State was fixed at $3500, the chief clerk at $800, and the clerks at not to exceed $500 each. In 1800 the salary of the secretary was in- rounding thirteen stars, forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field."
(The reverse side is then given, but as it was never cut or used offi- cially, it is omitted here.)
"REMARKS AND EXPLANATIONS.
"The escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The pieces, paly, represent the several States all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief, which unites the whole and represents Congress. The Motto alludes to the Union. The pales in the arms are kept closely united by the chief and the chief depends on that Union and the strength resulting from it for its support, to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America and the pre- servation of their Union through Congress. The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America; White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and valour, and Blue, the colour of the Chief, signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The Olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace and war, which is exclu- sively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The Escutcheon is borne on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters, to denote that the United States ought to rely on their own virtue." (Secret Journals of Congress, vol. vii. 301.)
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creased to $5000, but the total pay roll only amounted to $12,950. In 1830 the clerks had increased to thir- teen and the pay roll to $23,650; in 1854 the total force was twenty-five and the pay roll $37,700. The present force of the department, including the secretary and assistants, numbers ninety persons, and the pay roll amounts to $130,000.
The present salary of the Secretary of State is $8000, which is entirely inadequate to meet the neces- sary expenses of the position. Other Cabinet officers may follow their own pleasure or convenience, in great measure, as to their style of living; but there are cer- tain requirements as to the entertainment of the diplo- matic corps, international commissions, and official for- eign visitors which the head of the State Department cannot omit without serious injury to his usefulness and the credit of his government. The social demands of the position are such that no public man, not possessed of a private fortune, can afford to accept and continue in the office for any great length of time. The places of honor and influence in a republic should always be open to men of merit and talent, whatever their finan- cial standing. It will be a sad day for the country when its high offices can be filled only by rich men.
Up to 1853 the only assistant which the secretary had, except the clerical force, was a chief clerk, who represented the department in the absence of the secre- tary. In that year an assistant secretary was authorized by Congress; in 1866 a second- assistant secretary was created; and in 1875 a third assistant secretary. The business of the department is dispatched by the assist-
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ant secretaries, under the instructions of the secretary, and with the cooperation of the various bureaus into which the clerical force is divided. The secretary, also, has the assistance of a law officer, nominally belonging to the Department of Justice, but permanently attached and denominated the solicitor, to whom are referred questions of law, the large volume of business arising from claims against foreign governments, and the cases of the surrender of criminals to foreign governments under extradition treaties*
A reference to the different bureaus will convey some idea of the character of the business of the depart- ment. The chief clerk is the executive officer of the department, has the supervision of the clerks, the dis- tribution among the assistant secretaries and bureaus of the correspondence, receives visitors seeking infor- mation, and attends to a great variety of business not specifically assigned.
The Diplomatic Bureau has charge of the conduct of the diplomatic correspondence, both with our missions abroad and with the representatives of foreign gov- ernments in Washington. It has, also, the preparation of the credentials of our diplomatic officials, of ceremo- nious letters to foreign sovereigns, the engrossing of treaties and other formal instruments.
The Consular Bureau is intrusted with the vast and expanding business of the United States consular ser- vice. It embraces about 800 officers scattered all over the world; its correspondence, both with consuls and the commercial interests of the United States, is very voluminous, and the variety of its business is great
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The Bureau of Indexes and Archives first receives all correspondence, where it is opened and classified into diplomatic, consular, and miscellaneous business; a careful index of each paper is made, after which the correspondence is sent to the chief clerk for proper dis- tribution and attention. After receiving the necessary attention, all correspondence is returned to the index room, bound and retained as part of the archives of the department.
The Bureau of Accounts has the supervision of money and appropriations to be disbursed under the direction of the Secretary of State, including the salaries and allowances of officers of the diplomatic and consular service, the expenses of international and other commis- sions, and the adjustment of their accounts. It also has charge of moneys received by the United States from foreign governments in the nature of indemnities and awards of commissions. It attends to the business of issuing passports.
The Bureau of Rolls and the Library embraces two distinct duties. The first has to do with the custody and promulgation of laws, treaties, proclamations, and executive orders. It is also the custodian of the re- cords of international commissions, of the original of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Con- federation, the Constitution of the United States, of various Revolutionary papers, private and public cor- respondence of the founders of the government, other historical manuscripts, and valuable presents from for- eign governments. The library of the department numbers more than 60,000 volumes, is especially rich
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in international law and diplomatic publications, includ- ing memoirs of diplomatic personages, biographies and maps. It, in connection with the historical manu- scripts, has proven a mine of information for writers on American history and diplomacy.
Other bureaus are those of Foreign Commerce, for the compilation and publication of reports from consuls and others; and of Appointments, having charge of the papers connected with applications and nominations to office.
The Department of State publishes annually one or more volumes, entitled " Foreign Relations of the United States." These contain selections from the correspondence of the department with the diplomatic representatives of the United States abroad and with the foreign representatives resident in Washington, and constitute a fairly consecutive history of our diplomatic affairs. It is not, however, complete, as many docu- ments are withheld because of their confidential char- acter. The department also issues quite a number of publications compiled from the reports of consuls, which are of special value to the business interests of the country.
This department, which has done so much for the nation's prestige, deserves more liberal consideration than it has heretofore received from Congress. More adequate salaries should be allowed the secretary and his assistants, and the clerical force should be in- creased. It is now located in a building with two other departments, and is thereby restricted in its ac- commodations and dwarfed in its importance. In many
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of the countries of Europe there are attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs elegantly furnished rooms, which are used for the sessions of international commissions, and also for official receptions, dinners, and other entertainments for foreign guests. The De- partment of State
