The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-13

OF the Government OF the United states
srArs DsrANraxsr
The whole machinery employed 10 conduct the business arising out
Of cur foreign relations Win al the powers " the world q for more
Department orsaie Of the United States is only seventeen, as follows
one Secretary 9istate lhon Lewis cassl one ASslslSn. Secretary Of
htor, and enc librarian.
Diplomatic BraHoh-This branch Of me st.,e Department nAs
piomaac agents Of 6e United states abroad, and those o~forsgn pow
eTs aecredi,od 10 this government In u all diplomatic instructions
sent from tho department, and communications 10 commissioners IN
der treaties q boundaries, &c, aroPrepared, copied and recorded and
being hrst entered in an analytic table or index.
Consular Byaaeh-Ths branch has charge Of the correspondence,
ofthe United States. In It instructions 10 those oneers, and answers
20 their dispatches and TO letters from other persons asking for ooGsa-
lar agency, or relating to consular affairs, are prepared and recorded.
The Dtbuystne Aoza-He has charge Of all correspondence and
other matters connected with accounts relating to any fund with the
disbursement Of which The department Ia charged
The Transatn.-Ihs duties are 10 furnish such translaaons as the
department may require Re also records the commissions OF eonsus
and vice consult, when not in English, upon which eHeqaAturs are
CLERK Of Appointments and Conmisiors-Ho makes out and records
commissions, letters Of appointment, and nominations 20 the Senate
makes out and records eXequaturs, and records, when In English, the
commissions on which they are issued. Has charge Of the library.
Clgk IF ae Rolls and Ayehtso-He takes charge Of the rolls, or en-
partmontf from the Presidents prepares the authenticated copies thereof
and tha. Of treaties vi IL u tbe ne VS. apc and 4 in N boSS t1rH attends aId y %
their distribution throughout the United states, and that of All docu-
department; writing and answering all letters connected Herewith.
Has charge Of all Indian treaties, and business relating thereto.
Clerk Of 4uehenaoAhon and CopyugM-Ie has charge OF the
seals Of the United states and Of the department. and prepares and
attaches certificates to papers presented for Authorization; receives
aud accounts for the foes. Has charge Of publications transmitted to
the department under the laws relating TO copyrights; records and In.
deEes thor titles records all letters from the department, other than
the diplomatic and consular.
CLERK Of Pan1ons and Pasrots-He prepares aud records pardons
and remisslons; and registers and hes the petitions and papers on
which they are founded. Makes out and records passports; keeps E
daily register Of all letters, other than diplomatic ond consular, re-
oeived, and of the disposition made of thtni prepares letters relating
TO this business.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.
Hon. jeremiah S. Black, Attorney General Of the United States; A. B.
Mecalmont esq chief clerk Tho ordinary BUSINESS q this Office may
L. Official opinions on the current business of the government, as
called for by the President, by any head Of department. or by the So
2 Examination of the titles Of all land purchased, as the sites Of
srsenals, eustomhouses, lighthouses, and all other public works Of
9 ! Applications for pardons in all csses of conviction In the courts
4. Applications for appointment in all the judicial and legal business
S The conduct and argument of all suits in the Supreme Court OF
the United States in which the government IS concerned.
ments when referred by the head thereof to the Attorney General
To these ordinary heads Of the business Of the office are edded at
The present time the following, viz:
First. The direction Of all appeals on land claims In California.
Second. The codiaeation and revision of the laws Of the District o.
isitAioR pErlR1bhSt.
Secretary Of the Department Of the sntetibF, Hon. Jacob rhomp-
Hon, of the State Of Mississippi ~ tNeFitai force consists Of one chief
clerk, CMoses Kelly, egfs Two dsbursing clerks, and ten other regu
lar clerks; and 10 its supervision and management are committed the
hsiowing branches Of the public ssryioes
missioner Of the General Land oHce. The Land bureau is charged
issuing Of titles therefor, whether nd derived III q from ON eo anar SuhonIp t0r z grants ats
made by former governments by sales, donations, Of grants for schools,
Of Virginia military bounty land claims, and the issuing Of scrip Ii
sa thereof The Land Once, also, audts its own accounts The
opal officers are a recorder, chief clerk, principal clerk Of SURVEYS
besides a draughtsman, assistant draufhtsmani Ind some 100 clerks
"a, tadsoha--ihO present head Of this bureau is George C.
