Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-26
ARCHIVES OF THE NATION.
Hissarte Desunsass ssersA Away aDr Kssps
In 0ovsraussns vaultsA

Haseorte DeeaRsass ssersA Away asr Kssps
In 0ovsrnnssss vaults.
r B SAID THAT AN EFFORT WILL BE
= made before long 10 secure the publicatoa
Of at least part Of the historical archives OF the
government, which are ct present stored away
N The Department Of State. Many attempts
have been made 10 obtain an appropriation for
mis- purpose. but Congress hes never re-
sponded The national legislature 10 too
keeniy Interested In the present keeping an
eye always upon the future. 10 feel the slightest
enthusiasm concerning the past, and thus
tnese enormously valuable records are per-
missed 70 molder away, food only for the
book worm and the patient historical searcher.
Here, In fact 10 the great repository Of Ameri-
can history from which Bancroft, Henry
Adams. Hildreth and others drew most Of their
information.
A Few years ago the Department Of State pur-
chased for eco, 900 the papers Of Monroe. These
In themselves are . vast store house Of histori-
cal knowledge. Il must be remembered that
Monroe was not only President for eight years
but before that was Secretary Of { .te and
minister TO France, having served all through
th; evolutionary war. The collection referred
TO included his public and private correspond
enee during the entire period covered by those
events. Previously the department had ac-
CURED the correspondence Of James Madison,
together with other papers Of his, including
the secret journal Of the constitutional conven-
ton. This journal is in Madison own cramped
penmanship. and remains probably the most
extraordinary record Of the foundation Of the
most extraordinary government that the world
has ever seen. Before the acquisition OF
the Madison papers the Department
Of State had secured the writings
OF Gen. Washington-many volumes, containing
copies Of ali his letters, &c. These volumes
Jared Sparks had access to and printed in his
works OF Washington Unfortunately sparks
loved Washington better than the truth and he
suppressed or altered many passages. One of
the curiosities which the stranger here is
shown are these same volumes of washingtons,
either in his own hand or in the beautiful
writing Of his secretary. Washington never
had a secretary who did not write an exquisite
hand, while he himself wrote better than any
statesman of the present day. Besides these
regularly classified collections there are liter
ally tons Of letters containing historical infor-
nation of almost incalculable value.
The Department Of State is not at this day
purely u foreign Office. In old times IL was
much less SO than now. having charge Of all
matters relating to the interior, except Indian
affairs. Even at present II is no exaggeration
70 say that the President has intercourse with
the State Department more than with all the
others put together. In the early days his gov
ornamental functions were exercised almost
wholly through the Department Of State the
clerks OF which he actually appointed. IL il be
remembered that each Secretary of State since
the nation began has felt il his duty to leave a
record OF every important public transact ton
In which he has been concerned il will be per-
ceived how much that is priceless historically
must have been preserved in this shape alone.
There are masses of such historical material
in every one of the old departments, but nine
tenths OF 1t all is stored away IN charge Of the
Secretary OF State. Most of il is open for pub