OF
commercial privileges, or Of valuable territorial
accession. And there has been no great step in
the process Of hslf-a-ccntury towards the libe-
raj development of the international code, in
which American diplomacy has not led the
van and secured the conquest
Nor have the efforts Of our dplomatists been
confined to the field Of negotiation. Henry
! Wheaton spent lifetime in the diplomatic ser
vice Of his country. lie performed his duties
ably and faithfully, and devoted his leisure to
closet studies Of international law His habits
of study left him no opportunity for extrava-
gancc Still less did his salary, which formed
his sole dependence. His Government furnish.
cd his family with little more than the strict
necessaries of life. lie died, leaving his chill
dren no patrimony whatever. And yet, in the
labors which survive him, he left 4 heritage Of
pride 10 his country-of enlightenment to the
whole world-incalculably beyond the value Of
every appropriation made TO the whole diplo.
matte service Of the Union, during his lifetime.
The frothy comments which have lately ap-
peared in some leading journals on this subject
furnish ludcrous examples Of ignorant mis-
apprehension. Such are the wordy splu;ter
ngs about American representatives abroad,
mbibing and intoxicating notions at variance
with Republican simplicity and acquiring
an ambition to vie in "cXtravasance and dis
play" with their monarchical colleagues.
If they should acquire any such deylorablc
ambition, it would at once be checked by the
cogcnt reflection that their government affords
them no opportunity whatever for its indul-
gence. The idea that the American representa-
tive at St Petersburg could have entertained,
for moment, an aspiration to vie in ''extrava
gancc and display" with the Count de Morny,
for example, whose expenditures during the
course of the year, exceeded the amount OF the
whole annual diplomatic appropriations BY the
United States Congress, involves the supposi-
ton that the gall.nt and sensible gentleman
from Connecticut would momentarily take
leave of his senses No. Our representatives
abroad are necessarily obliged 10 restrict them
selves TO Republican simplicity" and among
the large class even Of atlluent people Of Con-
tinental Europe, t1ey can find general exam
pie of economy aud irugaity far moro strict
than they can find a; home. Indeed, there is
no nation OH earth where the great mass Of the
people ovcr-ea,, cver.drcss, or indulge in every
sur, of extravaganza. TO the same extent with
our "simple republicans Put pin there,
and fix It with Al example: twothirds Of the
mansions which extend i'll long rows on both
sides, to the whole length Of Filh Avenue.
New York, are mlaces such as majority OF
European princes Of the blood-roya! would re-
gard with unqualified envy.
Moreover, the monarchical colleagues Of our
dipomatists are for the most part, Shrcwd,
sensible, weleducated, wel!bred gentlemen.
with tastes and intelects TOO well cultivated 10
value intellectual ability and manly worth &C
cordns to their attendan, !uantuIn or deficit
of wealth and magnificencc Among them. the
Republican representative, who resorts to 40
ridiculous pretenson, but adhcrcs to "repub!;'
can simplicity" at once commands respect
The American minister learns that he occupies
4 recognised position Of proud equality in all
matters Of essential Importance, which can only
be compromised by ridiculous eagsrness OF
the score Of m lincry and trappings. lie
shapes his course accordingly.
Moreover. he is behind tine scenes He soor
perccives that regal display, itself is after all a
mere patchwork, somewhat more costly, per
haps, bu, still Of the same description, and
even less tasteful in arrangement. or striking
in effect than the tawdry decorations Of
first class theatre. Take an example drawn
from life. IN American Minister attends a bal
given by prince Of the blood royal Five
hnndrod .,,,nsis are nrescnt. and the display j,