SECRETARIES OF STATE. In the "Notes upon the foreign treaties of the United States pared by Hon. J. C. Bancroft Davis, and republished in the y of Treaties and Conventions concluded between the United and other Powers, Senate Executive Document No. 47, FortyCongress, second session, is given, in concise form, the history conduct of the foreign affairs of the United States up to the t the establishment of the Department of State. From these not following statement has been gathered: On the 29th of November, 1775, Congress appointed a Comm of Secret Correspondence," whose duty it would be to correspon the friends of the colonies in other parts of the world. From th of the appointment of this committee until the autumn of 17 management of the foreign affairs of the country was in the ha committees of Congress. Robert R. Livingston, of New York then appointed their Secretary of Foreign Affairs," and too oath of office on the 20th of October, 1781. Livingston resign June, 1783, and Elias Boudinot, the President of Congress, officially as Secretary in the interim. General Thomas Mifflin was chosen President of Congress o 3d of November, 1783, at the beginning of a new Congress, a such succeeded to Boudinot as ad interim Secretary. John Ja elected Secretary May 24, 1784, but did not qualify until Dece 21, 1784, and he remained the Secretary of Foreign Affairs unt adoption of the Federal Constitution. On September 15, 178 President approved "An act to provide for the safe-keeping o acts, records, and seal of the United States, and for other purp in the first section of which it was provided that the Exec Department denominated the Department of Foreign Affairs hereafter be denominated the Department of State, and the prin officer therein shall be called the Secretary of State." Jefferson appointed Secretary of State September 26, 1789, but did not upon the duties of his office until March 21, 1790. Jay, notwiths ing he had been selected to be Chief Justice, continued to fil office of Secretary until Jefferson entered upon its duties, alth never commissioned as such under the new government." a"Compilation of treaties in force 1899.” 6 The following list contains the names of the different Secretaries, the Presidents by whom appointed, and the dates of their respective commissions: Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania (Attorney-Gen- James Monroe.. eral), ad interim. John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts.. Henry Clay, of Kentucky. March 10, 1817. ..do March 5, 1817. John Quincy Adams March 7, 1825. Spain... France Great Britain. Respecting Fisheries, Boundary, and December 22, 23, 1816 February 11, 1822. October 20, 1818..... April 28, 1818. Friendship, Cession of the Floridas, February 22, 1819 ... February 22, 1821. lics. 1827. Great Britain. Hanseatic Repub- Friendship, Commerce, and Naviga- December 20, 1827. June 2, 1828. lics. Mexico Prussia tion. Limits..... Commerce and Navigation.... January 12, 1828. Hanseatic Repub- Additional Article to Convention of June 4, 1828.. Austria-Hungary.. Commerce and Navigation....... April 5, 1832. March 18, 1829. December 12, 1828.. August 27, 1829 March 28, 1830. May 7, 1830 April 5, 1831 April 5, 1832. Mexico. Amity, Commerce, and Navigation .. April 5, 1831 April 5, 1832. |