The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-06-24

MR. PEARCE said it would not be sup.
posed that he was anxious TO increase the
patronage Of this Administration, or extend
the influence Of the Executive Of the Unit
ed States: II this bill passes, no political
friend Of his would be called TO fill the Of
fee that would be created by il; but there
we're other considerations which influenced
him, which at this late hour of the night,
and at this late period OF the session, would
censtraln him to make a very few remarks.
The gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. Dan.
iel,J has told the committee, the Attorney
General was competent and qualified to
perform all the duties which by the provis
ions OF this bill, tho Solicitor Of the Treas.
ury will be required TO discharge. Per.
haps, Sir, the gentleman has not turned his
attention to the Act creating the ofhce OF
Attorney General, and defining his duties.
The Attorney General will attend to nll
that Act requires, and nothing more; more
cannot and ought not, 10 be required OF
him. What are those duties? tic is re-
,qnlred 10 give his attention To all suits III
tho Supreme Court, to which the United
States are party, and TO give his opinion
on all questions submitted 10 him by the
President or the Heads ofthc Departments
in reference to which thoy may require
legal information. II consulted by them
IN reference 10 other subjects subject
which do not properly belong 10 the De
parmcnts, or which they are not by law
obliged TO decide, he charges for his advice,
aud is pail for his professional services
lie has no control Whatever over the Al
torneys Of the several Districts IN
known to them, and they arc unknown TO
him. If he loavcs Washington and goes
10 Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, or
any other place, TO aid one of the United
States District A ttorneys, he Is paid for his
services ont of the contingent fund of the
Department that employs him: Before,
then, YOU can call upon the Attorney Gen
Cral To discharge the duties contemplated
by this bill, YOU must, by further Legislation
IN regard TO his Office. enlarge his duties
md consequently increase his compcnsa
ton There has been no proposition sub
mltted, TO do this; and it there had been,
| am not now prepared tn say ii would
meet my appreciation; for no man could
well do what is now performed by the Al
torncy, and wha, would, in addition To his
present duties, by this Act, be required OF
him. om not disposed 10 counicroc, the
measures of this Administration, a 10 eicctu
ate what has been promise d. by way of re
trenchment aud economy. TO say nothing
-of rcGorm; il was T should oppose tins
bill, instead ofgving it my aid and support.
In fact, mr.. Chairman, it is the only meas
IRE that has yet been proposed which looks
Ike reform, or a saving 10 the Governments.
once filed n place for a short period, nm
der the authority of the United States,
which directed my attention to an Office OF
this description and my surprise has been,
not that tho Government has suffered. but
that it has suffered no more, for the last
fifteen years in its attempts to manage It's
concerns, without an Office and an officer
like that provided for by this bill. For the
Icngth Of time mentioned, how have the
suits and'caims of the Government against
individuals been managed? and who has
had the supcrntc cndcnce ofthem? SIR, an
individual not a lawyer. and that individual,
too, overloaded with other duties, sufficient
fo require his whole attention, and his
whole time, has been compelled TO attend
10 this concern. Yes, Sir, the Fifth Audi
tor Of the Treasury is required TO do all
that nppcr,ans TO him, as Commissioner of
, the Revenue: and, as one orthc accounting
officers also, has been the Agent Of Suits,
md by law required to give directions in
rclntiou TO the management and conducting
III uII tIt bUllS VI tUIS CNttUutu NuuuiI w.
Tina. his duties have been discharged as
we'll as any man could discharge them,
situated rs he has been, am willing to say.
in Justice to him, has been the case; but
that they have not been so well discharged,
ms the interest of this country required, is
what now contend for. | will, Mr.. Chair.
man, refer TO few cases, which, among
hundred others, show the necessity Of the
III ,,,,1 ho n ky ,his 80, anl
tho appointment of some one 10 attend to
those concerns of this Government which
have been hitherto overlooked, neglected,
or disregarded According TO the mode
adopted and pursued, when an insolvcnt
debtor has been prosecuted and committed
to Jail. he has been discharged, by an or
der from the Treasury Department, on his
executing q release of all his property:
sometimes his property, or the modIcum
which remained, consisted in real estate,
and has been set or to the United States;
and because we have had no officer who
would attend TO this business, the property
assigned or released has been turned so
no account, TO render it available to the
Government, who, perhaps, in every State
aud Territory in this Union, have large
punptitics; sometimes individuals, who
were defaulters, have been prosecuted.
who. at the time they were sued, were
known 10 every person who knew any
thing Of them, to be unable to pay tho costs
of suit Of Court, and which the Govern
mcnt has been made liable to pay. Sir.
would advert To another fact: Among 9th
'cr conditions Of discharge Of every insol-
vent debtor. 10 the liability Of his future
acquisitions? Who? what officer of this
Goycrnment is reonirnd md what onp bn :
considered II his duty TO enquire into the
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