The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-30

Relations, 10 which clsims In more than ordinary
degree the prompt attention Of Congress provides that
instead of the present chief clerk there shall be an
Assistant Secretary of State. whose duty shall be to
take under his especial such branches of bust
mesa of the department may be assigned him by the
Secretary Of State and in whose charge the department
shall be in of vacancy, during the absence
sickness of the Secretary. The reasons assigned by
Mr. Buchanan for the creation Of this Office are that
"of the persons belonging to the department. not ono
except its head has authority to sign single paper or
to decide upon any question, however trivial mats
Of business has dsvolved upon it, most Of
which has no natural connection with Its appropriate
duties. The present number of clerks employed upon
this business is sufficient but all Of IT, in its minutest
details, must undergo the personal supervision Of the
Secretary and every paper in relation to it must receive
his signature" The consequence OF this sccumuation
Of business upon the head Of the department is that he
must either neglect great national interests or the sui
ordinate but pressing business involved In the rights OF
individuals The time Of ths Secretary is under the
present system much occupied by this accumulation
Of business, that he has not leisure even for the
perusal Of the leading foreign journals, is he
permitted to keep up such correspondence with
the various legations would be necessary to give
ministers abroad thorough understanding of the gene
raj policy and views Of the government those may
be affected by passing events He desires that the chief
clerk be converted into assistant Secretary Of State
to be authorised by law to transact under tho general
supervision of the Secretary such business of the de-
partmsnt as is not of purely diplomatic character
salary to be 6xed at three thousand dollars
Mr.. Buchanan in his report this subject submitted
to Congress last session. and upon which this bill is
founded suggests many other reforms absolutely
sary for the thorough transaction OF the business of the
department. He recommends that the Secretary Of
State be relieved of the judicial and other business Of the
Patent Office and that be Transferred to the Attorney
General to whom: it appropriately belongs and that
three additional clerks be employed in the diplomatic
branch of the department lie shows, that though
population has quinupled since $780, and
with foreign countries and diplomatic relations with
their governments have than quntuped, the mum
bsr Of persons employed in transactng the diplomatic
business of the government is but doubled. In 1889,
there were fve--now there but ten, two Of whom
are copyists In the British Foreign Office there are
thirty nine persons employed, in ours fifteen
trust this most necessary will be adopted
More than former Secretary Of State has expire
his warm approval of MIR. Buchanans suggestions; and
the only thing necessary to the passage of this BILL
well to that of the consular BILL Is that be taken
To the former there will not be- presume any opposi.
ton To the latter little, except from the friends OF the
present incumbents Of lucrative consulaes.
GALVIENSIS.