The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-24
THE UNION.

any matter affecting the State oil the Unlon and OF course
within that limit any matter affecting the organiz ton
and the administrator OF the several Departments Of the
government AZ example OF this truth: may refer 10
the debate which has taken place yesterday and to day
SON i who opened this debate. directed his remarks
different BILL on another subject. not AZ all before The
comai!iee, relating to the eondon ana me adninsila
debate was continued by gentleman IRON Pennsylva
MA [Air HAMPTON j who spoke on different subject,
relating to alleged defects H. ana 70 me oPsSJ.,on o. he
wide and variant has been pursued In view therefore,
of what appears be the established practice in this
he sansly In order for me to address myself to still
other subject falling within the range already recog
niseJ and sanctioned H44t ;,
the Department OF Sate and OF relrenchment in the ex
pend,ures growing out OF the service amenable TO that
department And for the purpose OF presenting the sub
ect to the committee in tangible FORM will send to the
Clerks desk, to be read, bill introduced by some
time since and which, member Of the Committee
Foreign Affairs will report the House, by their
ton at the first opportunity, propose. sir to speak on
this subject and in connexlon with the bill men
toned. because BY doing 20 will probably save time
ness of the House for debate
1.-THE bill was here read
Mr.. JONES. ! rise to point OF order. Does the
chairman OF the Committee on Foreign Affairs offer what
MI. McCLERNAND Not at all have caused the
paper be read indicating the form OF the subject 10
which expect to speak but will say that il il be the
disposition OF any member to interrupt me by point OF
order, would prefer that he should do SO now as
would dislike be arrested in the course OF my remarks
MT. MccLERNAN6; Having, then, the opinion Of
the Chair in my favor will proceed at once with my re-
marks. Having examined the subject indicated by the
bill which has been read, am persuaded OF ITS merit
and will endeavor TO satisfy the members OF the commit
tee that timely action should be taken upon 4 am or
titled in this view by the opinions OF those VINO nave mad
the best opportunities OF forming correct Judgment IN
regard to it, Mr.. Calhoun. as understand expressed
the opinion either during Or after the close o. me admin
existed for a reorganization of that department So !
have been informed by the gentleman from the Charleston
district in South Carolina, (Mr HOLMES The success
sors Of Mr. Calhoun have corroborated his authority
the subject Mr. Buchanan in communication addressed
by him Secretary of State to the chairman OF the Ju
dietary Committee in ls46, said:
A year elapsed since the Secretary took
charge of this Department and the conviction has been
forced upon him that in the diplomatic and consular
which IL owes to the country" a#s
Mr.. Clayton and Mr. Webster successfully addressed
like communication. OF the same character, to the
chairman Of the Committee of Ways and Means, Mr..
BAYLYl Of which the chairman Of the Committee For
eign Affairs has been furnished with copies, together
with note from Mr.. Webster on The same subject.
Mr.. Clayton says:
The pressure Of public business requires that adj
DC @ e, the w
sent force in the Department though with the devotion Of
all time TO the public service. to prevent injury from the
want Of clerical force, 10 the public interests"
Mr. Webster adds what is equally pointed and decisive
He says That there is deficiency of force to des-
patch the business OF the department with promp,tude
is certain" &c.
The reasons upon which these opinions are founded
will be found in the history of the Department OF State
The act OF 1859, creating the Office OF Foreign Affairs"
devolves on the head OF that department the labor and
responsibility OF managing diplomatic relations with
foreign governments. and OF conducting the correspond
between the department and the consuls and CON-
necia agents OF the United States abroad Another ACT
naa m the changes the OF the de.
partmen but preserves all It's duties IN charge OF The
same officer
Other acts of later date add largely the dates and
sponsibes Of the department-such as the custody OF
the enrolled acts and resolutions OF Congress- and the
distribution of copies OF the same and other documents
among the States and Territories and other authorized
recipients the publication of the laws and treaties the
disbursement OF The appropriations for all these objects,
and for the compensation OF our diplomatic agents. for
the payment of the contingent expenses OF foreign
and OF our missions abroad the custody OF
publications transmitted to the department under the
laws relating 10 rights the recording and ndexing
their titles the custody u the seals OF the United States
and OF the department; the authorization OF papers pre-
sen,ed for that purpose the preparing and recording par
dons and remssions. and the registering and ing the
petitions and papers which the same are founded the
ing out and recording commissions, letters OF appoint
ment nominations to the Senate, exequaturs foreign
commissions the receiving the returns OF passengers and
from the various custom houses and the colec-
ton OF information respecting the changes and modhca
tons in the commercial systems OF other nations, and
the communication OF annual reports OF the same to
mention here, are devolved on the department
Now the question arises, has the increase of clerical
force in the department kept pace with the increase
of lis business Not at all. In 17s9, when the
present government went into operation, the force
employed in the Office OF Foreign Affairs consisted Of
fue population that date being less than
four millions The present force employed in the same
department in conducting the diplomatic add foreign bus
OF the Union consists OF ten persons our population
being now near twenty five millions Again, IN 1918,
the force employed in the department. including the Sec
consisted OF ABROAD
that time being and consulaes sixty seven
Now. in 1884, the force employed in the same department
including the Secretary, consists of fifteen persons our
missions abroad being twenty-sigh and our consuaies
one hundred and Ninety whilst the resident missions IN
the United States nnstesn and the foreign consnales
in the United States are about three hundred.
But. sir this not all the clerical force IN the Depart
men of State has no, only not kept pace with the in
crease OF its business but neither has kept pace with
the increase Of the like force in the other departments OF
the government am not prepared to state at this mo-
ment what was the number of clerks employed in the
other departments in 1889; bat am satisfied II bore
very small proportion to the present number According
10 The Blue Book for lS49, the number OF clerks EN-
ployed in that year in the Department OF the Treasury
vas 332 |
The number in the Department of War was Ga
The number in the Department of the Navy 80
The number in the Post Office Department was 80 |
The number in the Department Of the Interior l25
Whilst compared with these the number employed in
the Department OF State is only fourteen
This comparison exhibits results both striking and in
eresting Ii proves that whilst there has been extra
ordinary and almost alarming increase OF the force
and expense OF the other departments there has hardly
been any relative OF either in the Department OF
Sa,ea circumstance, which. Of itself highly credita