The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-13

preliminary instructions. And not unfrequcntIy
from the same cause, he IL forced TO choose b.
tween the conflicting chiinis OF urgent business
affecting either great national interests or the
rights ofindivid0als dcferring the transaction Of
one or the other for An indefinite time, ut tfs
risk Of the casualties Of delay.
! The design, in part, of the present bill is II
obviate these evils, and for this purpose it pro-
vides, first, for the appointment OF an assistant
secretary in the State Department, by the head
Of that department; next, for the appointment
of four principal clerks, and one other clerk; the
whole to be subject to such disposal for the des.
patch of business the Secretary OF State may
prescribe. TO the assistant secretary it is sup
posed the secretary will assign the transaction
Of all business, under the general supervision Of
the latter, except that which is OF purely
diplomatic character. Three OF the clerks it is
supposed will be assigned to the business Of the
diplomatic branch Of the department; and the
remaining two To the consular branch
| The app0intees to these places should bemen
possessing high qualifications Of intellect, infor-
nation, and trustworthness. The assistant
secretary, particularly, should be Il man in all
respects competent to represent the dignity, and
to conduct the business of the department in
the absence of the secretary ut cabinet meetings,
or in consequence Of sickness, or when engaged
in diplomatic or other official conferences. The
clerks, too, should be men capable Of preparing
adespatch on any subject arising in the ordinary
course of business, referable to the principles
already settled by the action of the government,
and of examining the facts and principles in
voved in the private claims Of citizens of the
the United States on foreign governments; so
that no such claim should behereafter presented
in the name Of our government, except after a
careful scrutiny showing it to be well founded,
This precaution is due alike to justice and to the
character of our government for fair dealing.
In view Of these qualifications and require
ments, it is proposed to pay the assistant secre-
tary a salary Of $4,000 year; to the four prin-
cipal clerks a salary each Of $4,000; and to the
remaining clerk salary of y 400. Should the
bill in these provisions be enacted into the force
Of law, doubt not that much and long-needed
and most valuable improvement will be secured
both in the organization and the efficiency Of
the department
But, sir, there is another provision in the bill
which deserves to be noticed. Irefer to the last
section, which forfeits the salary of any minister
of the United States when voluntarily absent
from his legation, and which in such case au-
thorizes the Secretary Of State to pay over so
much of the same to any agent who shall perform
the duties Of the legation in the mean time, under
the instruction of the Secretary Of State as shall
make his compensation equal to that paid a
Charge d'Affaires The policy of this provision
is obvious, and is fully sanctioned by the some
what similar regulations enforced in other coun-
tries Our ministers abroad are selected on ac-
count of their talents, experience, and high pub
lie character; and are often necessarily invested
with large discretion, which should be exer.
cised by themselves, and not left by them to be
exercised or neglected by inferior agents. to
whom, perhaps, the appointing power of the
government would have been unwilling to delc-
gate such trust. The government pays for
and is entitled to, all the advantages capable Of
being derived from their constant vigilance, su.
acknowledgment of passing events, and from theil
more imposing and influential social and Official
rank.
Even if il be true that our national interest,
abroad have not hitherto suffered from this
course, yet it is none the less true that the pub
lie treasury has. Almost rs often as the alb
sence of one of our ministers from his post ha.
left his duties to he performed by some othe
agent, almost so often an application has beer
made by the agent for additional compensation
| and very often the application has been granted
, by Congress. Indeed, there are now numerous
; applications, chiefly made by secretaries of lie
cations, for such compensation. In this way
larger sum was appropriated in lS4S, and proba
bly will be hereafter, from year to year, than al
the salaries created by the bill proposed would
amount to annually. The measure, therefore
, is one of retrenchment and reform, ms we'll as
one necessary to the efficiency and usefulness
of the Department of State; and, rs such, | hope
will meet with the appreciation of this house.
Mr.. billiard, (interrupting Mr. McC. il
the course of his remarks,) said --Will the gen
man allow me to ask him question! ! did MOI
clearly understand his statement in reference t.
the relative clerical force employed in the State
Department in 1889, and at the present time
Will he repeat it?
Mr.. McCLERNAND will inform tn gen
tleman with pleasure In 1889, there were fv,
clerks employed; and now there are but ten il
the consular and diplomatic branches of gov
eminent
Mr.. billiard. should like also to in
quire when the gentleman will be likely to in
troduce the bill Of the committee?
Mr.. McCLERNAND. So soon rs the Com.
mitiee on Foreign Affairs shall be called for re-
ports.
Mr. billiard. only wish to add that
entirely concur in the objects of the proposed
bill, and hope that it will be favorably received
1 A Visit to the Studio Of schwanthaler.
A correspondent of one Of the London jour