The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-22
Our Diplomatic Service-Mr. Johnson's Las
Batch Of Appointments.

! President Johnson sent up to the Senate on
Monday last considerable batch of diplomatic
appointments, good, bad and indiHerent-such
batch that the conscript fathers were some
what taken by surprise with the number and
some Of the names proposed.
First in point of rank in the list we find for
the mission to Russia John L. Dawson, of
Pennsylvania, democrat and Congressman,
proposed. We are not aware of any peculiar
qualifications of Mr. Dawson for this important
post, and so we presume that his appointment
may be set down rather as friendly compli
ment, and as being given, too, with but very
small expectation that it would be confirmed
In the same light may be considered the nomi-
nation of Henry NJ. Watts, of Philadelphia, for
the Austrian mission, of whom outside of Phil
adelphia very little is known. 1t is said that Mr..
Senator Sumner has resolved that, in consdera-
ton of the facts and circumstances (McCrack-
ems reports) connected with the forced with
drawal of Mr.. Motley from this mission, no
| other man shall take his place if he (Mr. Sum-
ner) can head him off. Mr.. Watts, therefore,
| will probably have to be added to the Austrian
cludes Sunset Cox, Henry j. Raymond, Col
lector Smythe and some others. Horace
Greeley is not in this category, for he was con-
firmed, but fatty declined the honor-some say
because it came from Andy Johnson, and
others because of the perplexing question of
| diplomatic coats and brooches, swords and
shoebuckles. Mr.. Watts, on the other hand,
| whether republican or democrat, millionaire or
| hungry place hunter, will hardly be allowed
| the privilege, we guess, Of declining con-
firmaton.
| Next we find the nomination of General
Rosecrans as Minister to Spain in place of
John p. Hale. General Rosecrans is good
appointment. His record az a Union soldier
is first rate. He is also scholar, and another
and not the least advantage which he pos
sesses for this mission to ''her Most Catholic
Majesty" lies in the fact that he is good
Catholic himself. The country, we are salts
fed, would be pleased with the confirmation
of General Rosecrans to Spain as reward of
merit to good soldier of the Union, and as
an appointment in every respect acceptable.
General McClernand, of Illinois, for Mexico
is not exactly the thing General McClernand
a subordinate, had misunderstanding with
General Grant during the investment of Vicks-
burg which has made McClernand an i'm
pacable enemy of Grant So we'll understood
is this fact that Netherlands nomination is
considered backhanded blow at Grant from
the President, and hence the rejection of this
nominee is inevitable. We know nothing of
the qualifications of General McClernand for
Mexico; but whatever they may be, his publica-
tions against General Grants conduct of the
Vicksburg campaign, and the high relations in
which he stood on this account in the late
Democratic National Convention, will settle
him among the radicals of the Senate.
In this batch of diplomatic appointments
General Rosecrans, in fact, is the only one
| which fully comes up to the mark, so far as
| the public knowledge OF these individuals can
be applied. In Revcrdy Johnson we have
satisfactory Minister to England, in General
| Dix we have satisfactory representative in
| France, and the time has come when all our
| Ministers abroad should approximate this class
| OF men in their accomplishments, in their gen
eral reputation and experience in public affairs
President Johnson does not appear properly
to estimate this consideration in making it
secondary to his personal predictions. 1t is
perfectly natural that he should seek to reward
his friends and punish his enemies; but this
| is rule which it is sometimes wise to forget.
| In his veto messages and in his nominations
for Office, however, he seems resolved to fight
| 1t out to the bitter end with his enemies, real
and imaginary, and with the enemies of his
policy, as if his battle with Congress, instead
Of being decided, had but just commenced. II
is to be hoped that he will still in season find
| it is true policy for the remnant of his term to
make his appointments from the best men he
| can find, especially for our foreign service, in
view Of the new epoch which is upon us of
power and prestige among the great nations of
| the earth, and in view Of some substantial and
| enduring credit to his administration
| AS for the Austrian mission, if the difficulty
between Seward and Sumner concerning Mot
ley and McCracken will admit of no solution
in the Senate but the reappointment of Motley,
and If Seward will have nothing more to do
with Motley, the only thing, perhaps, that can
be done is to send an apology to Baron Won
Beust, with an. explanation Of the difficulty
which leaves us without representative at
Vienna.
Our New ISLANDS IN THR PACIFIC
We grow We can't help growing In the
West Indies islands come to us. In the north
immense territories, with islands innumerable
| have lust come under our SWAY The Midway