Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-16

nations. when the Minister of the United States
either oied at his post, or was temporarily absent
The persons charged with our affairs in such c,se.
were sometimes designated before hand. bv the
government anticipating the necessity of ahavin.
them, or left by the Minister when the Govern
ment had no opportunity of giving its directons.--
"a moments reflection would satisfy the gentlemen
from Tennessee that the public interest REQUIRED
these trusts to be confded. The person charg.n
temporarily with our affairs abroad, generally the
secretary OF Legation, usually allowed COM
pensation for these services in addition TO his nav
az SECRETARY OF Legation-paid Mr.. F. presumed.
o1l OF The contingent fund of foreign intercourse
MI. r. knew nothing Of the facts to which the
gentleman from Tennessee alluded, and cextain,v
was NOT opposed TO the inquiry he proposed. IL
there had been any thing wrong, it ought to be
Known, and the error corrected or exposed.
Mr.. Blair replied, that, if such had been the
usage, ana such usage were necessary. it ought to
DC authorised and regustedby law. With the opi.
MONS which he entertained, he should be faitfIess
10 ms duty, 1T he did noturge this inquiry. He
wished to know the amount of commentator
which the Individual, to whom he had aIlu,ioa.
hao received, and whether il had exceeded tby
amount authorized by law He wished 10 know
also, upon wha, principles an outfit could be- AZ.
lowed, besides salary, to person ALREADY in tl,e
country where he was TO exercise the functions Of
his Office. 'a ai~. TS'
Mr.. Everett said, he should not oppose the cali
proposed oy the resolution. On the contrary, the
amendment which he should suggest to the resor
"om wouio go TO make II more comprehensive by
striking oct the limitation which il proposed as tn
the lime OF the inquiry. He moved, then, to strike
out the FIRST day oil January, 1896 and insert in
lieu thereof the fourth day of March, rl7Ss. go
that the whole practice of the Government should
De brought to the view of this House. and an m,
portunity given to members to make IN thar oy;n
IONS undtrstandingly.
MT Blair said he with pleasure accepted The
proposed amendment as modification of his pro-
position. }4 80. - -
MT Webster said, the idea which some seemed
W eh,e''in' mat diplomatic appointments are reg
u!a'eo oy statute, was entirely erroneous He
thought that matter had been fully understood 4,
'his f1ouse, whatever of opinion on the
SUBJECT might exist out Of it. The power of an
pointing foreign Ministers was given by the Con-
sttuon TO the Execu,ive--to the President. by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate
The office exists by the laws of nations the Con-
stlufion prescribes the mode of appointing m {,
ne Practce' MIR. w. sald had uniformly been. a.
the gentleman from Georgia had stated H. On the
death oil Minister, the Secretary of Legation at
tached to the Mission. becomes ipso Tacfo the
Sharse ne AHaires Mr. w. did not know that
any gfeat Inconvenience resulted from the exerc.e
OF this power by our Ministers when about TO
ieaVe Their stations, and still less in the case of
secretary OF Legation becoming Charge de Af-
| faTes by The death of Minister, that being an
opportunity Tor serving their friends which he ina.
s.hec o"r ministers abroad do not very much COW
e'. NAT. w. thought The answer TO the inquiry.
"oulo DC TOO yolumnous, by its embracing an ac-
count Q! what duties these persons have discharged:
aha he suggested 10 the gentleman the proprety of
striking Out that par, of the resolution; in which
shape he should have objection to il,
MIR l5lai said he could not assent TO this sup-
ses'ioh Tor ihe part proposed to be stricken osr
embraced The very information which he wanted,
VIZ. were these persons receiving pay withour
dong duty?
MIR. buchanan said, since the gentleman from
tennessee had consented 10 accept the modification
proposed by The gentleman from Massachusetts, he
cared little whether the resolution passed or not >
had become so extensive that the object of it worl
be defeated. Mr.. Il. said he had understood the
gentleman from Tennessee TO make distinct
eharge--if he did not, MIR. i. wished him to "a y.
so-ihat not only had Minister of the u. States
abroad appointed Charge des Afaires on his
leaving the station, (Which appointment MIR. Il.
admitted was necessary and properly but that that
ChaIse; besides receiving the salary attached tn
thai Office, during the time he held it, had receiy
ed IN outfit. He knew not whether he was coyrer,-
In this impression; but, if he was wrong, he hope8
the gentleman would correct him. But, if ffs
gentleman had received such information an tfiS
ana Inc information was true, no practice yyhate-f
yer could make il a correct proceeding P,ev;o,,Y
praciice might justify the appointment Of Cbwee
des Aifares, and the allowance OF salary to him.
put u could never justify expenditure from the
contingent fund tor allowing him an OUTFIT in s,fS
drion TO the salary. This distinct fact had beeoy
proposed TO be inquired into but, by the amerfI-
meni moved by the gentleman ON Massachusetts,.
ana accepted by the gentleman from TennesseeG
tbat single point would be smo,hered under n masz
oil documents, which, If received within any rea-
sonabie time, would be entirely useless Mr. e.
added another remark. II the salary of our Mir
listers abroad was so low as to make il necessa,,.
Tor them TO return 10 the country, annually. ~
receive an outfit to enable them 10 sppesr in a.
manner becoming our Representatives at Foreisr
Government, that salary ought to be increased. II
u was not so, the practice OF changing Our MinisS
'ers abroad every year could not be justified. Tr
was practice which must be essentially injurious
to the interests OF the country; for, If negotiation
was opened abroad, The Minister often returned
before IL was completed, leaving the matter unset.
tied, greatly TO the detriment of our interest Mr.
b. concluded by saying that he had no particular.
Objection to the resolution: but he suggested To The,
gentleman from Tennessee whether, ciogyed as il
now was, he had not better abandon the resolution,
altogether, and on another day bring in new res
oluiion, confined TO the object which be had spe,.
cialy in view.
MIR. Mercer said, that, while be meant TO vofpy
Tor The resolution, the remarks which had fallen
rom the gentleman from Pennsylvania had taken
direction not ihtende ;, he presumed by that gen.
tleman, but calculated 10 induce belief that the
Minister OF The u States who had resided in Ions.
don before the appointment OF the Minister now;
resident at that Court, had gone abroad TO remain
but short period, and voluntarily returned ~
IN q In ,yt,g,