DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

ORGANIZATION.- This Department, established July 27, 1789, was originally styled the Department of Foreign Affairs, the principal officer being called the Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, but its name was changed by an act of Congress. Sept. 15, 1789, to the Department of State.

The principal officer by that act was called The Secretary of State.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF STATE. -The Secretary of State conducts all correspondence and issues instructions to the public ministers and consuls from the United States, negotiates with public ministers from foreign states or princes, and has charge, under the direction of the President, of all matters pertaining to foreign affairs.

He takes charge of the seal of the United States, and of the seal of the Department of State. It is his duty to affix the seal of the United States to all civil commissions except for revenue officers), for officers of the United States appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the President alone.

The originals of all bills, orders, and resolu tions of the Senate and House of Representa. tives are received and preserved by this Department. It is the duty of the Secretary to promulgate and publish the laws, amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and to make known commercial information communicated by diplomatic and consular officers.

It is the duty of the Secretary of State to

procure from time to time such of the statutes of the several States as may not be in his office. He must, within ten days after the commencement of each regular session of Congress, lay before that body a statement containing an abstract of all returns made to him pursuant to law by collectors of the different ports of the seamen registered by them, together with an account of such impressments and detentions as may appear by the protest of the masters of vessels to have taken place.

He must annually lay before Congress the following reports:

I.--A statement, in a compendious form, of all such changes and modifications in the commercial systems of other nations, whether by treaties, duties on imports and exports, or other regulations, as shall have been communicated to the Department, including information contained in official publications of other Governments, which he may deem of sufficient importance.

II. A synopsis of so much of the information which may have been communicated to him by diplomatic and consular officers, during the preceding year, as he may deem valuable for public information.

The Chief Clerk

THE CHIEF CLERK. has general supervision of the clerks, and of the business of the Department.

THE FOUR BUREAUS OF THE DEPARTMENT are the following, with the business pertaining to each: