Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-20
IFron the observation-disclosures.
THE NEW DIPLOMATIC AID CONSUL AR Ri

IL.
| Messrs EDIToEs By the proceedings IN the House 7
zpg dipom ic and consular system has been referred
to the Comui zee Foreign Relations ard il is to
sincerely hoped that it will be promptly brought before
both Houses for their final a;l favorable action dur ~
the present session, it would bs matter re-
grct 1t II does not previous 10 the ,gJIrnicnt
As sho read Win much interest your yrSs on GUY
present system when this bill "as irst reported sha
pleased II you afirl llr space in 80 IT COL
| uh 10 Oder some remarks on IN, SUBJECT.
TnO~g, this bill may prooaol include all the re
forms qreI still it embraces many ripof;an, i'm
provrcGt- ID well c.ti,led the irorabl action
| Oi COagGes.. The present obsolete system should b.
abolished Il indeed matter OF surprise that defect.
OF Character 80 giring, III direct opposition to tn.
geaiu and -piI Of n-,u.ioLs could have remained
| - !o = without correction.
Il naking extensive reforms "a are provided co-
in tbs bn! Is to presumed that il il pvf. CT in
IL details, hu il may be DOUBTED whether better Ole
could discussed and passed and a. tni- bin il
linS great avance ia the right pItr, it to he hope
that ~ passage will not De endangered by ul :, At.
enp:s to extend improve it, provisions but to lie, auy
which may developed ia the worAigc o. IN, II. !,
y-ten be- cDrrectc! b. fItgfc rS alton as ihry NAV mn.
Great Britain whose cs tive act. ac general.
well considered has in tue last igty yeats Changed
her Consular system three i,ur times and il therefor.
hardly be expected tha we, tic r.t atr.nDt AZ re
| :jfIn, should produce free Uf Obi .ctions
The defects both in diplomatic and consular service
'rc ia Mas ccs the same and fesu!t Ia our having
originally adopted the model tom the oil! AMI now e.ulo
led systes OF Europe; aud w.!!-: other & Ivcnrneuts
during the last half century, have radically modified their
urc.n 70 meet ~, .aS an. pT".--s OF II. NO,
the United atcs have s:a.ts!y retained a system mo
do! Ippn tina, winch existed ia GIe4. Britain previous
| TO of ind pcud.ucc.
The prescn; bA Wills; IL introduces many yalusila
reforms, abOlishes bus.r actually l IN
the country, and 1t should EFsd Is an objection
To IT. Passage that IL may embrace all the improve
| meats itit come may -Uggest or thiuk desirable.
"A large ,pst, OF your read nay not have seen
pr rca! the Di ~ Ltteup: ciuca To distinct heads
ONE ui it, most important cha -c-.
j. abIhes all u-e"-- t;ie- in our dipnm,tc co,rs
anl makes all ministers at.G ~ of one rf .d yvii
| secretary Of leg ition to each
This provision obviites difficulties q form and
eque'" that nave hrr''"t'r' cnbIrt-e our rcr'c.ena
lives. and will make them OF cq'l rank aud st4ndns tt
thosn oil other powers. TIE stnTe5 tor moth ~
and secretaries might be- larger Iu tO.r provl a for ir
ths bill with advantage to the pubic service brt # Com
sill only do nuch tn. hi proposes in tins r.
spec it will certainly hc greet improvement tju,rr our
pres system il is pos b; for sent nb.rii u
relize in a single yer 81 900 from his sriv ouf, and
return allowance whilst t"s. who remain logger rc.iv,
but the salary OF $4,000. Thus Inier Administration
by succession OF appointments our rrpres.r
tatoD OF the principal glt cost eighty lou
thousand dollars. IL is too, that M ions n.
different Administrations have accepted u,.on hi
system the parties delaying their departure for a con
siderable lime aztec the app piu.In rem niuy bu
few months AZ their post and then returning home ant
thus between the delay in starting. the periods of trans.
out and hOme consuming their year aud Duckrtny tn
full salary, outfit, and return allowance. TIE pre.e;t
all these abuses, Tnc outfit aud return allow Ic
abolished the say does begin until the ,nri.t.
reaches his post and euis when i5 successor relieves hin
lie is allowed leave hiS pos. Tor period of mar
than dis without leave from home AID if he does
with leave Except it may b. public busnc.s)
larry ceases during his absence tia. ministers.
il TO, often the case, b. travelling pleasure oy,
Europe the time he receiving their sal
IL lieu Of Ill the above the annual salaries are incrc
bu, the aggregate amount paid will probably grca
| or than II now H..
The secretary OF legation. If made with high saarie
would become prl.s TOT old aud greedy polttir. az
the amount allowed by the bill is sufficient for tue respec
a0Ic support of able ard worthy young men, and ptc,
larry they generally dome scate1 in the bOu
. hold OF the minister.
The consular reform il probably even more urgent
required than the diplomatic Ibis bill sosho. all sp
cal salaries attached % cDnsoI'r- abfOnd such a. ln
don AID Paris. which salnty is in addition TO fees Al
substitutes regular grhdu ted salaries tor all the cor sut,
II abo!ishes the sinccufcs amd excessive incoin,s
txcvr or hcen cOnsulites, which generally given
q Old POLITICIANS, AID which Weld from five thoil-iDJ
twenty thousand doirs, ard IN probIby more han NJ
'st NC greater SUN than il ai'Owcd 10 tho Prcsids
Of the United States. The surplus Of & cs received
such consuitcs, after the allowance ola LIBERAL salary
the incumbent IL returned iptD the Treasury nnd m a
applicable 10 the payment Of reasonable salaries at Il
smaller consulaics, where tho fees yield au insuhcie
compcnsuon
prohibits cousuls from engaging in Other business
ccpt NJ points where there but little American trad
iui where the salary il small aud the ullr Ipiiey
occupy but small portion Of tine. Foreign GOvernnen
nave IL sonc instances justly conn planned Of the und
f iIyAnigrs Possessed BY cpn.u4 who ore engage
trade. ns all invoices are sibniisd 10 tcm u be- ccrf,
aud they hu6 bfncG: Themselves aud their core
ppndc't- 10y general kpDwl iss Of the gbpls, price
guilty, ui Gptn'y thi' ite gong forward Tnv Frcnc
Government recently rcfIscd 90 t,coguz, one or on
n""Iy appointed D'sus 'Or this very cause end til,
Nrrc 'uiy a." u iE doing. THIS exclusions ri cOr.i
Of important points from al cpuncyiOn with trade, sG ~
rrg u,.n ,ui"icnIcn. 81 ai personal intcrcstin f.,
"l boot ,bsous aui great r.rintga 10 the commcrc.
Interests 81 'hr cuuty aud in many ways which It W
bn III ut o. lppras,,g crccp by thosa whD are tnIn
win tae n'nHcr q" which n.uy cou.uls disshlr.
| their dgiiu.
The cam,n''iun Of uorcliu; aud consul in Tho sin
prtsnu mover 'iils ~ u.iH hn the obi ct Of -uspcio
I'D di.,'G {. un only 10 f pHu cOInjfyu.u cu,Ig,d !
cnnmyt. 'l' -p 10 fbc foreigners VIM IN tho ni4uufC
rs cn.uis 10 Europe, trade - very t,r ,rlv on m,
IVA ar cut ~ l. 90" Uni'. 500. IIr alb consider
~ a. bt,Hg r.iarnrl int"!o-t iu cv,'y - to ,xir4
8 a. 100 ti rrptrarnt tions to The local 'u'hordc-
, O.. nDt az .pIcnuy az, used extOf. u IT. Lcniind