The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
against Washington, signed them FOR

against Washington, signed them for
the committee"
Again special committee was put
In charge when the first diplomatic rep
resentaiive, Minister Plenipotentiary
Gerard, was accredited to the United
States by the King Of France. All his
dealings were with the Congress direct,
and It was to its President that he sent
In advance copy Of his speech. Con
gress adopted on July 90. l77s, an elab-
crate ceremonial for his reception. Two
members were to wait On him on the
day Of his audience with a coach be
longing to the States" The one frst
named was to sit with the Minister,
giving the latter the right hand, and
the other member on the front seat.
when the Minister Plenlpotentlary. or
envoy. Is arrived al the door of the Con-
Rress Hall he shall be introduced to his
chair by the two members, who shall
stand at his left hand. Thereupon the
first member named shall present and
announce him to the President and the
House, whereupon nc shall bow to the
President and Congress and they to
him. He and the President shall again
bow unto each other and be seated
after which the House shall sit down.
one can picture all this statelness In
the prim little chamber of the Congre 50
In independence Hail. After the en-
change of addresses there was more
bowling, and the Minister made his exit.
All the members called on MIN and he
on them. When there was business to
transact he had TO ask for an audience
and all the ceremonial was repeated
The business was discussed between the
Congress and the Minister 10 and fro
II is impossible to think of any more
awkward or intellectual method Rut
the Congress was filled with jealousy and
suspicion Of ofhcialism. II even took
charge through committee of Ave of
negotiating the treaty of peace with
England, or at least of instructinG our
plenipotentiary. Gouverneur Norris
made the draft Of a treaty and Congress
picked It To- pieces sentence by sentence.
u was the spirit of the day Even in
January. l7S1 when the question of es-
tah,ishing a Department Of Foreign At
fairs was taken UP seriously 1t was
months before Congress could bring IT.
self to decisive action. It, fear Of dele
eating power was excessive.
At last. on August 10, 1881, Robert
Livingston was elected Secretary for
m!,tee Of three members of Congress.
10 whose instructions and scrutiny he
wa always subject. His salary was
fixed AZ $1,000 "A year and an under Sec
re'arv, Lewis z. Morris, at $500 year.
ard clerk. Peter :. du Ponceau. at
$500, were named 20 assist him. This
was the real foundation Of tho present
great Department. Livingston, though
allowed 10 attend sessions Of Congress,
had difficulty IN gaining access TO cor
rcspondenCe and other public papers.
He had no power to act on matters too
small for tho attention Of Congress. He
was hampered in every conceivable way.
He wrote what is In effect letter OF
remonstrnnce IN January, 11S2, ana
some Improvement was made. including
tho assignment OF a second clerk. hut
in effect tho system was never satisfac-
tory, and Livingston resigned In De-
cemheE He consented 10 remain little
LONGER as a matter Of public spirit, hut
finally retired in May 1888.
u is interesting 10 glance AZ the pay
roll Il tho foreign service NJ the Cnited
Statos as I, was presented to Congress
| AZ that time: