--A Southern journal suggests the name of a distinguished Southern officer as one of the successors of
Messrs. Mason and
Slidell.
It is by no means certain that it will be necessary to have any successor to those gentlemen.
In the first place, it is within the limits of possibility that through a demand of the
British Government, these gentlemen may yet be released from their confinement, and placed on a British deck under the
British flag, from the protection of which they were so violently and illegally taken.
In that event, they can proceed on their voyage and execute their mission.
It is not only possible, but, in the opinion of many competent judges, it is probable that the
British Government will insist upon at least that degree of reparation to the insulted dignity of the
British flag.
If such a demand be made, we believe that the
Yankee Government would accede to it at once, for, with all their prodigious boasting, they will never dare to provoke a war with
Great Britain.
At all events, till that question is determined, it is at least due to our commissioned representatives to make no new appointments, a proceeding which, moreover, would expose us to the embarrassment of having, in the event of their release, two sets of Commissioners to
England and
France.
But supposing it definitely determined that the
British Government will not interfere in their behalf, it is questionable policy whether other gentlemen should be sent from this country to take their places.
There are Southern gentlemen now in
Europe, who could perform their duties, and this without the risk which attends a voyage across the ocean.
At all events, the Confederate Government should carefully keep its own counsels as to any purpose it may form upon this subject.
If it is important that we should have Commissioners abroad, it is important that we should adopt all the means necessary to the successful accomplishment of that end, and among those means, none is more essential than profound silence as to what we intend to do.--We ought to know by this time, from bitter experience, that to make public an intention of sending Commissioners, and still more the names of those Commissioners, is the surest way of defeating our own object.
The late appointments were made known, and the circumstances attending the departure of the
Commissioners had as much publicity as if there were no obstacles whatever to impede their transit across the ocean.
It is clear that if successors are to be sent, the only prudent course is not even to let it be known that there is any such intention, and especially that the names of the appointees should not be whispered.
If appointed, let them get off in profound silence, and with none of the pomp and circumstance of an ambassadorial mission.
With the observance of these precautions, we may succeed in getting ministers to
Europe, in case the
Government deems such a commission necessary, of which we are by no means certain.
