Year: 1871

We frequently see in the columns of our
cotemporarics, and even in the reports of Con-
gress speeches, allusions to "our Embas-
sador at London" our ambassadors at Paris
or Berlin. This is II misuse of language
which, for reasons we will presently mention,
may as well be discontinued The United
States Government has no ambassadors
it never had any ambassadors. The highest
diplomatic officer known to our Constitution is
the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Peni-
potentiary, such a. fill the legations at
London, Paris, Florence, Berlin, Madrid,
&c. The chief distinction between the
two grades is that the ambassador is
theoretically the personal representative
of the Sovereign, and therefore is entitled to
the same privileges in the transaction of public
business that would be accorded to the Sow
ercign in person. BY virtue of this fiction he
may always treat of public affairs directly
with the Sovereign, instead of indirectly
through the Minister of Foreign Affairs. An
Envoy Extraordinary and all lower diplomatic
grades, on the other hand, must obtain per-
mission, on special application, to transact any
business with the Sovereign, his intercourse
with the Government to which he is accred-
lieu DclnB ehc
Minister of Foreign Affairs.


The ambassador, also, at the receptions of
the Diplomatic Corps by the Minister of For
eign Affairs though arriving after a Minister,
is entitled to take precedence of him, an
ambassador only waiting for one of his own
rank.


This is feudal sort of fiction which the
leading European Powers but more especially
England and France, have kept up for the
obvious advantages it gave them for the
transaction of business and for impressing
foreign governments. They paid for these
privileges by living more extensively, entertain
ing in a more princely style, and giving more
eclat to the Court at which they are accredited.
Their etiquette, too is more elaborate. A new
Minister arriving at foreign Court may leave
his card for another Minister, but he must
apply for an audience of the ambassador, or
his card will not be returned.


We refer to these facts as Introductory to a
bit of intelligence which has just reached us,
to which they give importance Count Bis
marck, we understand has signiied ~ the
French Government that no dipl0matist of a
higher grade than Minister PleniDOtentiary
will be received at the German Court. The
abuse of his embassadorial privileges of direct
intercourse with the Sovereign with which
Benedict was charged last Summer, and which
seemed to be the proxmate cause of the late
wal, doubtless provoked this step, though we hope
it will prove to be the commencement of the end
of the Embassadoral rank altogether. There
is no longer. if there ever was, any reason
why Minister like Mr. Marsh, or Mr.. Ban
croft should not enjoy precisely the same de-
gree and kind of privileges at the Court of
Berlin OF Florence that are enjoyed by Lord
Lotus or by Mr.. Sartiges. The distinction
that is made is discourteous to our Ministers
it ia unjust to our Government, and unproft-
able To the nations who make it, for the diff
cnlties arising upon questions of dignity and
precedence among ambassadors have begotten
moro wars and i'll blood among nations, ~