Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-24


BILL and them amendments 10 the civil and diploma
tic bill now before the committee Indeed he thought
appropriate TO do because question had existed whether
this House had the right 10 direct the President by express
legislation 10 the classes Of ministers which TO be
poyed abroad whether the President possessed the nhe-
rent power by virtue of his Office appoint at his dscre-
ton but conceded by all that the privilege of
this House make appropriations for certain foreign missions,
and leave the President 10 fill Them by aud with the advice
and Of the Senate afterwards Now the changes he
proposed he would very briefly state and explain We
represented in Austria by charge daarcs by commits
sioner China and minister resident in Turkey. He de-
sired strike out the appropriation for the charge dasres TO
Austria and send minister plenpoentaTy that post he
desired no longer employ commissioner in China but
send there minister plenipoenary, and constitute the
minister resident Consannope minister plenpoenary
and he desired present such remarks he hoped the
mtee would consider satisfactory to the fur those
changes SO that the only question which would come up
would be the small increase of expenditures involved
He that extent very popular idea
that the place Of foreign minister very easy that
his duties very easily discharged requiring but little
and ability. Wherever that opinion prevailed, il mis-
taken and who had either been abroad himself
conversed with any who had been aoad who had
marked the history of the diplomacy Of the world could for
hesitate say that there person employed by
the Government whose functions dgnied and i'm
portant than those discharged by foreign ministers.
The first change he proposed was 10 send minister pen
poentiay to Austria Why Not because Of the important
commercial intercourse between the countries That
consu when great political question sprung up of these
commercial relations minister took charge Of it, SO the idea
that because had but little commercial intercourse with
country needed minister very great mistake. 1t
well known that political questions influenced by
between the great Powers Of the world We could
all the period when the probability that the great
Powers Of Europe would combine against the republics Of this
continent filled with apprehension and before he down
be should take occasion show the very important services
rendered by minister in defeat Of that combination. Our
commercial intercourse with Austria, though small
growing, and required higher grade Of ambassador than
charge daares Whoever went abroad charge daares
went accredited by the Secretary Of State the Minister for
Foreign Affairs hehad the sovereign but through
the Minister of Foreign Affairs II he desired the opinion Of
that Government must I've done through subordinate per-
SOD, that subordinate person being the Minister for Foreign
Affairs. But when sent minister plenipoeniary
minister resident accredited directly the sovereign himself
it was in his power at all times command the Of the
sovereign and his influence great public questions, that
interests might be protected and the welfare of mankind
advanced. This single consideration controlling
Austria was great Power in Europe if sent charge
there ne occupied subordinate position He met envoy
traordnay and minister penpotentsry from England might
be ambassador from France, full minister from Russia All
the great Powers Europe fully that Court
Here came up the American Government great Power which
was beginning TO exert very important influence upon the
affairs of the world, represented by charge daaires who
went with paper in his hand to ask audience with
the sovereign, but to be introduced the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and through him TO be presented at convenient
time to the sovereign. II was unbecomng dignity,
becoming the dignity of Austria, when could well send
whose functions higher and whose influence
greatly extended Until within few years past had had
minister penpotentiary at Austria, but for which
need not be mentioned here he had been recalled The pre-
sent state Of Austria like that Of all Europe, state of
transition Now the time to make impression that
Government by sending minister OF high order, large abb
es and qualifications and whose social position should be
such would give him that influence which minister Of
/ Government should always carry with him.
The same remarks applied to Turkey Turkey not an
uncomfortable Power. We sent minister resident there
he could not live the miserable salary of S. 900 and
that influence which we should have exerted there.
With regard to China, minister there with salary Of
$4,000 could barely subsist and it highly desirable
that the salary should be raised TO that OF minister penpo
tenay 00 that whoever that empire large and
interesting was, might receive salary something like
respectable.
These the three changes which he proposed to send
ministers penpotentay to Austria, Turkey, and China
Now, what the additional expenses involved They
extremely trhng The pay Of charge 81, 500
of minister plenipoenary $4,000. being increase Of
500 of commissioner 5000, and Of minister resident
So O00 the increase in both Of which the salary of minis
ter plenpoenary would be $4,000 each which would be
total increase in the three Of only $40 500 to effect the
great reform which he insisted Now he hoped his
honorable friend from North Carolina (Mr. Mckay who
he watching him viganty, and who il was well
known had guarded the public purse well all times would
for one moment relax when he they about
compsh this great change in the public SERVICE and give this
little sum.
There were other changes which be desired. We were
now represented in Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Sweden
Holland, Belgium, Naples, Sardinia the Papal States Chill
Peru, New Grenada, Venezuela, Blenos Ayres, Bolivia
Guatemala and Ecuador by charges who received salary of
81 500 He desired raise them the rank of ministers
RESIDENT with salary of 000 But he would take
sion say important did he regard the elevation in rank
that he assured gentlemen be would rather give up the in
Of salaries than this elevation Of rank if he could not
both but he hoped he should be able show 600
should be paid He would refer the increased ecien-
cy We sent charge to Belgium Naples how was he
received BY the Minister Of Foreign Affairs, by whom he
was TO be introduced TO the Sovereign afterwards He might
mention the case OF great political question, affecting the
commerce OF England and of the United States because
happened that the commerce England and the United States
did sometimes in competition in that country the min
lister penpotensy had the Of the sovereign he made
his statement in its length and amplitude here up
charge desiring audience with the sovereign TO present
our interests he could not be received he accredited
the Minister Of Foreign Affairs and because Of this disparity
IN rank the interests of rival Government provided
for and advanced, whe IL we had minister OF the same
grade great country would be properly represented He
did hope the time had come to abolish this distinction 50 hurt
full to ourselves to which had long voluntarily submit
Now, he did not propose send minister pIenpoensy
these posts, but minister Of economical intermediate
class called minister resident and he desired abolish the
office Of charge, except temporary Office, and to subs
tue IN its place minister resident The Congress OF Vienna
reconstructed the diplomatic establishments Of Europe they
adopted principally ambassadors ministers penpoen,isy,
and charges de sres, which temporary agents the
Government rather than permanent Subsequent to the
Il