State;" and by these names they have ever since been known. 2. The Secretary of State in our government, is the highest officer after the President. He is what in other governments is called the Prime Minister. In monarchical governments all the high officers of State are called Ministers; but in ours they are known by the modest name of Secretaries. By a law passed in 1853, the office of Assistant Secretary of State was created. The incumbent acts under the direction of the Secretary. Previous to this act, the principal inferior officer in the State Department was the Chief Clerk, who is appointed by the Secretary. 3. The great seal of the United States is in the custody of the Secretary of State, and it is his duty to affix it to all civil commissions to officers of the United States who are appointed by the President and Senate, or by the President alone. 4. Under the direction and instruction of the President, the law makes it his duty to hold correspondence and give instructions to our Foreign Ministers and Consuls, and also to hold correspondence with public Ministers from foreign governments, and to do all other things relating to foreign matters which the President shall direct him to perforn. 5. It is also made his duty to keep in his office the original copies of all acts, resolutions and orders of Congress. He must also deliver to each Senator and Representative in Congress, and to the, Governor of each State, a printed copy of the same; and during the session of each Congress he must publish the acts and resolutions passed by it in one newspaper in the District of Columbia, and in not more than two in each State and Territory of the United States. He must also publish in like manner all amendments of the Constitution, and all public treaties made and ratified between the United States and any foreign State, Prince or Power, or with any of the Indian tribes. 6. And at the close of each session of Congress he must cause to be published 11,000 copies in book form of all the laws, &c., as before stated; and to distribute the same as directed by law to the President and Vice President, and to every ex-President; to all the members of the Senate and House of Representatives; to all the heads of the various departments and bureaus; to all the Judges of the United States Courts, their Clerks and Marshals; to all our Foreign Ministers, Consuls and Public Agents; in short, to all the important officers of the government at home and abroad; in order that all who are in government employ may know what the laws are, and what changes have been made in acts formerly existing. The remaining copies are distributed to the States and Territories according to the number of Representatives in Congress from each of them. 7. It is also made the duty of the Secretary of State to give passports to our own citizens who wish to travel in foreign countries; to cause passports to be issued by such Diplomatic or Consular officers of the United States as the President shall direct; to give such information to our people through the newspapers as he may from time to time receive from our Diplomatic and Consular agents abroad, as he may deem important to the nation, respecting our commercial interests in foreign countries, and to prepare a form of passport for American ships and vessels of the United States. 8. In the execution of extradition treaties between us and foreign governments, it is lawful for the Secretary of State, under his hand and seal of office, to issue an order for the rendition of any person who has been found guilty of crime in a foreign country, to any properly authorized person; that such criminal may be taken out of the United States to the country where the crime was committed. 9. We have thus sketched the principal duties of this high officer of State, and can readily see that they are arduous. Those which relate to foreign affairs are exceedingly responsible; for peace or war may often depend on the skill and wisdom with which he manages our affairs with foreign governments. In addition to the foregoing duties, he is a member of the Cabinet, and hence is one of the President's advisers and counselors; and in relation to foreign matters, he has more influence than any other member of that body. He is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He is appointed for four years; that is, during a Presidential term; but may be removed by the President at any time. This, however, is rarely done. He receives a salary of $8,000 per annum. 10. As a matter of historical reference, we append the names of all the statesmen who have filled this high office, commencing with the first, and placing them in the order of the dates of their appointments, together with the States from which they came: SECRETARIES OF STATE. Thomas Jefferson, Va., Sept. 26, 1789. Martin Van Buren, N. Y., March 6, 1829. CHAPTER VII. Secretary of the Treasury. 1. Ir any department of the government should ever be abolished, it certainly will not be this; for without it, or some institution very similar in its plan, the government itself would crumble into its original elements,-individual persons. Without money, no government could be sustained. The Treasury is the place into which the money flows, and from which it flows. 2. The United States Treasury is the receptacle of all the funds, (or an account of them,) collected from whatever source, for carrying on the various operations of the government. It was established by a law of Congress in 1789; and with such modifications of the law as experience has proved to be necessary, it remains to this day. We embrace in our account of the Treasury Department, its head, the Secretary of the Treasury, and his duties; for it would be difficult to describe one without the other. This office was created at the same time with the department itself. It is one of great responsibility, and the incumbent should be thoroughly skilled in the science and management of finances; for no man in the United States has such vast sums to provide for, receive, and disburse, as the Secretary of the Treasury. During the late civil war they amounted to hundreds of millions a year. 3. He is appointed like all other heads of depart |