The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-29

On the 18th Of the present month, q bill was
presented to the House of Representatives by
Hon. w. w. Campbell, from the Select Com
mittee on the Revision ofthe Consular System OF
the United States. This bill recommends a num-
Der OF alterations in the present SYSTEM that are
OF great importance; and which, if adopted, will
have the effect of establishing our, at present,
miserably conducted andpowerless system, upon
a basis of health and prosperity.
In order to the better understanding of the bill,
it will be necessary for to exhibit, briefly as
possible, the mode in which the present consular
system is conducted. There appears never to
have been any firmly established principles upon
which it is based. A few laws, OF uncertain
meaning, the usages of nations differing in diff
ferent ports, and the individual consuls own dis
position, such as it may happen to be, has been,
and is now, nearly the sole groundwork upon
which it is laid. Consuls, in oil ports, excepting
those of the Barbary States, arc obliged to de-
pend for their subsistence, and the support of the
dignity Of their office, upon fees exacted from
captains of vessels, and American citizens travel
ing through the country in which they are sta
toned. No stated compensation is paid them,
and thus, matter of course, their pecuniary
concerns allowed to exist ira very loose and
unstable condition. In most cases, the consul,
knowing before he leaves the country, that the
receipts of his Office will be totally inadequate to
the necessary expenses of it, makes his arrange
ments for engaging i'll commercial business, either
as principal or agent, Immediately upon his ar
rival at his destined port. In fact, such is the low
esteem in which the office is universally held by
men OF practical knowledge and discrimination,
that, in large majority Of cases, applications for
consular appointments have been made with the
express view of facilitating the commercial bust
ness ofthe applicant in the country to which he
hopes to be dispatched with a government
authority. The fact Of our consuls being under the
necessity OF resortng TO commerce to support
an Office intended for the benefit of the
people, must necessarily have the effect Of
detractng much from its dignity. The represent
tative of great and powerful nation becomes,
in many cases, dabbler in produce, and is called
away from the measurement of sugar hogsheads,
or the stowage of liquor kegs, to the performance
OF his proper duties as a consul. Moreover, be-
ing himself a merchant, lie is often placed in OPP
position to the interests Of other merchants; and
instead of being, as his Office requires the pro.
tector he is, in fact, in many cases, the rival Of
those whose interests are placed in his hands
The system Of compensation by fees, also gives
rise to illegal exactons, which often produce quar-
res and chickering's, totally at variance with the
proper dignity of our representatives abroad.
For both Of these difficulties in the consular
system, the bill presented by Mr. Campbell pro-
vides remedy Itdoes not abolish all fees, but
regulates them, so far rs they are chargeable on
vessels that they shall be equally apportion-
ed according TO the size of the vessel. At the ex-
piration of every three months, however, the
consul is required to account for these fees to the
government and hold the proceeds subject to its
draft at any time. The consul, therefore, having
direct interest in the collection of fees will feel
bound to act in a purely honorable manner, as a
collector for the government, and not be obliged
to be continually on the lookout for the where
withal to pay his bills. At the same time, this
will destroy the i'll feeling which exists between
captains Of vessels and consuls, the former view
ing the latter in the light of hungry men endea-
voring to make out Of them the means Of subsist-
ence. There being, then, fixed tariff of fees,
captains will feel bound cheerfully to pay them
into the hands ofthe consul, who, in this matter,
acts merely as the agent for the government.
For the payment of consus, the bill provides
and offers list Of salaries graduated in accor-
dance with the severity and responsibility Of du-
ties to be performed. The consuls a Liverpool
and London are to receive four thousand dollars
at Havre, three thousand; and so on, down to fif.
teen hundred dollars, which is the lowest salary
paid in any instance. The same section which
provides for the salaries of consols, also requires
that consul shall engage, directly indirectly,
iii commercial or mercantile pursuits, or be con-
nected with ship brokers or agents, under penalty
of two Thousand dollars.
Under the present consular arrangement, a
large number Of consuls are foreigners. The
evils of this are too obvious to require pointing
out. An inatten.ion to government business, and
a. lack of interest in the affairs of our citizens,
must necessarily result, in most cases, from such
appointments Suffice it to say, that the bill pro
vides that neither consus nor vice-consus shall
be appointed who not citizens of the United
States, and residents thereof, unless abroad in
the employment OF the government at the time of
nominationby the President.
The same uncertainty which at present does
and always has attended political appointments
made in this country, pertains to the consulate.
With the revolutions of political parties, the con-
sui is tossed about; and although perhaps faithful
in the discharge of his duty, he may be, at any
moment, recalled by the President, merely to
make way for a political faverite. At any time,
his position is uncertain Section third of this
bill provides that no person shall be permitted to
hold the Office Of consul for than ten years;
nor shall any one be recalled under four years,
unless for good and sufficient cause, which mus,
be satisfactory to the Senate of the United
States. This will give consuls who shall be
appointed toward the latter end of a Presidential
term, security that they shall not be required te
return immediately, if an opposing party should
obtain the power.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth sections of the bill
require that consul shall not be permitted IL
absent himself from his consulate longer thar
thirty days in every twelve months, without hav
ing obtained permission from the government Sc
10 do, and that even then his leave Of absence il
10, H.