The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 2, February, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 2, February, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
From those diplomatic suggestions, which are accordant with _European_
exigencies, Mr. Seward readily turns his attention to Mexican affairs,
in a carefully considered and most ably written letter of instructions
for Minister Corwin. He touches upon the robberies and murder of
citizens, the violation of contracts, and then gracefully withdraws them
from immediate attention until the incoming Mexican administration shall
have had time to cement its authority and reduce the yet disturbed
elements of their society to order and harmony. He avers that the
President not only forbids discussion of our difficulties among the
foreign powers, but will not allow his ministers '_to invoke even
censure against those of our fellow-citizens who have arrayed themselves
in opposition to authority_.' He refers to the foreshadowed protectorate
in language complimentary to Mexico, yet firm in assurance that the
President neither has, nor can ever have, any sympathy with
revolutionary designs for Mexico, _in whatever quarter they may arise,
or whatever character they may take on_.'
Within one week (and at dates which contradict the prevailing gossip of
last April, that Messrs. Adams, Dayton, Burlingame, Schurz and Co. were
detained _awaiting_ Mr. Seward's advices) still more elaborate and
masterly instructions are given out to these gentlemen. The paper to Mr.
Adams will in future years be quoted and referred to as a model history
of the rise and progress of the secession enormity. It may be asked, Why
are such dispatches and instructions needed? Why such elaborate briefs
and compendiums required for gentlemen each of whom may have said,
respecting his connection with subject-matter of the Secretary (none
more emphatically so than Messrs. Adams and Burlingame), _quorum pars
magna fui?_ Yet, it must be remembered that diplomacy, like
jurisprudence (with its red tape common to both), taketh few things for
granted, and constantly maketh records for itself, under the maxim _de
non apparentibus non existentibus eadem est ratio_; and ever beareth in
mind that when _certioraris_ to international tribunals are served, the
initiatory expositions and the matured results must not be subjected to
a pretence of diminution, but be full and complete.
The early dispatch for Mr. Burlingame contains the caustic sentence,
'Our representatives at Vienna seem generally to have come, after a
short residence there, to the conclusion that there was nothing for them
to do, and little for them to learn.' But 'the President expects that
_you_ will be diligent in obtaining not only information about political
events, but also commercial and even scientific facts, and in reporting
them to this department.'
Although the Austrian mantle was soon transferred to the classic
shoulders of Mr. Motley,--another honored Bay-state-ian,--the caustic
reference to predecessors, and the implied compliment of request, did
not at all lose their respective significance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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