h any
citizen of the United States may have received from a foreign power,
or the subjects thereof, making minutes of all his transactions
relative thereto, which have passed on such occasions.

He shall report on all cases expressly referred to him for that
purpose by Congress, and on all others touching his department, in
which he may conceive it necessary. And that he may acquire that
intimate knowledge of the sentiments of Congress, which is necessary
for his direction, he may at all times attend upon Congress; and shall
particularly attend when summoned or ordered by the President.

He may give information to Congress respecting his department, explain
and answer objections to his reports when under consideration, if
required by a member, and no objection be made by Congress.

He shall answer to such inquiries respecting his department as may be
put from the chair by order of Congress, and to questions stated in
writing about matters of fact, which lie within his knowledge, when
put by the President at the request of a member, and not disapproved
of by Congress. The answers to such questions may, at the option of
the Secretary, be delivered by him in writing.

He shall have free access to the papers and records of the United
States in the custody of their Secretary, or in the offices of
finance and war and elsewhere. He may be furnished with copies, or
take extracts therefrom, when he shall find it necessary.

He shall use means to obtain from the Ministers and agents of the
United States in foreign countries, an abstract of their present
state, their commerce, finances, naval and military strength, and the
characters of Sovereigns and Ministers, and every other political
information, which may be useful to the United States. All letters to
sovereign powers, letters of credence, plans of treaties, conventions,
manifestoes, instructions, passports, safe conducts, and other acts of
Congress relative to the Department of Foreign Affairs, when the
substance thereof shall have been previously agreed to in Congress,
shall be reduced to form in the office of Foreign Affairs, and
submitted to the opinion of Congress; and when passed, signed, and
attested, sent to the office of Foreign Affairs, to be countersigned
and forwarded. If an original paper is of such a nature as cannot be
safely transmitted without cyphers, a copy in cyphers, signed by the
Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs, shall be considered