The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-08

ngs in Congress and in our Legislature TO the last
noment-correspondence from the army ana
navy-the chronological table for lsa6-the list OF
ships built in this port in that yearthe criminal
statistics of this city-besides our usual amount
of political, commercial, and financial reading.
II will be illustrated with an engraving OF Inc
New York Society Library, and a scene repre-
sennng two of our " first young men" making
their last call on New Years day-both done in
the first style oiart
The price will be, as heretofore, 81 cents, in
wrappers, ready for the mail.
Our Consular system - The Plan of the
Secretary OF State.
There is, perhaps, no subject before Congress,
more eminently entitled to early consideration
and legislation, than the new consular system
prepared by Mr.. Secretary Buchanan, the pre-
sent able head of the State department at WASH
ington.
This gentleman, at the expense OF great deal
of time and labor, has put forth document OF
great ability, and which entities the author to the
thanks of tho entire commercial community Of
the United States, showing, in strong light, the
defects, inconsistencies, imperfectness and napt-
of the old consular system; if seriss of laws,
passed from the year 1908, to the present time,
and scattered over the statute books in the most
disorderlyl confusion be dignifed with
that title, for the purposes for which it was de-
signed.
In consequence of no compilation of these laws,
that scattered through the statute books for
period of over forty years, having ever been
made, the consul cannot know his duty without
having in his possession large library, contain
ing all the statutes passed the subject to which
he refer. But even if our consuls had all
these books at their command, it cannot be ex-
pected hat they will be able or willing to occupy
their time, and devote much labor as would be
required to trace out the particular statute under
which they should decide pending before
them, when their own commercial affairs occupy
their whole time, and when the fees accruing to
them for their trouble are totally inadequate.
In order to obviate both oil these evils Mr.. Bu-
chanan recommends the framing and adoption
OF one perfect and comprehensive system, pre-
scribing the duties ofconsuls every case, that
the consul, at present, need not be under the
necessity of ransacking large library of musty
statute books, for information as to his duty, or
In guessing at it, and deciding it according to his
own principles of justice, without regard to the
enactmenss Of Congress on the subject.
LUIS pan, ii auOpteu, VIII OOVidte Tic
first these evils, and the remedy he provides for
enabling the consul to devote his whole time and
attention to the duties of his Office, is admirably
calculated to effect change in this respect. This
remedy is to prohibit our consuls from engaging
at all in mercantile pursuits, and paying them
salaries from the treasury of the United States,
Adequate /, their suppo t, and the maintenance
q of certain degree of dignity essential to pre-
serve the honor of his Office
That both OF these recommendations are the
dictates of sound and enlightened policy iew we
think will deny. 1t cannot be expected, that our
coasus will neglect their private pursuits to al
tend the duties of their Office when the fees oil
that office not worth having and what dig
nifty can foreigners attach to our consuls, when
they see them peddling and huckstering every
day on change, and engaged in barter and
trade like other merchants Z Indeed, it is Well
known, that merchants solicit the Office OF
consul in many instances, merely for the
sake of promoting their own commercial
interests, and for the purpose OF increasing their
business, as the Office creates confidence among
our people in the United States merchant al
home wishing to send a cargo of goods to parti-
cuar port, and not being acquainted with any
merchant there to whom he would consgn them,
consigns them at once to the merchant-consul Of
the United States.
While we are speaking of the appointment and
compensation of our consuls, it may be well to
refer to a change that have long advocated, but
which Mr.. Buchanan has made no reference to
in his report-this is the appointment Of none but
citizens of the United States American consuls.
We have no doubt, indeed we have former
occasions produced melancholy instances Of the
fact, that commercial Interests, and
even the lives and liberty of our people
have been jeopardized, and in some case
sacrificed, on account Of our consuls in fareigr
countries being citizens and natives OF the coun
tries wherein they resided. The foreign consul
while he assumes the duty of protecting the int
rests and lives Of our citizens has his duty to per
form to his own country, which he can
not neglect under pains and penalties OF heavy
nature. His duties as American consul and thoss
OF subject of his own country are incompatible
and when the penalty for neglecting the one i
simply dismissal from office, and in the other flint
and imprisonment, and perhaps the guillotine o
the gallows, as it would be in time of war, be
tween the country of which he is a subject and the
country he represents consul, it is easy enough
TO suppose that his duty consular Representative,
would be thrown overheard and he would follow
his duty as subject. The disastrous consequence
that would result from this state of things are sell
evident; and although we have at present 10 pros
pect of hostites occurring between ourselves
and foreign powers, there is no knowing in thi
present state of the world how soon the presen
aspect of nations may be changed There is, il
fac, no knowing what single day may brin,
forth, and we should be prepared for all emergen
cies. We have seen the alliance and entente cor
dale which lasted for a number of years between
France and Great Britain, threatened i'll day, a
1t were, and the probability OF war between