Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-02


period, in the progress of these claims, at which
the services of the Agent were most wanted;
ana, II he were taken away, the claimants would
be involved in great difficulty.
Jur. Wickiife thought that provision for
salary officer, whose duties were not defined, who
was irresponsible, and not appointed by law,
ought not to be introduced into this bill. He
believed the appointment of this officer was not
author,zed' or contemplated, by the appropria-
ton bill of the last year. We have been told
that this officer was appointed by the Secretary
o'o'atc' whether this agent should be again
anpointed, was Tor the House now TO determine
~ mad oeen SAID to be beneath the dignity of the
Secretary OF State 10 do this duty. MIR. W.
d'd not consider any of the duties of his Office as
deiosatinS from the dignity of the Secretary
Inc description OF evidence, in relation to the
average value of the slaves, might have been
obtained IN sixty days, by application to the
different NIarshas. We have given n wears,
salary to an agent for this purpose, and the fact
IS not yet ascertained. If the Board of Com
missloners is limited by no other provision, the
power IS in the hands of the House, to make or
not to make the appropriation for its support
He considered the appropriation for this agent,
as one which ought now to be stopped. The ar
gumcnt, that the government had made this
commission for the beneGtof thc private claimants
and ought TO extend further assistance was not
sound one. Because we have done one rood
turn, we must consequently do another. We
pay the board, and so must pay the agent
we pay the judges of our courts-but are we
bound to ray witnesses and counsel for the par
ties! The opinion of honest, intelligent men
Is the only evidence to be obtained of the aver
age value OF slaves and that is to be laid before
the commissioners. This might have been DONE
without the aid OF this agent. 1t has not been
the practice of the government to prosecute pri-
Vate claims. The claimants will no doubt, be
glad to have their claims conducted at the ex-
p2nse government. He felt it his duty to OPP
pose the appropriation for salary for this agent.
Mr.. Fuller thought it manifest, that service
~ol tins Kind was requisite; ana that the appro-
priatlon was necessary. If it was contemplated
that the Attorney .neral, or Secretary of State
shonld perform This service, why was the amount
appropriated the last year. He considered that
the President had right to appoint one or
twenty agents for this; purpose, if it had been
necessary. The flliillncnt of the treaty was in
the province of the Department of State; and it
Is possible that the duty of that appointment
might have dcyolved on the Secretary of State.
Ii there has been any thing improper, let us
make an investigation on the subject. There
Is no evidence ofunnecessary delay, or any i'm
propricty this business. He understood X
was very difficult to ascertain the average va ue
of slaves, at that time. This agent had been
under the necessity of rcsorting to various means
OF information; the blsiness is not vet concluded
Individuals have been led to RELY on the good
faith OF the government-and now tlley are to
be cut of in the middle of the subject. 1t
would be an act OF gross injustice TO take away
t'lis assistance.
MIR. Tucker, OF Virginia, thought it was ra- !
taer singular the House should be engaged in |
the discussion of this matter, involving sum of
5000, when it is well knownto be the opinion of
the Secrctar: oc State, ana of Mr.. Cheves, the
Commissioner, that ts ageut was very nccessa-
if.1 tn ct, no
which Induced him TO believe that his services
very valuable, towards cifecting the objects
OF the commission; and that those services were
now even more requisite than they had been |
during the past year. He thought The true dig |
nifty OF the government was in protecting the |
rights and the interests OF its citizens. He de-
MED that this duty could have been PROPERLY
performed by the Secretary OF State or the At /
torncy General, consistently with the due per- |
forrnance of their other duties. He thought the |
individual who held this Office was more compc-
tcat. from his acquaintance with the nature of
the duties to be performed, than any other per-
son.
Mr.. Storrs said. that two reasons had been
given III favor of the appropriation for this agent
the protection of the public interest, and those
of the private claimants. But the Secretary of
State did not, in 1928, when the first appropria-
ton was to be made, mention thu necessity Of
this agent In relation to the public interest," He
merely states that such person would be de-
srablc, to forward the views of the private clai-
mants Mr.. S. thought, that the Office ought
to stop. 1t was easier to get man into office
than to get him out; and when his services are
no longer necessary to the public, his Office
ought to be discontinued. This agent is not
known as a public officer; his name is not to be
found in tho register. The reason given for his
appointment, in reference to the average value
of slaves, had not been discovered, until it came
up to this House, Six months would have been
ample time TO have collected evidence on this
subject, from all parts oft the country.
Mr.. s. went on 10 state his objections to this
appropriation. He produced some instances to
prove, that discretion ought not to be given 10
the Executive department, to create Offices If
there were necessity for the officer, the Office
ought to be established by law. As he was or
ly appointed for the benefit of the private claim
ants; and they were no more entitled to
such favor than any other claimants Mr.. S.
thought congress ought not to authorize his APP
pointrnent
Mr.. Forsyth made some explanation, in re-
ference 10 remark of Mr.. Storrs in relation TO
the Florida Treaty.
Mr.. Mclanc, Of Del. replied to some of the
remarks which had been made against his a.
tnendrnent. He felt perfectly convinced oft
nsele5sncss OF this appointment and for that
reason considered himself bound to resist it. He
had intended no imputaton against the Secre-
ary of State. He felt high respect for him.
But if, rs the gentleman from Massachusetts had
stated, W. were bound to make estimates on
this subject, it should be recollected, that 49,