The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-06-29
VARIETY.
CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS.


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CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS.
Yesterday we gave the instructions Of the
Department of State to our Foreign Diplomat
ic Agents. The following completes the diEec-
ton, of the government to our representatives.
Of all capacities, abroad.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington. June ], 1853.
To Consstis Of the United States
1t has be. n represented to this DEPARTMENT
upon authority which is deemed undoubted, that
American Consuls are in the habit of EN- 10y
ing foreign clerks to assist in the discharge oil
consular duties. Where it is practicable, nc
other than citizens Of the United States are to
be hereaf er entrusted with the performance 0!
any consular act. You will accordingly, with
in reasonable time after the receipt of this
circular, make the changes hereby required
and receive into your service consular clerks
who owe allegiance to this government, and al
SO carefully guard the records Of the United
States committed to your keeping from the
perusal Of aliens. Should circumstances pre-
vent a strict compliance with this regulation,
YOU will at once report the fact to this Depart
ment, and explain the reasons thereof
Inconvenience may result from this regula
ton TO Consuls where the English language is
not that of the country in which the Consul is
situated, but if he be not acquainted with such
language at the time Of receiving the appoints
ment, it is to be presumed that he will soon ae-
quire sufficient knowledge of it for the man
agement Of bis official business. Wherever
the consulate be, most of the business will be
conducted in English, and with citizens of the
the United States Moreover, he will find in
most foreign countries young Americans desire
Gus, perhaps, Of such employment as he can
afford them, and in all respects capable Of per.
forming the duties required, to his sltsfac-
ton.
The President, in the performance Of his du
ties, conceives that he has no alternative but to
manifest his decided disapprobation of the anti
American practices and tendencies which are
but too palpable in our consular department.
There many of our citizers-young men
at home and abroad, who are anxious Of acqur-
ing knowledge of one or of another OF the
continental languages of Europe knowledge
which, in after years, would be valuable to the
government and to the people-and it is recon-
meaded to our consuls to procure such assistants,
confident that they will be found equally effec.
tual and more trustworthy.
The commanders Of our mercantile marine,
the sailors by whom it is manned. as well rs
other citizens having business with our own
act it with subordnaes who are their own coun.
trymen, than with foreigners differing from
them as much in manners in language
Upon examination it is found that no returns
have been received from several of our consul
lates and that in some Of those transmitted
there are, apparently, irregularities in the stale
ments required to be made semi-annually to
this department. Ifthere be but solitary fee
paid at consulate during a twelve-month, it
must be reported in future; and if none be re-
ceived that fact must also be reported. In ev-
cry in lance where an official service is perform
ed, the consul will be particular to include the
amount therefor in his reports to this depart
ment. The omission to make the reports re-
quired BY instructions, will be regarded as a
sufficient cause for removal from Office.
Th,re is reason to believe that abuses are
practised TO a considerable extent in many places
and particularly in the south of Europe, in the
exaction Of fees for yerifcations of passports,
which might be dispensed with. The depart
ment is informed that Consuls Of the U. States
have connived at the demands by the author.
ties Of certain cities in the Italian states, and
other places, where their consuates are estab-
lished, for consular vses, in order to derive be-
neiittrom the fees consequent therefrom. II
this be true, it is an abuse, and when known
will be punished invariably with instantaneous
be alike disreputable to the consuls themselves
and to the republic which tolerates it.
Unlike the custom observed at the British for
eign Office, and at the prefectures in France,
passports are givenby this department 10 our CT
tzens free of cost. This is also the rule at our
legations, at which charge is permitted to be
made for vises.
Happily for our people, We know nothing of
the system, in interior intercourse, of passports
A foreigner may travel unmolested from the
eastern confines Of Maine to the western borders
of Oregon without bearing with him any pro-
lection from The government: but as other ma
tons have the undoubted right to regulate their
internal affairs in such manner as they may
think proper, in commercial and other inter
course of our citizens with their inhabitants, un-
less their regulations shall conflict with treaty
stipuatons aud international usages, we can do
nothing more than aff,rd to our countrymen
travelling abroad the facilities at the disposal OF
their own government, not suffering them to be
subjected to any wrong 50 far as this depart
ment can prevent il, by our own or foreign
functionaries
By an act Of Congress of April IA, 1872,
consuls are authorized to receive ssfor authen,i
eating, under the consular seal, every protest,
declaration, Deposition, or other act, which
such captains, masters, mariners, seamen, pas
sengers, merchants, or others, as are citizens
of the United states, may respectively choose
to make, the sum Of two dollars" The words
''or others clearly establish the right of a con
sui, when an application is made to him to that
end, to demand two dollars for a passport-as
also for wise to one-because the consular seal
is necessarily employed to authenticate the act.
That portion OF the circular, therefore, which
was issued by this department under date Of
June %, 1880, instructing consuls that "no
charge is to be made for passports, is hereby
revoked.
Where there is a legation Of the United
States and consulate at the same place, consus
are not authorized hereafter to issue or wise pass.
ports. This duty devolves upon the legation as
the higher authority of ting two.
This depart ment is informed that in some
countries our consuls think to impast dignity
and importance to the place where the business
OF the consulate is transacted, by calling it
8 La Chancelcrie," and the clerk in their em-
Caanceltier. This is done with.
out any warrant in law or BY instructions; il is
not in harmony with the usages in their coun-
try. If led to it by desire to initiate what
they see abroad, the motive for it is as repre-
hensible as the practice.
Consuls are instructed to keep their offices
open for the transaction of official business from
nine o'clock in the morning until three in the
a'seInoon. lney VIII not pc at liberty hereaf-
ter to absent themselves from their consular dis
'ricts, unless upon leave obtained from this de.
partment, which will only be given in urgent
cases, and for comparatively short periods.
In all that relates to scientific discoveries, to
progress in the arts, to agricultural Develop
ments, and to general statistics in foreign coun
tries, consnls are requested to communicate
freely and frequently with this department.
part from their more formal duties they may
in this manner confer singular advantages upon
Inc Union. II is in contemplation to propose
10 the Congress, at its next session, if the in.
received before that time he deemed
sufficiently valuable to warrant application, to
publish annually, for the public eye, volume
extracts from the consular dispat-
ches.
All the instructions heretofore issued from
This department in relation to consular uniform
are hereby revoked. Neither the propriety nor
t1 sxNsi sk.~ ~r -.