Mr. SUMNER. It will be observed that the proposition does not undertake to empower the President, or to direct him, to make this change, but it assumes, according to a certain theory of the Constitution, that under the constitution it is in the discretion of the President to send ambassadors, envoys extraordinary, or ministers resident, or any other diplomatic functionary in his discretion, Congress having only the discretion of supplying the means. The Constitution says: “He [the President] shall have power by and with the adviceand consent of the Senateto me e provided treaties. 2/3rds of the Senators presentconcur, and he shall nominate and by and with the advice and consent of the Senateshalluppont, cmbassadors. other public ministers and consuls." It was in pursuance of this provision of the Constitution that in 1856, when our censular and diplomatic system was revised, the follow in provision was enacted; and here again you will observe that the provision does not under take to empower the President to appoint ambassadors, envoys extraordinary, or other diplomatic functionaries, but it assumes that he may do it, and proceeds to supply the salary. The provision is " as follows: That ambassadors envoys extraordinary, and ministers plenipotentiary. ministers resident, commissioners, charges dalfaires, and secretariesof legation, appointed to the countries hereinalter named in schedule A, shall be entitled to compensationfor their services, rpspectively.at the rates perunnum hereinafler specified; that is to say, cinbnssadorsand envoys extraordinary and ministersplenipotentiary, tAh;e full pmounts spocifled therefor in said schedule ministers resident and cpmmissioners. 75%. Charges d’affnires, 50%., and secretariesof legution, 15 %. of the said amountsrespectively.” Now the proposition which I have moved proceeds, in harmon with this, simply to de clare that where the Iresident shall undertake to appoint an envoy extraordinary or minister plenipotentiary to any court where we are now represented by a minister resident there shall be only the salary 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 to all these courts an envo extraordinary and minister lenipotentiary if in his discretion he shall see t, but there is no salary appropriated by law. If the amendmentnowoffere should bea opted it would be in his discretion, at any of the courts where he shall see fit, to change our representative from a minister resident to an envoy extraordinary, but without any increase of sal ary; and the simple question remains whether it is not fit to give this discretion to the President. He is not called upon to exercise it. There are places where he may think it better to continue the minister resident.