Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

Judge Pratt, of Oregon. 346S 70
E. F. Beale, bearer of dispatches to California and
Oregon. 1880 oI
Total, Mr. Marcy 36I IA
General Taylor
Colonel Collier Collector San Francisco 347sS 90
Clerk to Colonel Collier $40 q
General Wilson, Indian agent Salt Lake l2270 IL
Indian Agent IN California. 2335 rs
New Mexico. $3.50 70
Total, General Taylor s56sl5 AZ
Mr.. ArcHIsoS. / wish the Senator would inform me
what the cost of transporting General Wilson to his
agency at Utah?
Mr. PEARcI. The whole cost is put down at $12 270.
Now beg leave make another remark in this
on The Senator from California has assumed that this
escort sent the sole purpose of conducting Mr.
Wilson to his agency. would refer the Senator to the
report Of the late Commissioner of Indian Affairs Mr.
Medi Dempcrat, holding Office under the Administra-
ton Of Mr.. Polk, and who suffered to continue IN
Office after General Tayor's Inauguration. 1t will be
found page 1885, Document No. IL of the first session
of the 3lst Congress will read only single sentence
from his letter to General Wilson:
"As you will doubtless avail yourself of the military escort
which will leave ST. Louis shortly funds will be placed in the
hands of the Superintendent Of Indian Affairs at that place to
be turned over to YOU"
That is the letter of instruction from the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs to this identical agent General John
Wilson. He told him that military force was going out
and that it would be better for him to fall in with it. The
Is,
partment that the troops by which General Wilson
escorted recruits which the Department sending
to Santa Fe At Santa Fe he procured another escort
and went
ton got up for the sole benefit Of this Indian agent but
that he was directed by the Democratic Commissioner
Indian Affairs 10 ava himself of the opportunity of mi
iitary force going out to Santa Fe.
The Senator complains that General Wilson left his St.
ton ct the Great Salt Lake, and went on TO California
and that then he resigned his office. hnsw nothing Of
the particulars of that. admit that it does
be exactly proper that officer appointed to such sta
ton as this should Immediately upon arriving at the
of his operations resign his place; but what mean tc
say is that mpropriety the part of General Wilson
known to the present Executive nor far as can
ascertain to the Executive who preceded the present. at
the time when he resigned Office and when he ap
pointed to another The complaint which the Senator
makes is that having gone upon this expedition at great
cost having resigned his Office before he did any thing
except write three dispatches Mr. Wilson was
appointed navy agent at San Francisco That the Sena
tor charges as offence upon the present Adminstra
ton Now the fact is that Mr. Wilson, who was per-
sonal friend of General Taylor appointed navy agent
by General Taylor He received his nomination from HIM
II had been sent to the Senate, but for long time
Enacted upon Il not il true acted upon at the
time when Mr. Fillmore succeeded to the Presidency but
the Senate know very well that the policy OF the present
Executive not owithdraw nominations made by his
but to send them all in the Senate unless
there was some special to the contrary This Ad
minissraton knew Of special reason why Mr.. Wilson
should not be appointed agent The Senator had at
that time made no complaints against him. Nobody had
made complaints against him that can ascertain and he
went in under the nomination Of General Taylor and
confirmed BY the Senate-the Senator from California
being then believe, member OF the Senate, or
Der elect ready to take his seat here when his State
should be admitted, as she
But the Senator does not stop at this point He says that
Mr. Wilson suffered to remain as navy agent at San
Francisco although he gave official sond that he
was allowed for long time to receive the emouments Of
his Office and that that Office finally abolished in order
to get rid of him. most extraordinary series Of mis-
takes 1t very true that under his temporary appoint
ment Mr. Wilson did offer bond which passed upon
by the persons appointed do in California and
rejected But it is also true that he offered another bond
which acceped and that after his confirmation by
the Senate he again offered another bond which also
accepted Them the Senator is entirely mistaken in these
particulars He is also greatly mistaken in another and
il mistake about which must confess my surprise
The Senator from California is well known very
tive and indefatgabe member Of the Senate; man
here, believe, is attentive to his duties; man.
think takes active part than the Senator from
California in the duties Of the committees Of which he is
a member. But he is chairman Of the Naval Committee
Of this body Upon him peculiarly devoves all the duties
which belong to that committee. IL there is any in
this body bound to know the law and the facts in regard
TO any particular in relation naval officer that
Senator is pre-eminenty bound know them lie has
told the Senate that this received the emouments
the Office OF navy agent during considerable length of
time can say to the Senate, the information have
obtained at the Department. that he received any
emouments at all. confess must express my surprise
again that the Senator should have far forgotten those
naval affairs which committed to his charge
to know that navy agent receives salary The only
compensation he gets commission Of per cent on
the amount he dsburses Before the Senator made the
charge think he should have looked into the facts Gen.
eral Wilson is of his constituents who has right
to look him. if to any body for defence The Senator
il had inquired might have ascerained the fact that
never during the whole time General Wilson held his COM
mission, did he receive dollar Of the public money to
dsburse and therefore he never received cent of enou
ment That is the fact Besides the Office was not abo.
shed to get rid Of General Wilson Very soon after the
present Secretary came into office he discovered that the
navy agent at San Francisco had nothing to do
into his hands, and therefore there was nothing for
him to do. There was experienced purser on thai
station and as IT is now policy to keep ships-o
there there would always be purser competent to do al
the business devolvng on the navy agent Therefore
considering the office to be useless he recommended thu
President TO discontinue it That is the history Of Gen
Joan wilson.