The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-01
THE NATIONS ARCHIVES.
Historic Documents Stored Away
in tho Government Vaults.
Papers OF George Washington and Ills
Successors I'm Onlco Among the
Literary Curiositics
Shown.

1t is said that an effort will be made
before long to secure the publication of at
least q part of the historical achivcs of the
government, which are at present stored
away in the department of state, says
the Washington Star. Many attempts
have been made to obtain an nppropria-
ton for this purpose, but congress has
never responded. The national legisla,
ture is too lScenly interested in the
present, keeping an eye always upon
the future, to feel the slightest enthusi-
asm concerning the past, and thus
these enormously valuable records are
permitted to molder away, food only
for the bookworm and the patient his
torical searchcr. Here, in fact, is the
great repository of American history
from which Bancroft, Henry Adams.
Ilildreth and others drew most of their
information.
few years ago the department OF
state purchased for twenty thousand
dollars the papers of Monroe. These in
themselves are n vast storehouse Of
historical knowledge. 1t must be re.
mcmbered that Monroe was not only
president for eight years, but before
ter to France, having served all through
the revolutionary war. The collection
referred to includes his public and pri-
vate correspondence during the entire
period covered by those events. Pre-
viously the department had acquired
the correspondence of James Madison,
together with other papers of his, in.
Guiding the secret journal of the consti-
tutional convention. This journal is in
Madison's own cramped repmanship,
and remains probably the most extraor.
binary record of the foundation of the
most extraordinary government that
the world has ever seen. Before the ac-
QUESTION of the Madison papers the de-
partment of state had secured the writ
ings of Gen. Washington, many vol.
umes, containing copies of all his let
tiers, etc. 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 pas
sages. One of the curiosities 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 eX-
quisite hand. while he himself wrote bet
ter than any statesman of the present
day. Besides these regularly classified
collections there are literally tons of
letters containing historical informa-
ton OF almost incalculable value.
The department of state is not at
this day purely q foreign Office. In old
times it was much less so than now,
having charge of all matters relating to
the interior, except Indian affairs. Even
at present it is no eXaggeration to say
that the president has intercourse with
the state department moro 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 actually appointed. If it be
remembered that each secretary OF
state since the nation began has felt it
his duty to leave record of every i'm
portant public transaction in which he
has been concerned it will DC perceived
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 depart
ments, but nine-tenths of it all is stored
away in charge of the secretary of
state. Most of it is open for public in
spection, general rule governing in
all civilized countries to the 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 revo,
luton. The work was interrupted by
his death, but it will be completed by
the department. At present any re-
sponsible 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 difficult thing to extort the
money necessary for the purpose from
congress.