Speech #490138679

The officers. as a rule. at the time of my visit had been obliged to open their books anew. or had had it done by a subordinate. Almost every consulLte had some defects in its history. owing to the incompetency. low habits. and vulgarity of some of it officers during the endless round of evils incident to official rotation. Abuses had been committed in the collection of fees. in the exercise of judicial powers. in the adjustment of the business affairs of American citizens. in the settlement. where permitted. of the estates of intestate American citizens dying abroad. in selling the American flag. in "running out" ships. in discharging seamen. in affording relief or medical attendance to destitute or sick American seamen. in establishing American settlements abroad. in issuing illegal passports. in countenancing shippingmasters. in taxing Chinese emigrants. Indeed. the most important feature of my investigation was the ingenuity displayed by consular officers since the act of 1856. particularly in defrauding the Government and grasping gains front various outside sources besides. If all could be told of the consular service of the United States. as illustrated ill the conduct of its officials. the excess of bad over good would be so great that the most cold and indifferent citizen would blush for the name of his country.