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


powers, IN the appointment of agents, though
not expressly provided fur by the terms ofthe
treaties, had been exercised by the Executive,
when such agents were necessary to the pro-
lection of the public interest, or of the rights
OF the citizens. lie adver,ed To- the remarks
of an honorable member of the Senate, on This
subject, which were published in the paper Of
this morning. He considered this as one of
| the cases in which an agent was peculiarly
necessary, and thought his continuance re-
CURED tn promote the great interests of these
claimants
MIR. FARRELLY spoke in opposition TO Mr..
| NIcLane's amendment. He, too, considered
tins agency as highly necessary. There were
no data before the House to shew that the SER
vices of the agent had not been very faithfully
performed. The act by which the commits
| sion was established, was national act, and
| 1t ought TO be consummated by the nation
The treaty provides that the Government shall
establish the average value of the slaves and
If the agent is taken away, how, Mr.. +. asked
| could this be done? For this purpose the
agent had been highly necessary; and the
evidence, on that point, WAS not yet conclud
| ed And, even if il were, he thought the duty
| of the Government to the Individuals, whose
property was involved in this public act, re-
quired the continuance of this agency. From
the practice Of the Government, in relation TO
other commissions, he considered it bound
| TO provide an agent in this case.
| Mr.. BRADLEY considered the ascertainment
of the average value of the slaves, for which
| compensation was To be made, as most i'm
portant part of the business of the csunmis
sion. Ii WAS component part of the treaty,
4 and could only be carried INTO effect by the
appointment of an agent. The evidence, on
this point, was To be furnished under the au-
thority of the President aud, as it was not
TO be supposed that he was To appear before
the commissioners, in person, it must be con-
si'iered as specific authority for the appoint
ment of this agent. This was unlike other
treaties, by which commissioners were ap-
pointed, AS there was previous question to be
settled, as 10 average value.
Mr.. McLANg explained, in reference to the
remarks he had previously made. The aver
age value was to be ascertained by taking the
value of slaves throughout the u. States
notify an 'tinerant agent TO be sent throughout
the country, bat by correspondence with diff
frrent parts of the country, by the Depart
ment of State, or an agent appointed for the
purpose. The ascertainment of this average
was the basis of the business of the commits
sion, and ought 10 have been obtained previ-
Gus 10 the meeting of the Commissioners. II
it had been obtained, the agent vas 70 longer
necessary If it had not been collected, he
thought the agent who had not done it, ought
uot again 10 be provided for. The article ol
The Treaty does not mention the term agent
the business Is put upon the President. The
Commissioners would not have received this
, aSent-he was not authorised by the treaty.
This agent either had, or had not, done his
! duty IN either case he was no longer neces-
sary. Mr.. Mel believed that no agent of "A
similar character, had ever been appointed.
The President had right to appoint public
diplomatic Agents, in The recess of the Legis-
iature-these have been appointed a"e
a part OF the diplomatic corps-but there was
no instance IN the history of the government,
OF the prospective appointment of a salary
officer. by the President. The amendment
from the Senate constitutes him an agent for
government. Is he necessary for the iutere t
OF the government He is entirely irrespons-
bic to the individual claimants. Mr.. Nc Lane
said he was not willing TO appoint an Agent for
the individual claimants and he did not be-
lIeve that the public interest required an agent.
) He thought The government on ght no, to con
meet itself with the Commission, bv the ap-
pOintinrnt of an Agent.
MIR. BAssErT was opposed to the Chair
man of the Committee Of Ways and Means,
on this subject. He accorded in the principle,
thar the President had no right to appoint "A
salary Office, rot provided for by law. But
he might certainly appoint temporary Agent,
that the appointment of this Agent was necrs-
sary. He commended that The Agency was
created by law. as having been computed IN
the appropriation made for The support OF this
| Commission, at the last session. H. thought
! the government was hound To take an infer
est In assisting these claimants, and forward
| ing their business before the Commissioners.
| The agency has been established for their
benefit, and il ought tn receive the support of
the government Mr. b. said, there we're
| many Claimants " no were not able to employ
| private agents. He instanced two cases of
! poor persons in his own nrghborhood, who
were IN this situation Upon these indV dual
claims, the Commissioners were aDponted 10
act And it was The duty ofthe government
to provide an agent, for the benefit of those
| poor claimants, who were not able themselves
to employ one.
! Mr.. RIvEs commended for the necessity of
an Agent III this case. The government, h..
sIid, had assumed the duty 0f ascertaining the
average value of slaves. The testimony IN
! tins point was to be exhibited, MT by the
! President in person. but under his authority.
And II was proper for him TO appoint some
person competent To O-induct the busint S.
! The go, "a nment had come la, and agreed
to t'ke upon Itself To- establish the average
value OF The slaves. The individual claimants
We're not required to hunt the country over,
to procure Information upon this point. nj
| was peculiarly incumbent on the government.
under these circumslansps, tu take The ne
cessary measures 10 procure this information.
The President had not only the right To- ap-
point The Agent in question, but it was en-
phailcally proper that he should tIn it. in order
I" afford the promised facilities 10 the claim
ants
Ii had been said by some, That This infor-