Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, appointed July 20th, 1850, by President Fillmore. Resigned.

Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, appointed December 9th, 1852, by President Fillmore.

William L. Marcy, of New-York, appointed March 7th, 1853, by President Pierce. Resigned.

Lewis Cass, of Michigan, appointed March 6th, 1857, by President Buchanan. Resigned.

Jeremiah S. Black, of Pennsylvania, appointed December 17th, 1860, by President Buchanan. Resigned. William H. Seward, of New-York, appointed 5th of March, 1861, by President Lincoln. Resigned.

Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois, appointed March 5th, 1869, by President Grant. Resigned.

Hamilton Fish, of New-York, appointed March 1869, by President Grant.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE.

This office was created in 1853. He is required to perform "such duties in the office of Secretary of State, belonging to that department, as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State, or as may be required by law." He is appointed by the President. His salary is thirty-five hundred dollars.

SECOND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE.

This office was created in 1866, and the assistant is appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. The act specifies no particular duties which he is to perform.

His salary is thirty-five hundred dollars.

CHAPTER XXXI.

OFFICERS CONNECTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

THE President, with the consent of the Senate, appoints all ambassadors, envoys extraordinary, ministers, chargé d'affairs, commissioners, consulsgeneral, and consuls abroad. A foreign minister of some grade is appointed to reside at the capital of most civilized nations, and consuls at each port where we have any considerable commerce, or which may be visited by a large number of our ships and vessels. Each of these offices will be separately considered hereafter in the proper place.

AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES ABROAD.

From the earliest ages, nations have sent representatives to other countries to watch over their interests, and perform such duties as might be required. The extent of power conferred rests with the government sending them. When well selected, these form a most useful body of officials, and render to the country, and especially to its citizens engaged in commerce and navigation, or who travel abroad, great service. It is from the representatives

we send abroad that foreign nations mainly form their opinions concerning our government and the character of our people.

Congress has made provision by law for the number, description, and compensation of our representatives of all grades abroad. The powers and duties of consuls are mainly provided by statute. Both ministers and consuls are subject to general and special instructions from the President, usually conveyed through the Secretary of State. The duties of ministers abroad, their mode of intercourse, their rank and privileges are, to a great extent, regulated by the usages and laws of nations. So much of whatever pertains to these different officers will be given as is deemed necessary to enable the reader to understand the general object of their creation and appointment, and the extent of their usefulness to the government and citizens.

When commissioned, they are furnished with a sealed letter of credence and a copy, a special passport for themselves and suite, a list of all our diplomatic and consular agents, and letters of credit upon our government bankers in London for the payment of their salaries when due. The copy of this letter of credence is left in the foreign office, and the original delivered to the sovereign when an audience is had with the proper officer of the foreign government.

They are also furnished with minute printed instructions in relation to their duties and accounts.

Other special instructions are from time to time sent, as occasion may require.

All fees are regulated by acts of Congress, and when collected at any legation, are accounted for and paid into the treasury.

No representative abroad is authorized to be absent from his post more than ten days at any one time without permission previously obtained of the President. Nor is he authorized to hold correspondence in regard to the foreign affairs of the government with newspapers or periodicals. All such correspondence must be with the proper officer of the United States.

They are forbidden to recommend persons for office under the government to which they are accredited. They are also prohibited from asking, or accepting, for themselves or any other person, any present, pecuniary emolument, or pecuniary favor, office, or title of any kind from any such gov

ernment.

They are provided by our government with stationery, blanks, record and other books, seals, presses, flags, and signs, as the President may deem necessary for the proper discharge of their respective duties.

No person can act as the representative of a government abroad until he is received and accredited as such by that to which he is commissioned and

sent.

All writs and processes issued against such

officials, recognized by our government, are by

statute null and void.

Our representatives abroad receive all complaints that our citizens prefer against the government where they are accredited, and give them the proper attention, and, when necessary, transmit them to the State Department. They give them advice and assistance in their matters connected with the local government.

They visé, or authenticate, the passports issued to American citizens, to insure their better recognition within the government to which they are accredited.

They are supplied with blank passports, signed by the Secretary of State, which they fill up, seal, and authenticate by their signature, and issue in proper cases to our citizens desiring them.

They advise and direct all consuls and consular agents, within the country to which they are accredited, in the performance of their official duties.

In practice, our representatives abroad rank, in our estimation, according to the amount of their salaries, each grade having its particular rate. The salaries provided by law to different countries are as follows: Great Britain and France, each seventeen thousand five hundred dollars. Russia, Spain, Austria, Prussia, Brazil, Mexico, and China, each twelve thousand dollars. All other countries, each ten thousand dollars. Chargés d'affaires, fifty per cent of the sum allowed the principal officer at the place. Secretaries of legations, fifteen per cent