The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-12-21

La illustration OF the present condition OF society and
civilization in Hayl, the recently published correspond
eaee OF Mr. Robert M, Walsh with the Department OF
State furnishes some interesting and instructive facts.
The entire correspondence is TOO vouminous Tor col
umns have, therefore, selected three letters which
convey vivid impression OF the condition of things in
the empire OF Sououquee Ii will be observed that they
are written with grace and spirit; and they give US
facts communicated to the government by lis diplomatic
agent they cannot fail TO attract the attention Of the
country. @sEt afa.a .5fa @r lats7 HEH.
Diplomatic Salaries.
On the 4th OF November. 1884, and in compliance with
resolution of the Senate requesting the Secretary of
State to communicate to that body any information he
might possess touching the expedency OF adopting grad
uaed scale Of diplomatic salaries based upon the com
bined considerations Of the importance OF the mission and
the expenses of residence" MIR. Webster addressed
circular despatch to minstsrs abroad, soliciting
statement oil the expenses OF each legation The minis
ters responded to the inquiries OF the Secretary and the
New York Evening Post has published extracts from their
correspondence.
The uniform and emphatic testimony OF the American
ministers abroad establishes the fact OF the nsucency
OF their salaries TO meet the expenses incident 10 their Off
cal residence In instance does minister repre-
sent his salary 10 be adequate the exgences OF his po-
ston Mr. Lawrence the American minister at London,
writes
"Iwi only that after fully examining the items
expenditure with view the of living
in London, in the position which the minister Of the United
States obliged occupy decidedly of the opinion
that the present salary is inadequate. t
"The rent OF furnished house. in London In convent
en and proper location. would be less than from f70O
to feooa year Horses and carriages would from f225
to ESQ pound year And to ey these and all
other expenses growing our of the position would require
in Judgment annual salary of twenty thousand dol
lars. deem proper add that my have
cesded these sums.' tsgss n. f#z4 .s 4 f. saf#G
In the same style, Mr.. Rives complains Of the made
quacy of the salary OF the French mission. He says
The four items above mentioned, of house rent
age hire, fuel. and ordinary subsistence form
aggregate exceeding the annual salary allowed
minister Of the United States But these added
expenses equally obligatory and inevitable, the
hire and clothing Of which cannot be estim ated
nj less than from twelve fifteen hundred dollars the
pense Of lights, which, during the long nights Of half
the year in this latitude, is very large item washing
and common groceries forming together, for family
stitued have above supposed another aggregate OF
strictly necessary expense short of three thousand
dollars annually.
IF these aggregates be further added tue per-
sona expenses of the minister and his family, which
pal like this and in the place they occupy in its
ciey, always under the control of his
choice and the expense which neither his feelings his
duty allow him avoid Exercising becoming
Try his country men, well reciprocang the civil
tiles offered to him by his colleagues of the diploma tic
corps, and the public functonares of the government
which he is accredited, Qtems of which the minimum
according my experience, would be another annual
OF three thousand dosra) you have et the data IL in
my sappy for estimating the expense incident
official residence her in the character OF foreign
ster, maintained within modest limits decent
gard for his position permit"
Mr. Brown iestes 10 the effect touching the ex.
penses Of diplomatic residence at ST. Petersburg
In my despatch No. IL, in answer your circular OF
the 4sh November, 1851 it in my power respond
in to do full justice to The subject Owing the
rgor OF the climate had abandoned idea of bng
my family; consequently my ,rpen,, here least
third less if not than they would otherwise be.
have tnken some pains TO make opinion what
the salary ought TO be- considering in the language Of
Senate resolution, the importance OF the mission the
expenses OF residence and upposng every m
will either have ought to have family to be supported
here elsewhere believe he could do fair justice
claims Of his mission this less Than twelve
sand dollars per annum, with the outfit and init
With this he would maintain rank becoming his coun-
Try, and could, without doubt, make himself useful
No knows but those who have tried the
which the present OF pay imposes in such position
The minister is PEELED fall back subordinate
rank oflving draw upon his fortune, which few Of
public men can afford"
Mr.. Folsom states that his expenses at the Hague did
fall short OF twelve thousand dollars per Mr.
McCurdy writes that the cos, Of living in Vienna equals
the cost OF living in London and Paris, and that conse
queniy the salary of bis mission is too small Mr. Bar
ringer gives detailed statement, OF the expenses Of
diplomatic residence in Spain, which proves The made
quacy OF the salary OF that mission.
We have no, the correspondence of which the
Post publishes only mulis,ed portion Ii is probable
however that The expenses OF diplomatic residence
other at which this government is represented
something less than the expenses OF the missions
toned above. Nevertheless, IT is an established fact
that the salaries OF American ministers abroad gener
ally insufficient to defray the expenses incident to their
official residence II it be suggested that ministers
might live in style less stately, and in conformity
with republican simplicity, il could be replied that such
change would impair the efficiency of their action
II true, the pomp and lavish expenditure OF impe-
rial embassy should furnish example the American
government; but sl the fidelity Of the ministers Of
republic should be adequately rewarded, and
scruples Of narrow and nsgardy economy should place
our diplomatic representatives in position in which
they might be unable cope with the servants OF mon
archy
The Brooks Movement