Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Circular relative to diplomatic uniform.

Department of State, Washington, March 29, 1867.

Ministers and officers of the several grades in the diplomatic service of the United States are hereby instructed to conform to the requirements of the joint resolution of Congress approved on the 27th of March, instant, prohibiting them from wearing any uniform or official costume not previously authorized by Congress.

The 34th section of an act approved on the 28th of July, 1866, authorizes all officers who have served during the rebellion as volunteers in the armies of the United States to bear the official title, and, upon occasions of ceremony, to wear the uniform of the highest grade they have held by brevet or other commissions in the volunteer service.

This section constitutes the exception made in the prohibitory resolution above referred to, and is in full force and effect in its application to persons in the diplomatic or any other branch of the civil service of the United States who may have served in our armies in the manner therein described.

For convenience of reference, a copy of the joint resolution and section before named is hereunto annexed.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

[Public Resolution—No. 15.]

A RESOLUTION concerning the uniform of persons in the diplomatic service of the United States.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all persons in the diplomatic service of the United States are prohibited from wearing any uniform or official costume not previously authorized by Congress.

Approved, March 27, 1867.

Sec. 34. And be it further enacted, That all officers who have served during the rebellion as volunteers in the armies of the United States, and who have been, or may hereafter be, honorably mustered out of the volunteer service, shall be entitled to bear the official title, and, upon occasions of ceremony, to wear the uniform of the highest grade they have held by brevet or other commissions in the volunteer service. In case of officers of the regular army, the volunteer rank shall be entered upon the official army register: Provided, That these privileges shall not entitle any officer to command, pay, or emoluments.