The secretary of state is hereby authorized to appoint an assistant secretary of state and five deputy assistant secretaries of state, one of whom shall be an attorney at law and who shall serve as legal counsel for the secretary of state. The assistant and each deputy assistant shall take the oath of office required of public officers. In the absence of the secretary of state, such assistant and deputy assistants shall have charge of the office, and each may perform the duties devolved by law upon such secretary, except as otherwise provided; but in every case they shall act in the name of their principal, and sign and attest all papers and certificates in the name of their principal, by themselves as assistant secretary or deputy assistant secretary. The secretary of state may appoint other unclassified employees as may be necessary to discharge the duties of office and as are authorized by law.