The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-09


This vas intended general to that swarm q
foreign Prctenders Il appears 70 that IL viii be best s
70 preserve part OF this regulation"
These views confirmed BY the experience Of all who
have since been connected With the service BY the bill
Second TAs consal ,ril b obliged sRdy ne b renaia
his post and discharge e duties n Ais ece NJ abSef longer
haH Zen lays one from ks eoaasreiqI dstre ne ph
Joea dsviag TINT absso has salary Persons will then no
longer seek the position enabling them 10 make the tour
Of Europe or ENJOY themselves abroad while their office is
for gain and lis duties halfway discharged BY
hired substitutes Consulshps will be held for the interest
OF the country and not for that of individuals The im-
porunity aud influences brought bear upon the
President IN granting leave or absence will be checked
These are frequently OF character difficult 10 resist and
yet Il IS plainly the interest Of the country when Office
10 the foreign service that its duties be person
ally discharged.
Third Hs hare ao1o eonsutgeherals eosaIs riooonsu
and e0Biaereiai agents.
The bN gas rid ef many em5arrassnaenss and sioies
as CLASSIFICATION 6y ssabshiHg only eosus and eon"ere'a
In reality the only difference between consul-genera
and consul y one Of rank. cOasalgeBsrd ranks as
major thearmy and post captain in the navy and Is
.rreeis English yesseoi-war with the firing Of nine
guns. consul ranks with captain In the army and
commander in the navy and is received with the firing Of
guns Their powers and their duties except by special
enactment are the same
Among semi-civized people, as in Asia and Africa,
where the title Is employed by other governments as
means of influence and really ministers to the interest OF
the nation and not merely to the vanity OF the individual
the President is authorized by the bill to confer the title of
consnlgenera The designation, however carries with It
no additional power or salary.
Commercial agents appointed by the government
TO certain countries to the colonies of Holland where
consus will not be received but where commercial in
eress require protection Their powers less than those
of consuls and they do not possess the mmuntes
Picee0nsutdks they exist are by the BILL abo
appointed by consus to localities within their
lar district who through it, have enjoyed the mmunities
of consu without any of the guarantees Of character
capacity exaced OF those appointed by the President and
N lrUa hV
II has been charged that these appointments have been
sold by Of consus and il is not surprising that
foreigner the subject of another government holding of
flee consul under government with power to dele
gate his authority, should do for consideration Of
fees many of the countries Of Europe disposed Of in
this way.
In 1852 there were in Europe one hundred and twenty
five subjects of other acting American vice
consu and in European colonies two hundred and TWEEN
y-ye making three hundred and fifty exclusive OF those
in South America and the Pacific These exercised all
the power Of regular consus They granted American pass
ports TO almost whom they pleased and taxed Americans
and American for their support in almost every
imaginable form Should state the extent to which frauds
upon the treasury have been pracsed under the consular
Office they have been described to me by those in posi-
tons making them cognzant OF the act 1t would seem
almost incredible.
letter addressed to me on this subject by many
years consul abroadstll acting as suchand noted for
his intelligence and honesty, says:
Withn the last few years nnumerable passports have
been granted these viceconsu to not pretend
ing be Americans. One United States viceconsul told
dred.s
In the same connexion he says
So many frauds have been practised in granting pass
manufactured American low fifty cents, if of
higher fabric, for fifteen dollars to thirty dollars
irSpeaker, of course DO read this always,
everywhere in Europe but that it may be- and has
been pacsed under present consular system makes
its reform duty. As reading viii give extract
which will apply to another branch of the subject OF
consus leaving their posts he says
Seventeen ministers, consuls attaches and Others all
passed through this city within the last quarter
government business with the permission Of the depart
men"
This reminds me, Mr. Speaker, read the instructions
about dress consu in force the last few years
The permission he decked it describes may explain
in part the great demand that has existed for the position
of n vce-consul:
STATE DEPARTMEST, July |, 1888.
ARr. AZ. The consular uniform Gas prescribed by the cir
cuar from this department. dated August s. rs hereto
nexed be all visits of ceremony to the author
tiles Of the place, and on all other proper occasions
Circular
DEPARTMENT or srArE, August 8, 1915.
The consular uniform prescribed in the standing consular
instructions abolished and the following substituted viz
Snglebreasted coat of blue CLOTH with standing
cape four each cuff under each pockets and
each hip and in the folds two each side in the
and each side Of the at the lower
tremes Of the skirts.
The 'front.' rom the cape down the lower extremity Of
the skirts cuffs and pocket haps TO be embroidered
gold representing vine composed Of olive leaves and the
to be worked with gold thread the
corresponding with the width OF the embroidery which Is
not to exceed two inches in any part.
and small clothes of white and buttons the for
mer to 'front.' and four under each pockethap.
With this dress, cooked hat small sword and shoes and
buckles be The hat TO be furnished with gold
loop gold asse and black ceckade with gold eagle in the
added 70 which to be understood that the mount
ng the sword and shoe and knee buckles to be gold
otherwise, gilt.
In such attire in tins country would only be laughed
s.I.n kt
constitutes the ambition of life you imagine the salts
faction enjoyed by foreign yceconsuls to the United
States in its parade public occasions II worthy OF
that mp to 1875 when Mr. Monroe Secretary Of
State Consuls the United States naval Uniform =
Ii would If this circular Of 1915 prepared to
prevent any subsequent conounding of consul with
val officer Since the circular of Mr. Marcy eonsus dress
very much as they please.
Consuls may under the bill have assistants in their Of
fees but they be American citizens and for their
conduct the consus themselves responsible The gov
enment viii only correspond with and recognise the
sui
Fourth. The bin before he House prohibits ooHsas al al
he principal p9rts from engaging trade either IN their
names or The names Of ether persons.
There IS nothing opposed to the genius OF our in
siutiOn than the custom common under European gov
ernments Of iobbng in the duties Of Office and vet in
adopting the consular system Of Great Britain we fastened
upon government many positive evils Of this char
actcr
Great Britain originally allowed all her consuls 10
gagein trade and it only the protest Of ber
ca interest that she finally took from them in part the right
Her rule is that consuls at important commercial
points shall not engage in trade.
general system Of merchant consus has been found
the experience Of other governments and
has caused FREQUENT aud Just complaint under