Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-02-12

settlement of all sorts of questions and
controversies. The correspondence with
the foreign ministers and cOnSuls Of the
United States is carried ON by this bureau,
and the volume of this branch of the bust
ness of the government is enormous.
In one of the apartments of this bureau
are many precious archives of the nation.
The original draft of the constitution of
the United States is here preserved, as is
also the first copy of the Declaration of In
dependence. Washington's commission as
commander in chief of the American army
is among the Oldest and most preciousdocu-
ments and there are other official papers
pertaining to the Revolution and the early
days of the government. The official letters
and papers of Washington. Jefferson, Madi-
son and Monroe and the other presidents
are carefully preserved in bound volumes.
In the collections of this bureau are au
tograph letters from kings, queens, princes
and potentates of earth who have f1ourished
within the past century. The original
copies of all laws enacted by congress and
of all treaties concluded with foreign pow
ers are kept among the archives. The old
est treaty is that concluded with France in
ITS, when the new government of the
United States was still at war with the
mother country, Great Britain. The next
one was the treaty of peace dated Sept. 8,
1888. One treaty with Turkey, that coun-
try of oriental splendor and extravaganza,
is embellished with gorgeous, golden let
ters.
Perhaps the most unique in the collection
is a treaty which WAS made some years ago
with Japan. 1t is kept in a costly %lacquered
case covered with the finest silk. Odd
1oNIf,~ opornon h ~ o1yyaurrr
many pages of fine paper, are boldly por-
trayed. TO read it one begins at the bot
tom-that is if he understands the Ian
guage-and the royal signature is at the
top. Two Japanese officials of high rank
brought this quaint document to Washing
ton. They had been charged with its de-
livery, Il failure meaning death to both.
They t%riumphantly marched into the de-
partment of state one day bearing aloft on
a couple of bamboo poles the precious docu-
ment. They delivered it safely, and with
great relief they returned home, doubtless
to be loaded with honors.
In one of the apartments is the great seal
of the United States. 1t is affixed to all
proclamations of the president, to all war
rants of ~extradition or pardon n to all
commissions issued to ministers and con-
suls to foreign countries. The diplomatic
and consular service, which is under the
direction of the department of state, has
its representatives stationed in the large
cities and important towns throughout the
world. There are %thirty-nine legations
with ministers, secretaries and attaches,
and there are nearly a thousand c%onsulates.
They are scattered all around the world,
and an American citizen known as the
consul is in charge of each one. An Amer
lean flag floats above each consulate, and
the consul is the agent of the United States
in the port or district where he may be sta
toned in all matters affecting commerce,
trade relations, international disputes or
questions and the rights Of American citi-
zens who may be sojourning there.
ROBERT GRAVES.