The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-07

WASHINGTON, JUNE !, lnJl.
1He.frR 81 L,ckiag .Slgoety-CoDmoa Se',se a gferi
Biessiag-TbC thing H.statei- The btc Boori 81
Commissioners ~ M,riun Caims, anid s cortp-
Ihot sgl,nid Safe ,ciot cost anil Jrougld-Mr.
hngmsa ~ no O6foe, &C.. Sc.
Sagacity and practical common sense-pretty
much one and the same ,hing-are not bad ingredi-
cnts for an administration to possess.
Il Is remark here, which has grown into pro-
verb. that Senator Douglas-let the Young Giant
Of the West" learn and bear il modest y-has more
sagacity and common sense In one week, than the
present administration has vouchsafed to il in i
twelY emonih.
Look at the appointment Of Land Commission
ers for Calilorna. Arthur +. Hopkins, of Alabama,
an eminent jurist and lawyer worth some 10000,
and enjoying law practice worth $1,000 a year,
was one ct the appontees TO a commi.- yner's Office
worth $500 year in California. OF course he
wondered at the appointment, and declined IL. Jo-
scph X. Iugersoll, m eminent statesman and law
yer, worth t2jO.ov1, and enjoying law practice
worth some 5000 or Sl0pu year, vas another
Of the appointees. Ofcourse he, too, wondered and
declined. James Harlan, the Attorney General Of
Kentucky. eminent a. a lawyer, and distinguished
ex-momber Ol Congress,s was another of the APP
poiuteCs. Ofcourse be said, "thank you to " the
powers that be-" ut Washington, and declined the
honor. Next John Z. Spencer, eminent as that cx-
Secretary OF the 1rca sury, whose name by uniyer-
sal consent, stands next TO that Of eX-Sccretsry
Alexander Hamilton, and whose legal practice must
bring him an II come Of more than sf0,DoD year,
singled out and appointed commits .oncr. Ills
brief and com prchensiye letter to the Albany pa
pcrs the subject. shows how a,toni he'd be was
that the administration should think If appointing
him - such m 0dicc
Who will finally be the commissioners remains TO
be- sscertancl. Thus fac the administration has
displayed IL. sagacity and common sense, in the
A r.. u. AZ -
administration, when il grayey tenlercd to JOhn
4. Clark. nj t. be At the head Of the Treasury De
partmen, the little post Of Recorder Of the General
Land Office.
The late Board Of Commissioners on claims against
Mexico and the doings of said Board g., are still
going on bri.Ly in all circles here.
Ii Is q little curious that the commissioners took
oath Of office. The law creating the board made
provision for the commissioners 10 be sworn and
they, therefore, took no oaths nor sfirmatons
The idea which has been thrown out from the
Treasury Department, that Congress can no more
20 behind The acts and doings Of thee commits
sioners than II can behind the acts Of the judges
of the supreme Court, is ridiculous. The com
mssioncr- were the creatures Ut Congress, and
the latter body can investigate their acts whenever
II please to 40 IL can also call TO account any
cabinet minister tor malfcasance corruption ia
office.
am credibly informed that Col Paue, enc Of
the commissigncr.-sud the enc who objected to
All nearly I'll Ul tnab Ne ~
ready for the proposed investigation Whenever Con
grcss shall choose to order u.
distinguished lawyer u this city, who wis in
terestcd in the Union Land 9mpanys claim which
was before The board, has given Inc some valuable
information > 10 the biUfus 0pYuwii by which come
claims before the board found favor, AMI others no
favor az al. For example, he states that the Ane
ricsn Commissioners Of the Mixed Board Of lsp ~,
reported an award 10 the Union Land Company Of
$4,000 This, with the interest up to this time,
would amount TO about 10000. Ny informant
states that ne has the written declaration Of both
Mr.. Corwin and Mr. Webster, made before they
took seats IN the cabinet, that they had been A.
.ursd by the commissioners, that the whole amount
due The Union .snd Company, az reported b. the
American COMM soncrs, (Gov. Marcy and Judge
Reeckcnridgc) with interest, making the sum IT
ti0r. 0no, anould be awarded and paid. Instead IT
thcee assurpnrcs, on the part a the commissioners;
~ touVhcl Cor by the written testimony Of Mcssn.
~ eietcr and torwin, the board awarded only
- .nou. ~ tod. - he Union Land Comnauv
rate these ise.sttec suggestsp ef the distinguss