The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-18

M WELLER 1 understood that The only complaint
alleged against The law agent was that be dld not come
40 10 tue requsons OF the law. The law by which he
was appointed required him 10 be skilled IN the knowl
edge OF the Spanish language. made compa aint myself
on this floor that law agent had been selected who
was not sufficiently acquainted with the Spanish Ian
xuage to be able 10 examine in proper those II
ties in the original. An assistant law agent then
appointed who did understand the Spanish language
gentleman OF ability OF character, and integrity. Now,
so far as knowledge OF his profession is concerned,
have no doubt that the law agent amply competent
and undertake TO say. from the information OF legal
gentlemen IN whom have confidence, that there has
been no professional man in that country for the last
twelve months who has performed more labor than that
law agent II requires great deal OF and attention
IN the preparation OF these cases great deal OF labor
mental and PHYSICAL Is necessary TO prepare them Tor
gument He has from fifty to sixty lawyers opposed TO
him. The whole bar is on the other side. The ablest
counsel IN the country enlisted behalf OF the
claimants gentlemen who are stimulated by large con-
ngent fees He has not only attend to the preparation
OF but he is required take deposonsto attend
before the land commissioners and take testimony when
ever any OF the claimants see proper hold therefore,
that 1t Is the business OF man. and would occupy
the whole OF his time TO attend to the takng OF deposit
tions and that il will be utterly impossible for lawyer
prepare himself TO argue involving IRON 100000
10 $500 0o0as most OF those cases invove-unless he
Is allowed to be ~ his office, to have opportun
OF examining the authorities aud preparing his briefs
Tor argument His time should not be employed, nor his
mind distracted, by outdoor business. Justice TO the
government demands that he should give each with
all lis features a close and critical investigation
so Tar regards the absence OF the law agent advert
ed to BY my colleague understand that about the mid
die OF last November he left California in consequence
his impaired health His physician had informed him
that il utterly impossible for him TO continue his la
bors theie. His health was broken down, and, as am
advised, by The weight of the abors imposed upon him
by his position and by the pride OF character which IN
duced him TO exert himself to be able to meet the
opposing counsel. He came here in the middle OF De-
cember, with the intention of returning, if the state OF
his health should permit. on the Goth January He has
been detained here from that tne under the orders of
the Secretary OF the Interior as learn, and has been
| investigation
reference TO Caorn,a-mporan not only TO the public,
private individuals Wherefore, then, should he be
reproached Tor having remained here when it has been
under the orders of the Secretary of the INTERIOR and
when he has been engaged in the prosecution OF his
fessonal duties in the investigation OF land titles in Cali
tornia | am informed tnat he has been examining
questions here deeply affecting the interests OF California
OF this have no personal knowledge.
am opposed to the abolition OF this office, because
believe it utterly impossible as said BEFORE for
lawyer to discharge the duties imposed upon the two Of
fccrs. Besides that, am anxious that there shall be
termination 10 this land commission; and the best
way to effect this is to have sufficient legal ability rep
resenling the government to decide once and
undertake say that the lawyers there who against
him, prosecuting private land claims IN California, do
complain that The counsel OF the United States has not
been able to dispose of the rapidly they
presented II is important to The government, well
to individual claimants, that these should be rap
idly decided. Upon many of these claims people
have settled, and they will not make permanent improve
ments until the titles settled The prosperity OF the
country has already been much retarded by the delay OF
The land commission The interest OF all parties requires
that the public lands should be separated at from
that which owned by individuals. To accomplish this
speedily assistant law agent is Indispensable. would
rather vote TO than 10 diminish the force repre-
sening the government.
Mr.. GWlN have not reproached the law agent, but
undertake TO say that the government can dispense
with his services in California He has not been there
for time, and there has been complaint, far
as am informed, that his services were wanted He
may have been employed important business here but
he is not acting law agent OF the government in Cali
torna, the office TO which he was appointed he has not
been acting in that capacity since the assistant law agent
entered upon the duties of his Office who has since
done all that necessary 10 protect the interests OF the
and promote the despatch OF business before
/ the board.
have never made an attack upon the law agent That
attack, if any has been made, came from He
may be able lawyer and an honest man. and perform
his duty faithfully. do not say Otherwise; but do
think il is necessary have two law agents there
discharge the duties, particularly pow since the great
majority OF have been presented to the board and
prepared for argument. The agent may have aboIed
assiduousy, and doubt thought he needed assistance
His health may have been broken down by the labor OF
his oce but the fact that he has been here so long, and
there is complaint from California, shows that the
assistant get along without the aid OF the law agent
to protect the interests OF the government Therefore II
seems to me that we could dispense with one oi these
officers This is my opinion. and acting upon II, pro-
posed in the Committee on Finance that one office should
be abolished
am as anxious for the despatch of business before
this board as anybody. do not think il has done much
good since organized, though hope we shall have
great deal of good from reorganization OF the board
hereafter. Inc law Creating III
working in the board 10 insure the despatch
Of business But have not another word TO say on the
subject We get along very well with one law agent
butt the Senate think otherwise | am content.
Mr. BUTLER The senator from California has often
said that am not disposed TO do much for California
will take this opportunity Of voting we'll can for
California by retaining these two officers.
Mr. GWIN ] find that the senator generally votes
'SSiT'i Mr. BUTLER No, sir.
Mr. GWIN. Always.
Mir BUTLER II this law agent is good lawyer
and can retain the control OF the principles involved
while the assistant law agent goes through the records
and hunts up the facts for him. think IT will be very
good conjunction.
The question being taken on the amendment, it was
not agreed 10.
Mr. HUNTER. Did we reject the whole Of the amend
mentf
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, sir.
Mr. WELLER. | have objection 10 the latter
branch OF il which Increases the compensation OF the
commissioners; but would it not now be in order 10
move TO insert il
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senator can attain
his object by moving reconsideration.
Mr.. WELLER. Then, move TO reconsider the vote
by which that amendment rejected. think the sal
aries of the commissioners ought TO be Increased.
The motion to reconsider not agreed TO.
The next amendment TO correct a name by strl-
king out "I Mudd," and inserting y. t. Mudd !"
which agreed to-
The next amendment was TO insert:
For the purpose Of purchasng building a revenue
propelled by stearn and employed the Pa
co coast, S75O00 Propidsd, That there shall be
tn and sail vessel employed Tor such
poses on that coast
represented that in some states of the wind il would be
n,n tho ake he