The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-16
STATE DEPARTMENT.


the House Of Representatives, is report presented
by Mr.. Rathbun from the COMMITTEES on the Judi
ciary. Ii relates TO the improvements contemplated
in the State Department 1t Is accompanied BY a
very clear and explicit letter from the Secretary Of
State stating the number of clerks employed IN the
twenty eight years ago. with the character
Of the business which they had then to performs I'd,
the present number Of clerks and extent OF business
which they have now to discharge; Sd, comparative
view of the force in the British foregn ofhee, and
in the Department of State respectively and 4Ih, the
changes which Mr.. Buchanan proposes TO intro
duee. We regret that 1t Is not IN our power
TO publish, al this time, the whole OF the Seeretarys
letter, and the accompanying documents. We must
state in the general that the force under the act OF
1918, including the Secretary himself amounted to
eleven persons when our missions abroad were
and our eonsulates 81 and that the present force,
including also the Secretary, embraces WhsH per-
sons. with our missions abroad %, and our consul
lates l7O-showing during this period oil % years,
an increase Of 80 per cent in the number OF employ
sss, while our missions abroad have increased 236
per cent, and our consulates 1853 per cent
Mr. Buchanan proposes to the committee TO add
1--WE clerks to the force Of the department, and To
convert the chief clerk into an assistant secretary
the whole increased annual expense being not more
than a., 400-or making some deductions, not
more than $500 He proposes also to relieve the
secretary from the judicial and other business con-
nectsd with the Patent Once, by transferring these
duties to the Attorney General, TO whom II would
more appropriately belong. ..
Mr.. Buchanan states, with great truth md frank
ness, the immensely srduous duties which now fall
upon the Secretary Of state' s-...
"ofthe persons belonging to tho department, not
one except It's head, has authority 10 sign single
paper or 10 decide upon any question, however TIT
vial And here II 10 proper 70 observe, that mass
II misceaneous business has deyolyed upon II, most
# which has no natural connexlon with its appro-
,rate duties The present number Of clerks employ
d upon this business is sufficient but all Of Il, IN
Is minulest details, must undergo the personal SUI
neryison Of the Secretary, and every paper In rsla-
ion 10 It must receive his signature The eonse-
,uences Of this accumulation Of business upon the
head Of the department must be manifest TO every
one. He must either neglect great national inter-
ssts or the subordinate but pressing business In
volving the rights ofindiyiduals Almost every day
brings with il a struggle between the conflicting
laims of subjects all Of which entitled TO atten
ton whilst ii is impossible that all should receive
it, Much business is thus postponed and even
portion Of the small force already IN the department
Is often without full employment; because It cannot
act without instructions, and there II but one head
rom which these can proceed"
The secretary proposes some important improve.
ments in the diplomatic we'll as consular branches
Of the department. As to the former, he says
"Let the chief clerk be converted into assistant
secretary To be appointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent Of the Senate, author
zed by law, under the general supervision OF the
Secretary, to transact all the business Of the depart
neni, except that which is Of purely diplomatic
character. The salary Of this oHcer the secretary
would propose to hx at $1,000.
Let provision be made for the employment Of
three additional clerks in the diplomatic branch.
These clerks ought to be men Of intellect and infor-
nation, competent TO prepare a despatch upon any
subject arising in the ordinary course Of business,
md involving only principles which have been clear
v settled by the action Of our government. Their
irst duty would be- to devote themselves to a careful
oerusal and study OF all the correspondence from
The beginning between this government and The for
.ign governments with which their duties may be
Connected so that they might be able always, with
nut delay to furnish to the head Of the department
my information documents which he may re-
luire. They ought to be qualified TO examine the
acts and the principles involved in the private
claims of citizens Of the United States upon foreign
governments, on which the agency of the depart
nent is so often invoked. No claim ought ever to
ne presented foreign government in the name Of
he nation until it shall have undergone careful
scrutiny and the department shall have ascertained
hat II presents least clear priIna cif case OF JUS
ce This ia due alike to national character and
70 the cause Of Justice. For the want ola adequate
force to make such examinations, II has been too
often the practice transmit these private claims TO
our legations abroad, without due consideration, to
be there advocated and urged. The tendency Of
this practice has been TO perplex and embarrass
our diplomatic agents; TO involve them IN useless
and irritating controversies with those to whom
they are accredited; to excite prejudice and i'll feel
ing against our citizens, and to endanger the char
,cter Of our country for air-deang with the nations
the world
at is believed that pc at all competent to the
discharge of these important duties could not be
procured for less salary than $4,000. Individuals
Of such character could not be induced to abandon
private pursuits in which they may be engaged for
smaller compensation.
'If these three additional clerks were provided,
then the diplomatic branch of the department would
,mploy but six clerks, independently Of the two
:opying clerks; and with the services Of one Of
these the department might probably dispense
SIN the consular branch, two additional clerks, at
least are required; the one at a salary of $4,000,
and the other at 81, 400. This would make the
Of the first clerk would require high qualifications;
pecause, to him would be assigned, in addition to
lis other duties the task of digesting, arranging,
md preparing for the use Of Congress and the peo-
,e, all the information procured from our consuls
,ffectng our great commercial, agricultural and
manufacturing interests"
Combine with these notifications an important
,hangc in the consular system, paying highly quail
ned consuls certain stipulated salary instead ofcom-
oensatng them out of the fees Of their Office and the
profits on their commercial business, which they
frequently attain by undue concessions to the cap
aims of vessels, and the whole system will work
With greater benefit to the Of the country,
,esides bringing in large mass Conformation from
various quarters Of the globe upon the state of their
various productions, and the markets. and political
views and transactions of the countries to which
hey are accredited. We understand that system
or this purpose is now under consideration of
committee of the House.
We are no great friends to any increase of the ex-
oendture and the patronage of the government; but