Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-02


than they had been during the past year. He
thought the true dignity of the government
was in'Motecting ihe rights and the interests
OF IFS ciiizens. Vie denied that this duty could
have been properly performed by the Secre-
tary of State, or the Attorney General, CON
sistenily with the due performance of their
other duties. He thought the indiv idual who
hel,' this Office was more competent, from
his acquaintance with the nature of the duties
to be performed, than any other person.
MI. SToRRs SAID, that two reasons had been
given in favor of the appropriation for this
agent-thc protection OF the public interest
and thnse of the private claimants. But the
Secretary of State did not, in 1898, when the
first appropriation was to be made, mention
the necessity of this agent IN relation TO the
public interest. He merely states that such
person would he desirable, Ia forward the
views of the private claimants. Mr.. S. thought,
that, as the 1u,y of this agent was not of a
public nature, that the Office ought TO stop
IL was easier to get man into office than to
get him out ; and when his services are 10
longer necessary To the public, his Office ought
To be discontinued. This agent is not known
as public officer his name is not to be found
in the register. The reason given for his APP
pOintment, in reference to the average value
ofslaves, had not been discovered, until il came
up in this House. Six months would have
been ample time To have collected evidence
on this subject, from all parts of the country.
Mr.. >. went on To state his objections to
this appropriation. He produced some in
stances to prove, that discretion ought not to
be given TO the Executive Department, TO
create Offices. If there were "A necessity for
the officer, the Office ought to BIZ established
by law. AS he was only appointed for the
benefit of the private claimants and as they
were no more entitled 10 such favor than any
other claimants, Mr.. S. thought Congress
ought not to authorize his appointment.
Mr.. FoRsYTu made some explanation, in
referencetu "a remark of Mr.. Storrs, in relation
to the Florida Treaty.
Mr.. McLANE, of Del. replied to some ofth
remarks which had been made against his
amendment. He felt perfectly convinced of
The useiessness of this appointment; and, for
that reason. considered himself bound TO re-
sist 1t. He had Intended no mputation against
the Secretary of State. He felt high respect
for him. But if, as the gentleman from Mas
.sachuseits had stated, we were bound TO take
estimates on This subject, 1t should he recol-
iected, that $4,000, instead of $4,000, would
have been appropriated, Tor the support ofthis
Commission. 1t was the duty of the Pres-
dent, through his Secretary of State to collect
the information for which the Agent was APP
pointed. MIR. Mel. commended that the go
vernmeut was not bound tn sustain these
claims and that il ought not to commit itself
IN regard I" them. 1t was the duty of the GO
veinm"nt 10 make the best provision it could,
for the citizens, at the conclusion of war. This
had been done, IN reference to these claim
ants, and the government had done its duty
towards them. He wanted no further evil
d"nce of the want OF Accessity for this Agent,
Than that a year should have been consumed
IN doing what might have been done in SIX
months. He was rather disposed 10 argue, that
the business had already been completed,
the duties of the Agent having commenced "A
year ago, while that ofthe Commissioners ha d
begun but six months since. It had been
by the gentleman from Virginia, that
the business was not yet done. If so, it was
not the fault of the Commissioners, but of the
Agent. He meant no Insinuatons against the
Individual, in this case; but he spoke of the
fact. IL was quite time the Office was abolish
ed. lf the business had been left " th the Sc
cretary of State, with his known vigilance, he
would have completed these duties long since.
Mr.. BUcKNER differed from his honorable
colleague (NIr. Wickliffe) on this subject. He
hel'' we'd the ground that il was not the duty
OF Government 10 provide an agent in this
case. because only portion Of its citizens, and
not the whole, were concerned, was not cor
rect. He thought there was force in The re-
mark, that these losses were sustained in con-
sequence Of an act of the Government. The
Government has acted from honorable mo
tives in this case. lthsd an eye to the rights
and interests of its citizens. He proceeded to
remark upon the obligations of a Government
to see that remuneration was made for the
losses sustained by IFS citizens in time of war.
lie was not possessed of sufficient information
as TO the propriety Of this appropriation. If
the agent had failed in his duty, il was not a
good reason, as he thought, for refusing the
appropriation. The sum was mere pittance.
hardly worth the interest that had been dis
played in regard to it.
MIR. PoINsETT said, that he beloved the du-
ties of this agency had been very arduous.
and had been performed ina satisfactory man
ner-he thought the business OF the commits
sion would suffer materially by Withholding
the appropriation for the agent
Mr.. FoRsYTH replied TO the remark of
MIR. Poinsrtt. He denied the existence of
the d,nicnIIes which had been supposed To
exist IN connection with this agency-he said
The whole information required Of the agent
ought 10 have been prepared at the first meet
ing ut the commissioners in August last. Eve.
ry particle of the information might have been
obtained by circular letters, written by one of
the clerks Of the department. The Govern
ment had no other interest in the business
than to see that justice was done to these
claimants. 1t had placed Them in the way to
obtain that justice. Its duty had been per-
formed towards them. In regard to the man
ner in which the appointment was made,
he said il had never been submitted to Con-
gress until the present session.
Mr.. McLane explained He stated that
the appropriation for this commission had
made the last year, in pursuance ola statement
ut the amount required, as received from the
Id 10 ma mt of Gf.tn l.. al. :