The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1855-12-20
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDE CE.

WAsHIseToy, Dec. 9Th. 1855.
The affairs of our vast government is con-
Quoted with much more system and simplicity
than is generally supposed. 1t may be OF
interest TO the reader TO know the mnutia of
its machinery and the special duties Of those
who are engaged in carrying it on. We
shall from week to week give 4 brief descrip-
ton Of the respective duties Of the varioas
departments, as we find il in the Daily Globe,
published in this city. The DEPARTMENT
OF STATE is perhaps the most important OF
all the Departments. because it has charge of
all the business arising out Of our foreign re-
lations with all the Powers of the World.
The number employed in the Department
of Safe of the United States is only seven
teen, as follows; One Secretary of State,
WILLIAM l.. MARCY. one Assistant Secretary
OF State. (JoHs \. Thomas. one Chief Clerk,
twelve clerks, one Translator, and one Libra
rian.
Dinyom0tic Branch This branch of the
State Department has charge 81 all cUrrespon-
,lence between the Department and other dip
omatic agents of the United States abroad.
and those Of foreign powers accredited TO this
Government. In it all diplomatic instructions
sen. from the Department, and communlca-
lions to commissioners under treaties Of boun-
diaries, &c, are prepared. copied. and recor-
Led; and all of ike character received are
registered and fled their contents being first
entered in an analytic table or index.
Consular BrancA-ThiS branch has charge
Of the correspondence. &c. between the De
partunent and the consuls and commercial
agents Of the United States. In 1t instruc-
tons to those officers, and answers to their
dispatches and 10 letters from other persons
asking for consular agency, or relating TO con-
sular affairs, are prepared and recorded.
The Dis5arsng dgent-He has charge of
all correspondence and other matters counec-
ted with accounts relating TO any fund with
the disbursement of which the Department is
charged.
TIE Translator duties are to furnish
such translations the Department may re-
cuire. He also records the commissions of
consuls and vice consuls. when not in English,
upon which exequaiurs are issued.
Clerk II appointments and Commissioners.
lie makes out and records commissioners,
letters Of appointment, aud nominations 10 the
Sana.e: makes out and records e1equsturs,
and records. when in English. the commissions
on which they are issued Has charge Of the
library.
Clerk If tie Rolls and -irchiess. He takes
charge of the rolls, or enrolled acts and resp
lutious of Congress. as they are received at
the DEPARTMENT from the President; prepares
the authenticated copies thereof which are
called for: prepares for. and superiniends their
publication. and that OF treaties, In the news
papers and in book form; attends to their dis
tribution throughout the United States. and
that OF all documents and publications IN re-
rari 10 which this duty is assigned TO the De
partment; writing and answering all letters
connected Herewith Has charge OF all Indian
treaties. and business relating thereto
Clerk Of 4utAeniieations and Copyrights
He has charge of the seals Of the United
States and of the Department, and prepares
and attaches certificates to papers presented
for authorization; receives and accounts for
the fees. Has charge of publications trans
n,itted to the Department under the laws re-
latiur 10 copyrights; records and indexes their
tiles: records all letters from the Department,
other than the diplomatic and consular.
Clerks of Pardons and Passports.-He
prepares and records pardons and remissions
and registers and files the petitions and paper:
on which they are founded. Makes out and
records passports; keeps daily register o
all letters, other than diplomatic and consular
received, and of the disposition made of them
prepares letters relating to this business.
WAsHrSGrox, Dec l4th, 1855.
Near another week has passed and no speak
or has vet been elected in the House of Rep
-esenutives. This disccurag;ng state of IA.