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 v 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 ti the establishment of the Department of State. From these note following statement has been gathered: On the 29th of November, 1775, Congress appointed a "Com of Secret Correspondence," whose duty it would be to correspond the friends of the colonies in other parts of the world. From the of the appointment of this committee until the autumn of 1781 management of the foreign affairs of the country was in the han committees of Congress. Robert R. Livingston, of New York then appointed "their Secretary of Foreign Affairs," and took oath of office on the 20th of October, 1781. Livingston resigne June, 1783, and Elias Boudinot, the President of Congress, officially as Secretary in the interim. General Thomas Mifflin was chosen President of Congress on th of November, 1783, at the beginning of a new Congress, and as succeeded to Boudinot as ad interim Secretary. John Jay was ele Secretary May 24, 1784, but did not qualify until December 21, 1 and he remained the Secretary of Foreign Affairs until the adop of the Federal Constitution. On September 15, 1789, the Presi approved "An act to provide for the safe-keeping of the acts, reco and seal of the United States, and for other purposes," in the section of which it was provided "that the Executive Departn denominated the Department of Foreign Affairs shall hereafter be nominated the Department of State, and the principal officer the shall be called the Secretary of State." Jefferson was appointed retary of State September 26, 1789, but did not enter upon the du of his office until March 21, 1790. Jay, notwithstanding he had b selected to be Chief Justice, continued to fill the office of Secret until Jefferson entered upon its duties, although never commissio as such under the new government." a "Compilation of treaties in force 1899." 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. March 5, 1801. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF TREATIES, CONVENTIONS, AGREEMENTS BY COUNTRIES, AND OF INTERNATIONAL ACTS, 1778-1909. Austria-Hungary Agreement Concerning Tobacco.. December 20, 1863 February 11, 1822 11 18 April 9, 1855 20 20 September 26, 1896.. June 5, 1900. 25 August 27, 1829. February 10, 1831 29 February 25, 1850... 33 July 3, 1856 December 15, 1856 36 38 Brazil Amity, Commerce, and Naviga- December 12, 1828.. March 18, 1829.. 133 |