The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-15
EDITED BY
TT . n As RIT HE.
CONGRESSIONAL.


DEgERRED DEBATE. t-. +.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2s. 1861
I'm cosrrSUArIoN.l
SENATE. .
Mr. HUNTER offered the following amendment, TO
come in at the end OF the bill
For an officer hereby auhodzsd 10 be apponed in the
At. to be called Assistant Secretary OF
VINO shall perform such duties as shall be assigned 10
by the Secretary OF STATE al salary Of three thousand
IAN. - ner anpum; for four principal clerks. whom the
,.v of State is hereby authorized 70 appoint, at sal
Nv no. 70 exceed thou and dollars per annum and for
.isrv no, 10 exceed hund red dollars per annuI
aln, thousand four hundred dollars
Af,.r = few preliminary remarks by Messrs. FOOTE
and TURNEY, heretofore publ lshed, al G4
M FUOTE said an quite surprised at some Of the
remarks which have just fallen from the senator from
Tennessee He says we propose now, Without consd-
eaton, without deliberaton, and WITHOUT scrutiny, to
hsve this amendment sanctioned, IN the face OF the posi-
vs made by that has boen the subject Of
rave consideration and the most laboed scrutiny by the
Committee on Foreign Relations, who came unanimously
N he conclusion that this arrangement expedient for
hs proper transaction Of The business of the State De-
But again does not the honorable senator know the
,ct that the former Secretary OF State Mr. Buchanan
examinations and recommended the adoption OF Just such
provision az that now under considerations Did he
act hastily. ndscreetiy, njudiciously Did he recon-
mend any appropriation which good democrat. however
mindful of the stale Of the finances, could not sanction
Such language is serious assault upon the public char
ctvr OF the late distinguished Secretary Of State Sir,
Ehis matter has not only been considered by the Commit
Tee on Foreign Relations but also BY the Committee Of
fnance. Some days ago had a conference with the
chairman OF that committee. and upon full consideration
viven 10 il by the committee OF which he is member
hisproposon has been brought forward ! undertake
10 say that no proposition has been brought here more
marked with deberation and scrutiny than this which
unkind manner trust am as frugal with the public
money be s But the government must be sustained
by all proper appropriations, and money must be had,
whether wings democrats are IN power TO enable the
government TO sustain Itself and It is not wise to limit
hs appropriations that the government cannot carry
pn its operations with convenience, despatch. and sue
cess. s.L,- ae ssss4E
ha take the liberty. Notwithstanding the general state
msn made at the beginning OF my remarks, and mani
sstaton my part, and the part OF Others, to avoid
Tennessee has thought proper to make very extraor
binary assault upon this propositon to bring forward
authority from respectable as to challenge
bny objection to H. ftis the report OF Mr.. Buchanan
ddressed to committee OF the House oil Repre- natives
md is dated March 10, 1886 rE.. ssf
DEPARTMENT STATE,
Washington, March Is 1916
year has elapsed since the present Secretary tool
charge of this Departments and the conviction has beer
ofced upon him, that in the diplomatic and consular
nnches is wholly inadequate TO perform the dutie.
Shch owes to the country That II - SO will be made
NANTES, by simple statement OF facts.
lndepe ndenty OF the chef clerk. there five clerk
with the whole world
To one assigned all the diplomatic correspond
with the nations tie continent OF Amerca and al
BUSINESS thereto such answering letters from
iyduals, replying inquiries from committees, and col
rom Congress; 70 another all that with Great Brsin
rance, Russia, the Netherlands, and China and TO the
The two st,er are assisted each 5y copying clerk. who
also other daes 10 peIiorm, al salaries o $500 and
This !, tho whole machinery employed to conduct the
BUSINESS arising out OF our foreign relations with all the
bowers Of the earth.
lis true that there is translator and an attach
the department, bat the special nature OF their du,le
,udcientfy indicated by theif names.
The consular section of the department is, II possible
Kill dequas The number OF consuls is Tread,
hundred and seventy and the number Of CLERKS for h,
schargs of the dutes OF Tins branch IL ttOo The ha
haYe the correspondence with and relating
aes the American continent and some Of the islands
other with those 10 Europe and the remainder OF h
The force employed In tho "ofce OF Foreign Affairs"
nood in i7ss whom our prese nj fbrm government,
operation, consisted OF fps persons, to wills the Score
NY for Foreign Atfairs' the under Secretary twt
e ana an Inis @ AZ n'' n gay wnsm Isan. on
enty millions, and its intercourse with foreign countries
nd our relations with their goysrnsnsn havs more thar
opostonaby expanded, the fores to conduct the dpo
alc aud foreign business Of the nation consists OF fe~
pn,, two OF whom copying clerks.
houd be efficient than Much bushes
Dsht be transacted and that which be accomplish
ulef consideration.
OF the person, belonging the department. one eI
head, authority single drclu
pom any question: however trivial And here il /, prope
observe that mass OF miscellaneous business has de
Owed upon II, most oi which has natural connexoi
hh its appropriate duties The present amber Of clerk
npoyed upon this business is suicicnt but all OF it, IL
minntes details, must uadefgo the personal supervision
the Secretary, and every paper IN relation 10 II must re
The OF this accumulation Of business upoI
head OF the department must be manifest to every one
must either neglect great national interests or the sub
but pressing business Involving the rights OF ndi
ldusls. Almost every day brings with Il struggle be
sen the conflicting claims Of subiects all OF which
lled attention, whilst 1t IL i'm possible that all shoule
ceve H. Much business IL thus postponed, and even
lon OF the small force already in the department is Otter
hou iul mployment; because At cannot act withou
suuctons. aud there is but one head IRON which thes
IN proceed
III. paramount duty Of the Secretary OF State maxi
msef OF the subsisDg relations OF all iorega
ous with United States, aud with each other, eas
far may bear pon interests OF this country
perform OF this dny requires time Tor reading AM
neenon No person acquainted with the present score
v will doubt his industry and yet be can uuiy airn
ai since he into the department he has not iouns
me for a careful regular perusal OF the lead
loIegn journals, much less ior ihst o. thosc o'he
obications with which his duties require that he shouG
scqusinted.
Il Is beyond all question that each of our d som
should hear from the department least b1ce IL
eh month the general policy and the govern
ss these may be affected by passing events But th
now impossible, FOR = long period OF lime not de.
fpt upon business OF pressing character
Detective present consular ysen OF in
rmston might be acquired through It's agency which
oud bc OF great importance TO the navigating, comner
agrc ultura and nuiacturing Interests OF the
Even now much OF such information Is obtained
,ns rendered. comparatively useless Tor want OF person
digest arrange, and publish Tor the u-e OF Congress
ID the people Besides, active correspondence wild
r copsus would be tue means oil esicung ron then
ueb valuable political intelligence
m desired by the COMMITTEES the Secretary shouc
gsen plan TO render the department adequate TO per
IN Its duties This can be done in a few words,
Let the chief clerk be into assistant secre
W, be ppDtpf .Iv