New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-22
Lerrer from John A. Collier.

The Senate having called on the Commissioners
appointed to Codiy the Laws Of this Statefor inior
nation ss to the diligence with which they were
discharsing their duties, Hon JOHN A. COLLIER
retained the following answsr: a-.T rtI
ALBANY, 18th November, lsa7
TO ihe Honorable the Senate -. -.-,t,.-,.,
The undersigned one of the Commissioners OF the
Code has this morning been favored with copy oil
resolution Of the Senate and In answer thereto respect
fully reports
That the law under which the Commissioners were
appointed provides that the Commissioners shall 1t all
times ma ke reports to the Legislature when called upon
40 10 do by concurrent resolution OF the senate and
Assembly Waving the question. since the power 10
assumed whether the law Intended TO yest tue authority
call for thu report contemplated by this resolution 10
tas senate alone OF which tnose who sized Ia iralns
and passing the law are doubtless the most nj JUDGES
the dersigned for himself individually answers;
First That be has. as yet no clerk who has been EN-
poyed exclusively or principally In the business OF Ine
Commission nor has he presented any account or drawn
any money from the Treasury for the services OF any
clerk When this shall be done the undersigned VIII
expect TO furnish the vgant officer whose appropriate
duty Il Is 10 that no money drawn from sne lIes
sury unless authorized by law With the requisite evil
dence and vouchers the expenditure OF the money
scosd As the inquiry, Whist proportion OF tne'r
time. and how much time, they have seyeraly devoto
to the business of their appointments snd whether tney
make the business of their commission their exclusive
business or whether they devote their time Also 10 the
practice OF their legal professions the undersigned oegs
leave TO say that when this highly honorable but IN
sought Office was conferred upon bin by the Legisis
ture il found the undersigned engaged In somewhat
extensive professional business which II could scarcely
have been expected he would be certainly did not
feel liberty to- abandon, and from his situation
In this particular he has not been able ike your honor
able body apart daily stated hours and devote
then scrupulousy snd exclusively 10 official dones s
usual Office hosrs from seven In the morning 10 nine
10 the evening but they are certainly not all uniformly
devoted TO official sbors. but subject to occasional
Interruptions among which he does nos class tbs pre-
sent willing duty j..
AZ TO the proportion of his time and how much OF
his time has been devoted 10 the business OF his ap
polntnent," IL Is entirely out of his power TO say
The undersigned supposes himself TO DO scung under
the same high official obligation and responsibility 70
which the Senate and the Commissioners are alike sub
ject Seeking no new professional business and de-
cnlng such threatens 10 encroaeh upon the time ne
feels bound 10 devote the public service he 10 ctrcum
scrlbng but has peremptoriy withdrawn from. his
professional pursuits which the appointment OF Com
msslouer-linitsd 10 IT, 10 the term OF two years
would scarcely Justify. The undersigned has neverthe
less reason to hope. inst the time may srise-he viii
not say At VIVA, distant periodwhen he will be ready 70
compare bis humble official labor with the conceded
perseyerng industry and exclusive devotion to the puo
lie business for which the honorable the Sensts airs 90
eminently disps ushed; and for which, even were II
oherw tbs undersigned has NOT the power and Ger
tainly will not IT, OF calling them 10 the Ike rsd
account -Al which Is respectfully submitted.
JOHN A. COLLIER.