The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-26
Was II Dignifed2

Was 1t Dignifed2
In the official action of the two Houses of our
National Legislature we always expect for
malty and dignity such as would appear in the
eyes of the world the proper conduct of the re.
presentatives of great people. Especially do
we claim such display when law is being
passed which is of vital importance to the well
fare OF the Government, and upon which hangs
the respect of foreign powers There is no action
on which our seltrespect more entirely depends
than in the making proper appropriation for the
support of our ministers abroad If any show
OF paIsimony is apparent, we sink from our high
position in the eyes Of Europe. If any petty
personal feeling is introduced, it is apparent not
only to Americans, but to that Court where
there is a minister resident; and Con-
gress, in its amendments TO the Foreign
Service Appropriation bill, has, we regret
TO say, exhibited an absence of dignity
which its previous conduct bad hardly led us to
expect. We refer to the striking out of the pro.
vision for the salary of our Minister to Portugal,
and the insertion of special prOviso that no
part of the contingent fund shall be given to
enable him to support the dignity of our national
representative. Let US look at the causes which
led to this omission.
Honorable JAMES E. HARVEY was appointed
by President LINCOLN, in 1861, as Minister
Resident to The Court of Portugal. Previous
to that time he had always held the reputation
of a strong loyalist. He was for many years
Washington correspondent of one of our Phia-
dclphia contemporaries, and has ever been an
intimate friend and follower of our Secretary of
State. He was despatched by him in April, 1861,
q oI nd ;unp ont mia a Iha
Rebels of South Carolina and he fulfilled his
duty with commendable fidelity. He was sent
abroad as radical Republican, confirmed by a
radical Senate and has, SO far as we have ever
heard, represented our land with becoming
dignity ard decorum. Some six months
since he wrote letter, confidential In its nature,
TO Mr.. SEWARD, expressing his personal views on
the national politics The letter was a
private one, and gave merely the personal
views of the writer. 1t found its way into
print, and was the occasion of general comment.
Now, the sentiments of that letter, although not
such as to meet the concurrence of many
true and loyal men, were nevertheless not
such as to dsqualify their author from
properly representing us abroad. 1t was
matter OF extremely small consequence
what MIR. HARVEY thought or how he acted.
We do not care whether the Portuguese are in
favor of the reconstruction policy of Congress
or the President; and so far as its effect on
American readers was concerned, the fact that
he, after four years absence, was writing of
events which his readers understood far more
about than himself, is the best evidence
thet it was harmless. Under such circum-
stances, we expected that the little effusion of
Mr. HARVEY would have been passed over
unnoticed and that its very insigni6cance
would protect it from any recognition by SO
digni6ed a body as the Senate. 1t ls therefore
with considerable surprise and, we must add,
regret, that we see that the Appropriation bill
was so amended as 10 cut HIM Off from any
salary.
The manner in which the design was accom-
plished seems to us moLdprOpoS. 1t is beyond
the power of Congress to recall Minister; they
therefore merely deprive him of means of sup
port. The result is that Mr.. HARVEY will pro.
badly draw on his private funds, and continue
to represent the United States while he meets his
own expenses 1t may, in pecuniary point OF
view, injure him, but how much more does 1t
| reflect on our naton-a nation which has
always prided itself on its exalted views-to
have Minister doing public service and pay.
ing out OF his private purse for what will
benefit the natiOn' 1t is really the same as
though Mr.. HARVEY donated to the United
States the sum of $500 per year, and as
though Congress accepted the charity. We
regret for our nations sake, that such 9
course should have been adopted. 1t was
clearly beyond the province OF Congress tc
endeavor to influence the diplomatic corp,
in a secondary way, when, according
to the Constitution, it could not reach them
Mr.. HARVEY had been guilty of no act which
was of such nature as to unit him for the pos
of Minister, and we cannot but consider tn,
action of the Houses as beneath that dignit
which should characterize all legislative trans
actions