New-York tribune., 1902-02-09
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS
A HISTORY OF THE STATE DEPART
MENT PREPARING FOR PRINCE
HENRY-CAPTAIN PORTER AND
HIS ANCESTRY
HIS ANCESTRY.


ment 1t is compiled by W. H. Michael. chief
clerk OF the Department of State. and is a clear
ana concise account of its origin, dating back to
colonial days, when the first agents were ap-
| pointed TO appeal to King George " to recall
the unjust measures which depressing his
subjects in America. A review of the first chap
ter cannot fail to be of interest since it tells
! succincty from what modest beginnings the
! ilrst and most important department of the gov
ernment grew.
| The agents appointed to address the King of
! England failed, but as an important means OF
prosecuting the rebellion a committee of secret
correspondence was appointed November
| " 100 composed of Benjamin Franklin, Benja-
min Harrison, John Dickinson Thomas Johnson
and John Jay, which was actually a committee
OF foreign affairs, and whose negotiations ten
years later resulted in alliance with France.
This committee was succeeded by the Commit
tee of Foreign Affairs created by act of Con-
gress in 1777, the first secretary of which was
Thomas Paine, who was dismissed after a short
service for giving out official secrets. The cele-
brated Lowell, who took sides with General Gates
In the cabal against Washington, one of it's
members. and had such illustrious colleagues as
Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Haywood and Rob
ert Morris
This committee had little real power and
practically ceased to exist when the bill to
establish a Department of Foreign Affairs was
introduced in Congress. The department was
organized on August 10, 1871. with Robert K.
Livingston as secretary. This department was
also short lived. Congress managing the affairs
or the country through committees appointed
occasion required, and leaving to the depart
ment the correspondence with foreign agents.
an onerous work in those days, since four and
sometimes seven copies of a letter were sent to
lessen the chances of loss by capture
John Jay succeeded Livingston after
Interim when Lewis R. Morris, an under sec
rafo
heads OF the department and remained as it's
chief until October, 11SS. when Congress
pired for want of a quorum.
The new government in a bill which passed
Congress on July q, 1883 established AN
ecutive department, to be denominated the De-
partment Of Foreign Affairs" and John Jay,
who had been in charge of the old department.
was continued without reappointment as chief
of the new. This department died almost at
birth and succeeded by "the Department
OF State" provided for in the act of September
10 OF the same year. Jay having been appointed
chief Justice. Thomas Jefferson was named Sec
retary Of State, with salary of $500 much
haEdsomer sum at that time than the pittance
Of $4,000 allowed the Cabinet officers of to-day.
Mr.. Michael includes in his book sketches and
photographs OF the present personnel of the de-
partment, as well sketches OF all the past
secretaries, thirty-siX in number, beginning with
Thomas Jefferson. The book is handsomely
printed upon fine paper, the Illustrations well
done and altogether 1t is a valuable addition TO
the literature concerning the government In
his preface Mr., Michael makes Acknowledgement
to that "patnstaking and reliable writer OF his
chief clerk of the State Department in 1893 the
editor has freely quoted.
The busiest set OF men at the capital at the
moment the delegates appointed by the
President to represent him in the reception and
entertainment of Prince Henry. They are three
ir number-Dr. David ]. HILL Assistant Secre-
tary Of State; General COrbin and Admiral
Evans. representing the army and navy. Gen
eral Bingham and Commander Cowles have been
appointed aids OF these delegates who are in
constant touch with the German Embassy G
Count Quadt the secretary. and Captain Won
Rebeur Paschwitz representing the German
Ambassador In the consultations that are held
The meetings are held daily at the Department
Of State, and nothing is being left undone to
perfect the details for Prince Henry's itinerary
The President has been most happy in select
Ing the delegates to represent him. As has
been widely stated, Admiral Evans's appoint
ment TO Prince Henry's staff was a personal
request of the Emperor, whose acquaintance
with Fighting Bob" dates back to the celebra-
tionS at kiel which marked the opening of the
canal connecting the North German with the
Baltic Sea. Assistant Secretary Hill is not only
a profound scholar. but man Of the world OF
genial manners and broad experience, and no
better type OF American officer could be found
thah Generai Oorbln whose administration of
the adjutant generals office crowns a distin-
guished career begun at eighteen. when he re-
sponded to the first call for volunteers. General
Bingham brings to his duties as aid the expert
ence of five years as Superintendent of Public
Buildings and Grounds, which includes the di-
rection Of all social and official affairs at the
White House, and Commander CowIes the
Presidents brOther-in-law, the equipment which
many voyages and a long residence as naval
attache at the American Embassay at the Court
of st. James give.
Captain David Porter of the marine CORPS
who took part in the expedition into the in
terror of Samar and with his command suffered
such terrible hardships. going without food for
several days, is well known in Washington
where he was born and brought up. He comes
from family that has long been distinguished
in the naval service of this country his great
grandfather being that David Porter whose
career began a mdshipman the frigate
Constitution and whose first baptism of fire was
received in her action with the French frigate
Insurgente February 8. 1889. This gallant
officer played a distinguished part in the war
with Tripoli, being finally captured and retained
prisoner until peace declared. In the
War Of 1872 he commanded the Essex. the
story Of whose cruises exceeds in interest any
naval romance that written. an ac-
count of which was subsequently published by
Commodore Porter.
The American navy has never held a braver
or more dashing officer, and one reads with re-
gret that after twenty-five years of service
he was court martlalled for exceeding his au-
thority in demanding an apology from the gov
ernment of Porto Rico on account of the i'm
prisOnment of some of his men, who landed on
the east coast of that island in search of goods
said to have been stored there by pirates. His
trial resulted in the sentence of suspension for
six months: but. resenting this indignity, he re-
signed from the navy and accepted the post of
commander in chief of the naval forces of