The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-14

s not long The changes proposed would not II brought
together than four of the twentythre printed
pages OF the bill One great evil the present time is
that The law of consular and diplomatic service
uts-hooks
The pesent bin is compilation of existing laws placed
10 proper eonnexion 10 render plain the few notifications
proposed2 II smphes their duties and makes ministers
and eonsuls respond nearly the purpose Of their
creation IL takes from them any other character than
that OF representative Of their country, clothed with the
nnuenoe ana responsibilities properly belonging TO sue
position III throws around them additional guards for
the faithful discharge Of official duty and relieves them
rom temptation TO sacrifice the public private interests
III provides for them regular and economical support In
way that freeing them from the dstrust and suspicion Of
personal gain in the transaction Of public business either
with foreign authorities or our own citizens, Is, at the
same TIME little burdensome upon the treasury and equal
and Just in Its operation upon different interests
The changes under the bill may be briefly stated
y aoollshcs the htIe Of charge dafares raising all
our diplomatic agents to the rank of ministers penpo-
enlry, and simplifying grades to correspond with
The nature Of our Institutions and the systems OF inter
national intercourse adopted by the of Eu
rope III 1918 at the treaty OF Vienna.
II aboshes the outfit equal TO years salary, and
return allowance Of three months salary TO every minis
ter on his going to- and returning FROM his mission and
provides alass rveersioned TO the expense aud dignity
Of the different positions
3 1t provides secretary Of legation for each mission
T. The salaries OF none of diplomatic consular
agents TO begin until after entering upon the discharge
Of their official duties and TO cease relieved Of
them by successor
country to which be is accredited any consular
mercial agent from his district for longer period than
ten days without leave from the President and stops their
salary for any absence Ten days with without leave
OF absence.
None but citizens Of the United States are to be a-
pointed to diplomatic consular positions employed
clerks have to the archives of our foreign
Offices
Consus at all the principal ports prohibited from
transactng any business, either in their
through the agency of other persons.
Ii substitutes fixed salaries for fees consular and
commercial agents. aboshes fees for passports and all
commissions upon money advanced wages for the
lief OF seanen in distress changes in many particulars
and reduces the tariff Of fees and commissions for other
consular acts defines with precision the duties of
abroad abolishes all sub-agents and vce-consus and
provides for the accounting for all fees and commissions to
the government TO be used general fund to assist in
paying consular salaries.
l. The bill aboshes the title Of charge daaires and
raises all our diplomatic agents to the rank of ministers
penipotentiary
the settlement of peace in Europe agreed upon grade
Of diplomatic rank which, when generally adopted should
prevent all embarassments of etiquette in the conduct of
future negotiations We were not party TO that Con-
gress and have modified system to correspond
to the grades of diplomacy then established The conse-
has been that at many Of the European courts our
ministers have been admitted to the presence OF the
sovereign except favor and public and State occa-
sons and in the transaction of business and in the pay
ing and receiving of visits the representatives of the
The grades, established by the Congress of Vienna
and amended by that of xa-Capelle and present
recognised by European nations, are
q Envoys, ministers, or Others accredited to sover-
s. Minister resident
A. Charges dnaires accredited TO the minister of for
eiga affairs; and secretaries of legation.
Ambassador in diplomatic language is the representa-
tive of the person of sovereign and in this differs from
mere minister who represents the nation The bill raises
all missions to the grade of ENJOYS extraordinary and
ministers plenipoenary This change involves sacr
additional expenditure
tives-with but exceptonbelow this grade
sered accredited to the minister of the foreign depart
ment and not to the sovereign of the State 1t is dstne
ton that in point of fact recognised in the reception of
ministers from foreign States by government and
there is why the embarrassment under which the
present system places ministers abroad should
not be removed
Foreign ministers exist and their rights, duties and
powers determined by general assent and the laws of
nations They the agents OF communication
between governments They represent the disposition and
interests of government to the ruling power Of another
Under instructions they negotiate treaties of
commerce. give Information about laws and in every
way expected by the cultivation of friendly relations
and good understanding to exert themselves to preserve
peace Under such circumstances they should be free from
all unnecessary embarrassment Ii engaged in important
negotiations the good will of the ruler will greatly
them and this is best secured by personal intercourse
Under the bill if adopted this advantage will be secured
and our diplomatic grades Mt the time smpfed TO
the nature of our institutions A law passed last year en-
abed all Of the grade of charge to be
accredited ministers resident This bil by establishing
rank for NIL that Of ministers penipoenary win
that wherever send representative he shall be
recognised the equal of the representative Of any other
country and that under possible circumstance can his
rank be made obstacle to his influence
Secretaries of legation provided for each mission
The business transacted at of legations makes
absolutely necessary assistant of the minister The in
creased travel of Americans abroad has made the giving
and receiving of passports alone almost occupation for
The inquiry into the right to issue in particular in
stances these badges of citizenship the examination of
of wrong to American citizens and the obtaining of
redress the preparation OF information as to our local law
and the customs of our ports &C. &C. in reply to inquiries
from the foreign government and various calls upon his
attention. besides the preparation of weekly dispatches
qrc time and labor than il is always at the disposal
of the minister called to act in private matter, frequently
at the very moment when engaged in perfecng some inn
portan treaty negotiation under the law of nations
Through the of secretaries Of legations in $780, there
scarcely American legation abroad with complete
record of its negotiations and representatives
obliged TO send home TO the State Department for norna
ton 10 what their predecessors had done in particular
matters rely upon information from the governments
with which they were in communication.
Nearly all the great powers OF Europe hotels resi-
dcnces for their representatives in the capitals of the
tries to which they accredited and have attached
each legation secretaries whose especial bus
IL is to guard its archives England and France have
several OF these attaches nearly all their missions II
proposed that the United States purchase residences for
their ministers abroad is it deemed advisable by the
committee but is deemed highly important that there be
secretary each legation From the want OF such here
ofore II has happened in instances that papers OF
great value belonging the United States government
have fallen the hands OF foreigners and thus passed
into the possession of the government with which
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