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

part OF the diplomatic corps-but there was M
instance, IN the history of the government, of
tue prospective appointment of salary officer.
ny the PRESIDENT. The amendment from the
Senate constitutes him an agent for government.
Is he necessary for the interest of the royern
ment: lie IS entirely irresponsible to the ipdi-
vidual claimants. MIR. Mel, said he ,v,s not
willing 10 appoint an Agent for the individual
claimants; and he did not believe that the D.sb
t'c interest required an Agent. He thought the
S"'si'ti'.he o"Snt not 10 connect itself with the
COMMISSION, by the appointment of an AGENT.
Nh. Bassett was opposed o'thc Chairman of
| the Committee of WAYS and Means. nm ,b;s snb
}ect. lie accorded in the principle, that the
PRESIDENT had no right to appoint a salary OFF,
Ger, not provided for by law. But he miaht
certainly appoint a temporary Agent, for Ger
tam purpose. lie went on to shew that the ap-
P9 1 ~ inns agent was necessary. IIo
con'ended that the Agency was created by law
as having been computed in the appropriation
maze LOT the support OF this Commission. at tb,
last session. Iic thought the government was
bound to take interest in ASSISTING. theso
claimants, and forwarding their business before
.ne commissioners The agency has been es
taolished Tor their benefit, and t. onrht tn re-
ceiye the support of the government. Mr.. r.
SAID thcre were many claimants who were n,t
'oie 10 employ private agents. RE instarccd two
cases oil poor persons in his own ncirhborbool
VINO were IN this situation. Upon these in,liv;,
duai claims, tue Commissioners were appoipted
~ ACT. Ana IT was the daty of the government
TO provide an agent for the benefit of those noo,
claimants, who were not able themselves. TO ON,
ploy one.
.ur: Rivcs contendcl for the necessity of a.,
agent IN tins case. The government, he said
haa assumed the duty of asccrtain:ur the aver.
age value OF slaves. The testimony 10 this po;nt
was 10 be exhibited, not by the President in ner
SON. ouI uaer hts authority. And it was pro
tn
TO conduct the business. The government IA :
come m, and agreed to take upon itself 10 csfa
bush the average yaluc of the slaves. Tho in
dlvldual claimants wcrenot required 10 hunt tho
country over, to procure information upon this,
point. 1t was peculiarly incumbent on the ro-
'ern!hent, under these circumstances tn .sk.
the necessary measures to procure this inforu,,-
non Tho President had not only the r;obt ?.
! appoint the Agent in question, but il was cn,
Phatlcally proper that he should do il. in orler
TO afford the promised facilities to the claimnts
1t had been said by some, that this information
! might nave been obtained through TIE ordinary
organs OF the goyennent-throueh the Sccrct.,
ry OF State, or the Attorney General. Mr. 7,
Thought 1t would have been very nipear,t.-.
Pohcy, to have imposed this duty anon c;.
Their OF those officers. There was certainly mn
ooigauon upon them TO perform it. It had no
connection with the duties of their Offices. Tho
House would not expect the Predent 70 r.,,,;,.e,
W,
might very properly reject. If then the Prns;
cent was compelled to appoint some person
as the duties could be Et,rforred no otba
| way, Mr. II. said, he Should like TO Know
why The appointment was improperly made.
~ the appointment OF ths officer belongs
to another department. of tie eovefrn,en+
ana c,.argcs Of non performance of ,lU:y
are - ed against TIE person appointed H..
burden o. proof lies upon those who prefer tho
charge. Mr.. r. asked, what proof there W.
mat this Agent had not been vigilant in tb., nor
iorinance OF his duties. He called the attention
Vi .he committee tothe difficulties attendiia the
entertainment otthe value offbc sI,yc.
The value at the time Of the EXCHANGE oftho 80
ihcauon OF the Treaty, was to be taken. Tl,;s
Couid be done only by getting at the aetna, soln,
made ut or about that tine. twas 10 bo do-,,
not IN regard to one place only, but to yar;o,s
Piaces' ne price O. siavesvaies mich, ACCORDING
tothrsex, age, and Observation-Disclosures. AiItbcse
points are TO be ascertained before tbe.a,,.
: value canbe fixed ItEas hot at all extraor5;n.e
whatever might have been the industry of ~
agent, that all the inforniaionliaG not vet hen
colected. w hateycT might have bcci, ii.c " +
"i'gehcc heretofore, Mr.. +. thoueit;t yvou,J
be better now TO continue fl,e a,,nont,,o.
there was no limit, he said, to this t,c,,n,ss;o,,.
The Board might continue the bus;nocs 'IN.I
rs II pleased; and might sit, like an irouhns -
CD US, until Its object was Accomplished IT,
preliminary object, in the proceedings in reo.,,5
10 the oiiiassson was, the entertainment or
average value of saves-it was known tbo. tt,;
point was not yat declded-,he materials f,r -,
decis, ON were not yet collected. The session Of
! the commissioners nlGst, necessarily, no no,
tracted, until this is done. Under this ~ r
/ inc SUBJECT, he considered the AGENT nc H..
absolutely neccssary--the grcatcr tho c,c;I;t;,
1urn!shed- the sooner the dtgtics of the f.f,.;
sloners would be discharged. lie ti,onoln ,ta.
ore that there could be TO sort Of doubt am,
roprlety Disappointing this agent, ON the mart :
the government. p'''
But the gentleman from Delaware co,,,o,,5.
that II THIS agent is not necessary ON ty,e ,.,rt
OF the government it is Improper TO :.3no;, r.,
IN oenaif OF the individual claimants, ,i,d ~
says that no agent has ever been appoi,,teJ :,
similar case Mr.. Eivcs thought there yas a. a
essential Distinction between this and ot,.or, .'
missions. These claims arise entiro,, e., az. az,
acts OF the government. The whole d;:rl' nc
| vac arisen from the detective manner in ,rI';.i
! rs arhcie' IN The Treaty Of Client. had hnar,
praW H. In mat frcaty, it wos Stipulated ~
all faces captured during the war sjo,,i1 ' I
restored, without carrying away any r,ro,,ou,I
III as conteH6ed by the British cayer,,tr,l ~ ~.
they were not bound by that provis;o, ~ u .i
Ir atty, to make remuneration for s1a,,n. -. INC
away This difficulty grew ont Of, The ldNeh
III "inch that negotiation was made. The ~
Ject was referred TO tie decision of ffc rn,S-.
o. hnssfa. TIC has given his decision, ~, a.,
subject, IN which te provides for the ori..,; '.o
tioh Oh a tribunal, TO make Commensurate e.
ti'ese slaves This governrnent * l,ouyd o. W.
us par Of the expenses of this tribunal ard =.