Whiting, Of Virginia. The commissioner Is charged with the exami
nation and adjudication Of an claims arising under the various and
sr ase mih lsms p "a ssaa p ye pURs1'S IS F she re2ola SGSm,y land and or srb Sensaoni
wars in which The United States have been engaged. He has one
Cd. Indianr- COMMISSIONS OF Indian Affairs, Charles f. Mix, of
GeOTQCt0Wn,D {. He is provided NTH n chief clerk and about h1eeu
4th. Pahnt o8oe.-To this bureau is committed the execution and
performance Of all "acts and things touching and respecting the grant.
, ns and issuing Of ! patents for new and useful dlseoyerios, Inventions,
The collection and distribution Of seeds, plants, and cuttings, 1t has a
the absence of the commissioDer-twelvo principal, and twelve as
sistant examiners of patents, some dozen subordinate permanent
Joseph Holt Is the Commissioner, and Samuel I. shugert, esq, Chief
Besides these four principal branches of this new executive depart.
mont, the organic act Of 1s49 transferred to it from the Treasury De-
pnrtmeut the supervision of the accounts of tho United States marshals
and attorneys, and the clerks Of the United States courts, the manage.
ment of the lead and other mines Of the United States, aud the affairs
of the penhcnuary of the United States in the District OF Columbia; and
from tho State Department the duty of taking and returning the cen
he COMMISSIONER of Public Buildings Tho hospital for The Insane Of
the army and navy and of The District Of Columbia e also undor tho
Gently passed the Secretary Of tho Interior ,s charged with the con.
The department requiie s an additional building for its acconmoda
ton, and the erection Of one has been repeatedly recommended during
provided with rooms in What is known as 'twindera BINDING Whno
are all crowded into the Patent Office. building, the whole of which
WIN be required at an early day for the use Of the Patent ONCE, for
WHICH IL was originally INTENDED. 2.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. sgras
The Treasury Department consists of the ofhcos Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury, two coInproners, commissioner Of Tho customs, six au-
ditors, treasurer, register, solicitor, light house board, and coast sur.
yey.
The following is a brief indication OF the duties OF these several on
eeS, and of the force employed therein, respectively
SegddryS Qfcs.-Iion, Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury,
Hon Philip Clayton, Assistant Secretary; one engineer IN CHARGE one
architect, and throe draughtsmen temporarily employed, and twenty
three clerks. The Secretary Of the Treasury is charged with the gen
eral supervision Of the fiscal transactions Of the government, aud OF tho
execution Of the laws concerning the commerce and navigation OF the
IInted States M suuerintend the urypy If Tho cOast M ult hnmuol
establishment, the marine hospitals OF the United States, and tho con
poses. t.".ma D.. Ha
afcon clerks. Ho pTescribes tho mode OF keeping and rendering ac-
counts for the civil and diplomatic service, as well IA the public lands,
and revisos and certthes the balances arising thereon.
seventeen clerks. He prescribes the mode Of keeping and render
ing the accounts OF the army, navy, and Indian departments of the
public service, and revses and oerufes the balances arising thereon.
Office Of Commi@tonr Of the Caaoms-Samuel IDgham, CSC.
Commissioner, and eleven clerks. He prescnbes the mode OF keeping
and rendering the accounts Of the customs revenue and dsburse-
mGnts, and for the building and repairing custom-houses, &c, and re-
vises and oerdhes the balances arising thereon.
First AUDITORS 0Gce-Thomas L. Smith, esq, First Auditor, and
nineteen clerks. He receives and adjusts the accounts Of tho customs
revenue and disbursements, appropriations and expenditures on nc
count of the civil list aud under private acts Of Congress, and reports
the balances TO the Commissioner Of the Customs aud the First Comp
troleT, respectively for their decision thereon,
Second Audlor1s O6ce--Thomas J. d. Fuller, Second Auditor, and
twenty one clerks. He receives and adjusts all accounts relating 10
the pay, clothing, and recruiting OF the army, as well as armories,
Rrsenals, and ordnance, and all accounts relating TO the Indian depart
rnnpt M rppnrt II lar tn Ia con GppnptrDllar far ba InnI