Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-04-21

It aTalls nrthng 10 gAy That Me- M1shn, ny
his presence IN london, ~ orr CaH'm's"
sioner, may facilitate ths building of ships
tho negotiations Ct GOTTEN loans. Those things
are the business Of commercial sgent. L
Nj. Mason we,o simply a commerce.! agent
appointed under the act of tho Provia;onh'
Congress for that purpose, he could equally
we'll arrsnge and further all such business aF
re have in England. Commercial agents
abroad are, in our circumstances, useful and
ccedful; out diplou attic commissioner had
only the ono act 10 do (as specified III the
Presidents message)--he has done it; and his
function has ceased.
But Eh,lo tho continuance Of those com
missiSners near foreign courts effects no good
purpose, il perhaps does much mischief. We
do not sre.k now of tho voluntary humilia-
ton OF proud people though, THAI indeed
is much, for The dignity and self respect OF u
nation is moro precious capital than all CIR
cotton OF forty years. We speak Of the nc'
tual prt ctcal evil caussd by our conscnfing
TO he deali with 30 we now are.
The European governments, rs matters
stand, hsrs no very urgent motive to recog-,
nizc the Uoriedsrlcy. The principal u'e o.
diplomatic relations between independent
nations is to have ministers residing in one
snothsr's capitals. az the medium, Of official
col r.spOnGcnce, and consuis ia one another 4
ports to exlend the shield Of protection each
over tho sahia1ts or ci,'ZsEs of tho State
whose agent hn is. Bu. in our case, when
We sfe 50 -ompl.isaat as to hold qusai ofh-
cial co.seap On ience With European countries,
through private pc7aofs who may be adj
mittei to an audience or.nol, ruc; treated with
respect or discourttsy, at tho nrtion OF every
Secretary; and whom wo pei mis- other private
pe-s0ns t. call themselves can,lls. aud act AZ
on,u!s. snI as.ert and vindIcste in our coun-
try the nationality CT suhi sets Of govern
menls which reluse to acknowledge our en-
msencp, and rciuls to ahlui. 81 n officers on
our part into thsir ports TO protect oar CHI
zans, why there is NJ reason At AL f,r r.cng-
nising US; certainly no u.gancy; ami if We
can watt ;hey can.
Tbs Lan,lun "EaJcS.' nj a recant date,
cav:
A contemporary in very shIs asli:ie
upon recognition, Oh which We commeate
in 'uc last impression. states IN substance
that lns chef relsou why the C5nfe.ista'o
States hcvc not been admitted into the family
OF nations. il that their non. admission had
not heretofore been fult .as serious incnI-
vsnience. III, for instance" says our contem.
porsry, by way ofillustraton, tho Alshama
or Florida should accidentally or wtlfuliy
dsalroy British merchant ship, our Govern
ment would be obliged, az affairs now stand,
to apply for compensation to The Govsrn.
mart OF the United States; and, in ths event Of
its being refused, " hich Ii Very probably
would he, make rspriss,s on the Federal
marine, and declare war on the United Stats.
On the otber hand, if the Oonfederacy
were acknowledged sss independent State :,
then the demand Cox compensation would he
made to its Government, au under tho
circumstances supposed it would bs inmedi-
stely ecquiesced IN "
The ':Iadex" is probably mistaken as to
the course which would b. purausd by the
British Government in the case supposed. 1t
would mako .eprisalR upon rs; for it regards
US as part Of the United St.tcs: and the
Unitsd States would heartily approve Of suSh
rcprisale, aud evan AID them with right good
will.
On the same principle. thu British Govern
ment finds ita6'f amply represented in the
O>nEdoracy by "Oousuls' accredited to the
Washington Government; and if, in the opin-
ion Of that Washington Government, they
have m4bsh.vol, md ough! to be recalled
bone, thsy are recalled; "a lately wsrs Mr.,
Bunch, from Charleston. and Mr.. Mcgee, from
Mobile This is highly convenient.
We do not wonder at ali that VIC ars
compiiu.,nted by English newspapers, ON
on: GOOD TASTE" our ''patisncs, moderation
and self control" To he suro these compli-
monts avo by way Of irony; but they may
laugh who win. The 'ndon "Telogrsyh."
it secma, with much gravity, sccords us its
approval. Speaking Of the possibility that
some facsious persons in tho Oonf:d,racy
might now csll for tho withdrawal Of cur
foreign Commissioners and the prohibition nf
foreign "Consuls' to represent their natiaps
in our ports, the Telegraph" continues:
To certain extont, ihs stsp might be up
held ~ strictly logical Either ludepsndsnt
administrations acknowledge the existence
Of lhs Southern Conieder.cy, or they do not ;
il they ignore ths new republic, tho rep5e
! sen..rves Of tho South may bo content to
| retire; whereas ii the European Safes de-
siso TO establish com:nun!c alton with 1t. and
| to hold i. bound by the obligation IF public
lsw--so tha Sesessionst argument might
| run-it 10 tho easiest thing ia the world
for them &c recapn 70 it, and 10 give
| ,hai. eonsn!s the usual ercquatr. But
| that whi b Is logical is not al~ayS polite
| The assertion ii an abstract right j. some
TINS bad taste; aud the young commonwealth
which is struggling FOR its existence will do
/ we'll TO remember that 1t msy atill gain
so,rsthng by earning the good will and 10.
spe-t of foreign powers through the exercise
| IF pstiHnce. moderation and self-control.
! Indeed, the wisdom Of such course ia Sd
Oh yious, ,hst it can hardly hAvo escaped .
s,s!csm.n like Mr.. Davis. We ohssrvs that
the notion CT thus suddenly stopping foreign
Governments On The diplomatic highway,
with dem.nd for "your ezeqvatur or your
tis," originated with the journals i'll tho
South, whose peculiar positor No hAvs al
ready explained, &c.
On ono poiut. indeed, tho Telegraph" If
uisinIormed. No Journal At the South de
mapda "your ereqnatar or your life" O:
the contrary, they say, koep your easq'tatur
and much good may it do yop: but wo also
ha7o something to keep; namely, the honor
Of nation.