Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-02-17
Change in our Diplomatic and Consular sys-
TEN.


On. Thursday an important bin Unexpectedly
/ passed the House. for the reform IF our diplo-
mliie AMI consular system, which will probably
be eancufrti in by the senate, Turing the present
session. This bill. which, last session, was re-
ported fran tie Committee on Foreign Affairs 10y
Mr.. J. Perkins Jr. of Louisiana, has been
carefully matared hy that gentleman, and sn.-
tanned by two speeches The changes suggest
ed in the bill may be briefly stated As follow:
!. Itabolishes the title of charge d'afaires.
raising AL our diplomatic agents 10 the rank of
ministers plcnip tentiary, and simplifying our
grade 10 e"rrs-paad with the nature Of our IN
situations. aud the systems of international in
tereour-e adopted by the government, Of EUROPE
IN l-l5 nj the treaty Of Vienna.
=. II aboli-hes the outfit, equal Ia one years
salary, ana return allowance Of three months
salary, to every minister on his going II and re-
turning from hi- mission; aud provide salaries
proportional 10 the expense and dignity Of the
different positions.
3 1t provide, IA secretary Of legation for each
mission.
l. The -alafes Of none Of our diplomatic
consular agents nre 20 begin until after entering
upon the discharge II their duties. and L. cease
n soon as relieved Of them by successor.
,. II prohibits the absence Of any minister
from the country TO which be is accredited, or
any consular or commercial agent, from hls dis
trict, for longer period than ten day, without
leave from the President, aud stops their salary
for any absence over ten days, with or without
leave nf absence.
o. None but citizens of the United States
to be appointed to diplomatic or consular posi-
tons. or employed clerks. or have acccss to
the archives OF our foreign Offices.
:. Consul. al all the principal ports pro-
hhied from transactng any business, either in
their own name or through the agency of other
persons.
{ Il substitutes fixed salaries for fees to consular
and commercial agents abolirhes fees for pass
ports and all commissions upon money advanced
wages. or for the relief Of seHmen in distress;
change in many particulars and reduce the ta-
riff of fees aud commissions for other consular
acts defines with more precision, the duties -
eonsn- IN the settlement ofthe estates fpcrsons
a, Jug abroad, abo.hc, all sub agents nnd vice
cousuls. aud provides for the accounting for nll
icc- and commissions 10 the government II he
used a. gcner.l fund 10 assist in paying con-
tular salaries.
The substitution Of fixed salaries, instead If
fees 10 consular aud commercial agent-,will make
important alterations, if the proposed srnle of
salaries he adopted, in the revenues of our rep
re,cntatives abfoad while some petty neglected
oonsulAtes will bn elevated ms to pay their way,
others ola higher grade will be reduced in value.
Hawthorne, n liyorpool, will of course not con
template with much satisfaction the dimnuhon
ii his ,ncpec fra.u fifteen twenty thon-an
year Ia seven thousand five hundred, while our
aeeut al ''reytown ought 10 be sat
-ied with au exchange of prccazious compc-
sp,on of thrcear foer hundred for the proposed
eaary Of two Thousand, even though he hc obi IL
ed 10 forego the privilege Of carving On bis com
mereia business at the port.