Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-17
ARCHIVES OF THE NATION
Historic Documents Stored Away 70,

Historic Documents Stored Away for
Keeps in Government Vaults
IL Is said that an effort will be made
before long to secure the publication
OF at least a part of the historical
archives OF the government. which are
at present stored away in the depart
ment OF state, says the Washington
Star. Many attempts have been made
TO OBTAIN an appropriation for this
purpose, but congress has never re-
sponded The national legislature is
too keenly interested in the present
keeping an eye always upon the future,
to feel the slightest enthusiasm COM
Corning the past and thus these enor-
mously valuable records are permitted
to molder away, food only for book
worm and the patient historical
searcher. Here in fact is the great
repository of American history from
which Bancroft Henry Adams Hill
dreth, and others drew most of their
information.
A few years ago the department of
state purchased for $50 900 the papers
Of Monroe. These in themselves are
a vast storehouse of historical knowl-
edge 1t must be remembered that
Monroe was not only president for
eight years. but before that was sec
rotary of state and minister to France,
having served all through the revolu-
tionary war The collection referred
to includes his public and private cor
respondence during the entire period
covered by those events. Previously
the department had acquired the cor
respOndence of James Madison to-
gether with other papers of his, in
Guiding the secret journal OF the con-
stltutlonal convention. This journal
is In Madison's own cramped penman-
ship and remains probably the most
extraordinary record of the founda-
ton of the most extraordinary gov
eminent that the world has ever seen.
Before the acquisition of the Madison
papers the department of state had
secured the writings of Gen. Wash
1ngton-many volumes, containing
copies OF all his letters, ETC. These
volumes Jared Sparks had access to
and printed il his works of Washing
ton. Unfortunately Sparks loved
Washington better than the truth and
he suppressed or altered many pas
sages. One or the curioslties which
the stranger here is shown are these
same volumes of Washington's, either
in his own hand or in the beautiful
writing of his secretary. Washington
never had secretary who did not
write an exquisite hand, while he
himself wrote better than any states
man of the present day. Besides
these regularly classified collections
there are literally tons of letters con-
tanning historical information of al
most incalculable value.
The department of state is not at
this day purely foreign Office In
old times it was much less so than
now, having charge of all matters re-
lating to the interior, except Indian
affairs. Even at present it is no ex-
aggeration to say that the president
has intercourse with the state depart
ment more than with all the others
put together. In the early days his
governmental functions were exercised
almost wholly through the department
OF state the clerks of which he actu-
ally appointed. If it be rendered
that each secretary of state since the
nation began has felt it his duty TO
leave q record of every important pub
lie transaction in which he has been
concerned it will be perceived how
much that is priceless historically
must have been preserved in this
shape al<pe
There are masses of such historical
material In every one Of the old de-
partments but nine-tenths of it all is
stored away in charge of the secretary
Of state. Most Of it is open for public
inspection, q general rule governing
in all civilized countries to tho effect
that SUCH matters shall never be kept
secret longer than sixty years. During
the session OF congress before the last
Dr. Wharton was authorized to print
the diplomatic correspondence of the
revolution. The work was interrupted
by his death, but it will be completed
by the department. At present any
responsible person is permitted to see
these documents or to take copies from
them. All Of them ought to be printed,
and presumably will be in time. but it
will be'a difficult thing to extort the
money necessary for the purpose from
congress.