The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930 Page: 194
344 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
II. DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION OF THE CONSULAR SERVICE
From this beginning, with only three known consuls at the
opening of the year 1838, the consular service grew in the short
space of its life into a well-organized system, with representatives
in most of the important ports of the United States and Europe.
At most, its existence was marked by the chronological boundaries
of 1836-1845, and, strictly speaking, the period was even shorter
because the status was so indefinite the first three years that no one
knew whether this particular arm of the new-born Republic would
develop into a useful member or not. Furthermore, judging from
the neglect by the officials of this feeble infant, no one seemed to
care about its development. The wonder is that anyone was in-
duced to act as representative of a government which paid so little
attention to pleas of any kind; whether to the President or to the
Secretary of State; whether the plea was for information or for
money. Nothing seemed to elicit any response.
After the Secretary of State had sent the commission to a con-
sul, he seemed to forget his existence. The Secretary forwarded
with the commission general instructions which gave the recipient
opportunity to exercise his own judgment and discretion in the
conduct of his affairs. Unless the consul made his own regula-
tions, he had none to follow. He seemed the sole arbiter of his
conduct-a law unto himself.
The newly-appointed consul general of New York showed that
this manifestation of the government's faith in the ability of its
agent was not misplaced. By his instructions he was directed:
To report commission to Minister Plenipotentiary at Washing-
ton and get recognition as consul. Act as general consul or Con-
sular Agent performing duties common to office, necessary to pro-
tect interests of the Republic and its citizens in said ports which
do not contravene laws of the United States as compatible with
general existing relations between the United States and Texas.
Report any information deemed important from beligerent politi-
cal, commercial or financial standpoint or otherwise and particu-
larly give information on subject of raising funds to A. J. Yates
and M. B. Menard, Commissioners for negotiating a $5,000,000.
loan and assist them all possible. Publish report of contributions
and date and amount used and how used, to whom paid an report194
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, July 1929 - April, 1930, periodical, 1930; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101090/m1/214/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.