The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-12
doNsiILAk CORRESPONDENTS.

In very excellent wsrk issued by Messre Taylor
Maur Of this city, ew months ago, illustrative Of ,r
consular system of the United States, and designed as
manual for the guidance Of consul merchants and ship
owners and masters aluson is made to the Importance
and reliability of their correspondence with the home gov
ernment and 1t is stated that inc debate which took place
Ia the Britlsh House of Commons Lord Palmerstou re
marked that during the time he bad tie honor of being
at the head Of the Foreign Department he had read every
report and every letter received from the consular officers
abroad from the most elaborate report of the highest con-
sui general down to the least important letter Of the lowest
but scattered through the volumnous papers that thus
under my eye found many important matters with
which il was my duty to be acquainted"
The volume before proceeds state that the pere-
ton which the consular system has attained in France
furnishes illustration of what may be accomplished by
thoroughly organized consular establishment The OBJ
ects contemplated by such system, has been well
Marked nothing less than the advancement Of the pros
perity and power of nations
What is here affirmed has been lound emnenty true in
the experience of the United States government The
muncations from the apparently least important of its
consular agents abroad at times repee with valuable
information and render manifest the policy of using every
possible CT encouraging resort to this branch of the
public service FOR the procurement Of information in every
department of knowledge conducive to public welfare and
the statistical Office which has been wisely organized in
the Department OF State is turning TO good account the
information ELECTED through the consular Offices Thus,
valuable papers the coton trade" american tobacco
Commercial changes" the Commercial relations of the
United States with all foreign nations" &c have been
prepared at that department. and acknowledged to be
Of great service in the legislation of the country and
learn that the Patent Office in the preparation Of the forth
coming report agriculture is awaiting itself of the fa
cies afforded by this correspondence of the Department
of STATE in the elimination OF Information Of great value in
regard the products and capabilities of the various
tions of the world and especially with respect 10 the ORR
GIN culture productveness commerce. Manufacture, and
consumption OF cotton in those countries The assignment
to our consus of duties Of this nature will prove inn
porant step toward elevatng these Off in the esee
of the world and thus securing for them the services cf
men of education and ability, who will prove credit to
their country.
At the late session Of Congress the Of three thousand
five hundred dollars appropriated TO enable the Com
missioner of Patents "to collect and report information in
regard the consumption Of cotton in the several
tries of the world and in point thus presented
in which the benefits Of the cooperation Of the several de-
of the may be happily illustrated in
the most practical manner, and means and the only
means of aud universal application adopted
for the procurement of accurate and ample knowledge
upon given subject, through the consular office, from
hundreds of throughout the whole civilized world