He is also the custodian of the treaties made with foreign states, and of the laws of the United States.  He grants and issues passports.  Exequaturs to foreign consuls in the United States are issued through his office.  He publishes the laws and resolutions of Congress, amendments to the Constitution, and proclamations declaring the admission of new States into the Union.  He is also charged with certain annual reports to Congress relating to commercial information received from diplomatic and consular officers of the United States.

The patronage of the Secretary at Washington is small, about sixty clerks, but that which concerns the diplomatic and consular service is important.  To facilitate communications and negotiations with foreign nations, and to protect the interests of American citizens in foreign countries, the United States, in common with all civilized nations, has an elaborate system of representatives residing at the capitals of all the principal nations.  This system is called the diplomatic service, and is under the charge of a separate bureau of the State Department.  Communications and negotiations with foreign powers are generally carried on through them or through ministers of other nations stationed at Washington.  These agents are called ministers and are of three grades (1) envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, (2) ministers resident, (3) charges d’affaires.  These grades correspond to the lower grades of similar services in European countries.  We have no grade corresponding to that of ambassador.  The United States has ministers in about thirty-three countries.  The chief legations are those of Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia.  The salary attached to each of these legations is $17,500.  The social demands upon ministers are great, and, as a rule, the expenses of ministers have been more than their salaries.  Ministers of foreign powers receive a much larger compensation than do ours.

To protect our commercial interests abroad, and our seamen and vessels in foreign ports, the United States has agents resident in all foreign sea-ports of any prominence.  Their duties are numerous.  They ship seamen, certify invoices, take testimony, examine emigrants, etc.  They transmit to the State Department monthly reports concerning any matter of commercial or social interest occurring at their stations.  These reports are published monthly by the department and have a wide gratuitous circulation.  This system is called the consular service; and is also under the charge of a separate bureau.  These agents, called consuls, are of three ranks and titles; (1) consul-generals, (2) consuls, (3) consular agents, of whom 180 are salaried, the rest being paid by fees.  The names of the other bureaus indicate the nature of the duties performed by each.