Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21


at some future day This would have subjected the Govern
ment to an additional expense Of at least thousand dollars
80 that whilst the failure OF that letter TO reach its denatio
has profted very much This portion ofthe
which has always been regarded the most difficult and mos
important nearly quite finished the joint commits
sion adjourned the 10th ulmo to meet at FL Paso TN
State Of Chhuahua the first Monday of November
alton OF affairs in this country and the which
The Department has seen proper throw in our way.
In December last received from the clerk and dibusns
oser ofthe commission, who had been to Washington
under my ORDERS copy of addressed to him by
Secretary Of State under date July ah informing him
the whole received adued By the proper officer
How the Department expected the obsa,I
to me ncomprehensble Did the Secretary expect thai IN
commissioner would be able to have At all times
that city sufficient to his drafts Five thousand miles
or more from the accounting officer t supposed that he
could show the Department advance the precise manner
which he proposed expanding the proceeds Of his Bu
payment suspended because the drafts there exceeded the
vouchers returned thousand dollars II my youc
been in Washington for that balance, does follow
necessary that would have been IN field
funds hand the Of But there
broad nsnuaton in the letter othe Secretary manifest
~ unjust that It is only necessary aude to IT, He speaks
of the commissioner having drawn money reuopa
from oce II this had been rue would have been dis
entirely destitute ofruh The respect owe the Depart
men will not allow me TO characterize the nsinuaon de-
| serves
draft drawn by thousand dollars prote sted
has been back here for collection
draft negotiated by Col Fremont at request and the
has been fairly honestly expended for the benefit
the Government At the time placed in hands had
dollar with which pay the employees defay
the expenses OF the commission Without the pro
American commissioner driven from the field, and the
poyees left at San Diego without the sub get
And whilst the Government holds vouchers
for nearly the whole the appropriations
sye OF my compensation &c am left to whatsoever
me! only deprived Of my compensation for services
great pecuniary sacrifice but funds
been seized to drafts the proceeds Of
which have gone to the benefit OF the Government.
Other parties have been sent into California upon public
vice. and challenge comparison between their abors their
expenses, and those of the boundary commission Whilst pub
business has been suspended and all classes wildly excited
by the rich mineral discoveries of this country the boundary
survey has been steadily prosecuted Not employee,
whether engineer servant deserted did OF them
ask tor discharges until reliable information reached this
| try that a new commissioner was to be appointed.
had selected upon whose personal pledge OF honor
could rely they did not deceive There was scarcely
upon the commission who could not have obtained from
the wages given these men be compared with the
allowed for similar this country and the De-
will be satisfied that the charge of extravaganza
which has is without the shadow of truth
must again invoke earnestly the attention of the De-
to the satisfaction Of the just demands against the
commission Injustice should not be done to the employees
merely crafty the prejudice which may be entertained
against the employer For self am contest to await the
action OF Congress- confident that that branch Of the Govern
ment will in the end do me justice.
want, JOHN b. WELLER.
w 4
In conclusion, Mr.. President will repeat what said the
other day, when this subject unexpectedly sprung upon
the Senate. COL Weller was falsely published as default
his drafts drawn in strict accordance with the power
ered upon him in the instructions Of Secretary Buchanan
protested violation duty and good faith which him
without the prosecute the important work entrusted
to him yet he faithfully persevered 10 the end discharged
his duty to bis country and will receive the Paudits Of his
eowcinzens. His account has been settled by the account
ing officers Of the GovenmentnOt item rejected, and
balance Of thousands declared be due him. Equal honor
should be awarded to his associates who faithfully stood by
him in all Of his trials and ably discharged their duties
Some OF these associates in that distant land without
to enable them to get home while the Government is
largely indebted to them Some Of them have borrowed
money rates Of interest," ten per cent month,
to bring them home and appeal to the Government to
dress their wrongs, and their appeal Is unavaiDg will ask
relief ut our hands, which hope will be granted
Mr.. EWING. My attention was called by the Senator
from Michigan to declaration made by me in reply to his
inquiry on Thursday last, that if COL Weller had been
and his conduct in the commission would have endorsed
his removal will now, as think shall be able to do it
having the record before endeavor to satisfy gentlemen
the other side of the chamber that had Democratic admin
istraon been in power, and the facts to them
which presented us, Col Weller would have been
asked to to render service head Of that responsible
commission may be mistaken, but think do this.
In the first place. would call the attention Of ths Senate
the fact that COL Weller appointed to this service about
the last Of December, lS4s appointed after President
had been elected and before be had entered the duties Of
his Ofc6. he was appointed long Time before II was ne
cessay proceed the execution Of the commission, the
time fixed for the commissioners of the two Governments to
San Diego and organize the commission the 3Oh
of May, lS49. Here then little haste in making
this appointment and venture the conjecture that had that
Administration been about continue had they expected
carry that commission themselves, that appointment
would have been made at that time. Perhaps it would,
but do not think it. Now to recolect that this
very important The to carry out that commits
ought to have been in whom the Administration
had copfdence prudent and trustworthy in the
duct and management Of pecunay affairs of importance.
enough that he had fought battles brayey He may
have done this he may not He may have been brave
man and successful military commander but that if true
would not necessarily qualify him for the duty which evolved
on the head Of this commission.
He was appointed about the time have named. think
the first letter which he received from the Secretary of State
dated about the 10th 25th Of January his commits
Of course existing at that time. When he
confirmed by the Senate, unable 10 state definitely.
The letter which he received directs him, in the first place.
when he has formed his corps report to the Secretary Of
State the persons whom he has employed and give in that
report the particular duties which he assigns each ind
vdua and also the amount Of compensation to EACH These
in where 50 much money had be advanced upon
the responsibility Of the officer himself alone. The Depart
Of State ought have known what disposition he
going to make Of that money whom he employed for what he
employed hem and what salary he paid them. The nstruc
tons require thshey require the information to be render
ed promptly and they go further and require him report
to the Department quarterly his accounts and vouchers.
The Senator from Michigan mistaken in saying that his
instructions exactly correspondent the provisions of the
law they stringent than the Of the law,
as under the circumstances they ought to have BEEN read