Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 14 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 14 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Now the proposition which I have moved proceeds, in harmony with this,
simply to declare, that, if the President shall undertake to appoint an
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to any court where we
are now represented by a minister resident, the salary shall be only
that of a minister resident. Proceeding with the theory of this Act
and a certain theory of the Constitution, the President has the power
already to appoint an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
to any of these courts, if in his discretion he shall see fit; but
there is no salary appropriated by law. If the amendment now offered
should be adopted, it would be in his discretion to change our
representative from a minister resident to an envoy extraordinary, but
without increase of salary; and the simple question remains, whether
this enabling discretion is not proper. The President is not called
upon to exercise it. There are places where he may think it better to
continue the minister resident.
MR. FESSENDEN. He can do it now.
MR. SUMNER. But there is no salary; the salary would not apply. The
amendment is to supply the salary in such cases; that is all. I have
heard it observed, that, though the President may now, under the
Constitution, appoint to any place an envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary, he is restrained in the exercise of that power by
the want of an appropriation to support the appointment. The present
proposition meets that difficulty precisely.
The amendment was opposed by Mr. Fessenden, of Maine, and Mr.
Grimes, of Iowa. Mr. Sumner replied:--
I have no feeling on this question at all,--not the least; nor do I
approach it as a political question. I see no individual in it. I do
not see Mr. Harvey or Mr. Sanford. I see nobody here to oppose, and
nobody to favor. I know nothing in it but my country and its service
abroad. Sir, I think I am as sensitive as any other Senator with regard
to the just influence belonging to my country as a republic great and
glorious in the history of mankind. I believe that I am duly proud of
it, and conscious of the weight it ought to carry wherever it appears.
I know its name stands for something in the world, and that whoever
represents this country on the ocean or in the diplomatic service
has, alone, a great and powerful recommendation. But I also know too
much of human history and too much of human nature, not to know that
men everywhere are influenced more or less by the title of those who
approach them.
MR. FESSENDEN. Governments are not; men may be.
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