The New York herald., 1869-05-08
ENGLAND.
The Attempted Purchase of the Island of IL
Thomas by Mr.. seward.

from the London Daily News, April 28.l
The uelay which has attended the attempt 10 pass
Stewards purchase OF the Island or ST. Thomas from
Denmark is certainly embarrassing 20 the latter
Power and It's dependency but IL is doubtful whether
a contempt Is correct IN attrbuting 10 to 1.-THE
enmlty oi the senate towards the ex-President and
Mr.. Seward 1t l. hardly the laut OF the American
Senate If Danish Ministers read the constitution OF
the United states carelessly, and ascriDe Secre-
During the late civil 1t seemed necessary that
the Washington administration should be permitted
certain quasi legislative functions under what was
called the "war power;n but the complaint OF the
Congress Is that Mr.. Seward contracted in those
days certain habits not quite consistent with the
NAL functions OF the government. When President
Jefferson purchased OF France the vast territory OF
Louisiana at trifing cost he acknowled ged to the
Senate that ne nad done wnat Wa was uhconsuutlonsi,
were cordially conceded on the ground That he had
shereby secured what a'hed to be great advantage.
When Mr.. seward purchased from Russia the terri
tory OF Alaska the act was the less extra
sttutional, while the advantage was more doubt
ful, and nothing but friendly disposition
toward Russia awaited TO overcome the reluctance
OF the senate IN connrmlng IL. IL B probable
that Similar of mo ,ora may nshla a % 70
Indian station; but II II shall prove otherwise, II
VIII be at least some compensation for the disagree
abe features Of the case that the world Will be re-
minded tiiat America IL republican government,
and that no administration has authority TO con-
clude treaties with foreign Powers without con-
sulfation with the Legislature.
Recent events have shown that Denmark is not
the only country which requires better under
standing OF this fact. For example, here In Eng
land wnen Mfr. Reverdy Johnson agre ed TO treaty
FOR the settlement OF the American claims, lead
ing conservative organ insisted, day after day.
that ma action was In Itself final, and that
the senate had nothing TO say about IT, Ii
an English newspaper could make such q
mistake 1t is hardly wonderful that others should
have regarded the treaty as In some moral sense
binding and should have deemed ITS rejection by the
Senate az an act OF peculiar dscouresy IL certainly
would have been so mad 10 been France or Prussia
which had similarly rejected the action OF It's own
Minister But there is trace OF any consciousness
in America that the country was at all involved In
the proceedings OF Mr.. Reverdy Johnson. IL Is mani
festiy desirable for the mutual good understanding
OF GA parties that the fact should be recognized that
the traditional standard OF diplomatic intercourse
nas been materially modified In America and that
the action OF Cabinets at washington and their MIN
listers abroad should be viewed In strict accord
ance with their partial powers limited and defined
by the constitution OF their country,
The fact TO which we have adyerted IA n very 0rave
one, as the complications which nave arisen from the
failure TO weigh II suflciently show. We hear from
time TO time OF party In America including some
eminent statesmen which maintains that the spirit
or their constitution and people In inconsistent with
the retention OF the ordinary form and machinery of
old World diplomacy. They hold that the acts OF
An American Minister In foreign country cannot
mean what Ia meant by the acts OF similar agent
from monsrchy, and that their international inter.
course should be conducted exclusively by special
envoys for special purposes. This opinion found
considerable expression during the discussion IN
Congress some time ago concerning the wearing Of
court costumes by American representatives abroad
The late President OF the senate and otnen aeclar