Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04
WASHINGTON.
"Liberty and Union, now and forever, one an
inseparable."
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1850.

GA OnDA1, MAI 4, looo.
We do not remember that the career of any At
torney General of the United States has been more
brilliant, or redounded more to the solid advantage
of his country, than that of Mr. Johnson during the
period he has been in Office. This remark was
made to US by friend, after the decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United States in case which
was argued on the part of the Government by Mr..
JOHNSON, with eminent ability, during the present
term of the Court 1t was case to test the validity
oftitles to an immense number of acres of land in
the State Of Louisiana, claimed under the old Span
ish grants. The decision by the courts below had
been against the United States, and his powerful
argument was followed by reversal OF that decision
In this case our friend observed to that the Gov
eminent had been saved at least three millions of
dollars
But Mr. JoHNsoNs greatest professional triumph
during the term came off yesterday, in the unani-
nous decision by the Supreme Court in the cele
brated case of Fleming & Marshall u.s. Page, Collec
tor Of the United States. This case involved the
great question of the legality of the collection of
duties in Mexico before the treaty of peace, and the
sum depending is said to have amounted to about
seven millions OF dollars. This case originated in
Pennsylvania, and during the last summer, when a
decision involving such momentous consequences
to the United States had been made against the
Government by the court below, where it had been
tried by the former District Attorney, Mr.. JOHNSON
was directed by the President to proceed TO Phila-
delphia and move the court for new trial, with
view to bring the great questions before the Supreme
Court of the United States.
Mr.. JOHNSON proceeded in obedience to the d.
rection, and the public may remember the success
of his admirable effort in that city to bring the case
under review. The Court below had been unani-
nous against the Government. During the present
term the case was argued before all the Judges of
the Supreme Court by Messrs. MCCALL and WEB
srER for the claimants, and by Mr.. JOHNSON for the
Government. The unanimous opinion of the Court
was yesterday given by Chief Justice fancy in
favor Of the United States, reversing the judgment
below A friend who heard Mr.. JoHNsoN's argu-
ment for The Government describes it as having
been unsurpassed for ability, and that Mr. Justice
GRIER, who delivered the judgment below, declared
that he himself had been convinced, and now con-
Cured in the opinion of the Court. The Attorney
General, having in these two cases secured some ten
millions ofdoars to the country, has, we understand,
not received one dollar beyond his regular salary of
800, for all the expense he has incurred and for
all the labor and distinguished talent he has exhibit
ed. Indeed, we have good reason to know that be-
fore he leftW ashingon to attend the trial in Phila
delphia, ii was proposed to him that although the
Government could not pay him such a fee as his
services might deserve were he not officer of the
Government, yet the usage had been in several in
stances to allow the Attorney General his expenses
and some reasonable compensation for extraord-
nary labor and responsibility incurred. Mr.. JOHN
SON respectfully declined the proposition, saying that
while he had the honor to hold the commission of
the PRESIDENT he would perform the whole duty
without any additional compensation beyond the
salary, however inadequate tina, might be.
Let our readers imagine what would probably
have been his compensation for such services at
tended by such results, had he been only private
citizen.
We have INDUCED in this strain of reflection the
more, because this is the very officer of the Gov
eminent who has been charged by the spirit of fac
ton, with having allowed interest on few claims
against the Government in some three or four cases
where his opinion was demanded. Let that public
officer who has saved much to the public trea-
sury as the Attorney General hereafter throw the
first stone.