Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-29

Was oe1idor Cnile0 Ssdfes, employed
as attorney before the Board of Commissioners TO adj
udicate claims against Mexico in behalf Of Gardiner
claimant and that he also took interest by assignment
IN his claim. These facts admitted The gentleman
rom Tennessee Mr. JoHSsoS) argued yesterday that 1t
was nahum IN Sc that il wrong itself for member
OF Congress to appear attorney for fee reward
before any such tribunal Is that gentleman right in that
position! III he is, Mr. Corwn did something wrong In
ITSELF and deserves not he is certainly above
the reproach OF even the most fastdous in what he did
Let us refer to history this subject Every gen.
teman who hears knows that is usual and has been
from the beginning of this Government for Senators and
members OF this House appear counsel for fee and
reward or compensation, before the Supreme Court of
the United States to appear before any of the courts OF
the Union, and before commissioners appointed adju
cate claims similar these before just such tribunals
this was Nay, believe that, anterior to
our Revolution, Dr. Franklin did not consider it NAHUM
~ to receive fees and act agent for several of the
colonies before the proper departments Of the govern
ment OF the mother country Great Britain He the
regular agent first of Pennsylvania, then of Massachu
sctts and Of Georgia, perhaps others of the colonies
mantan therefore, that there is nothing in the thing
itself which, by the general of countrymen
even the wisest and the best has been considered
wroAg in acting counsel attorney agent for proper
compensation in such capacity. believe it is his
orical fact that after the Jay treaty there
mission instituted for the adjudication and settlement of
claims provided for in that treaty. and that the abes at
orneys in the country at that time appeared before the
board thus constituted; amongst them members Of
Congress.
Again. at the close of the last with England under
convention similar board constituted. The cele
brated Mr. Pinckney, of the State of Maryland, dstn
guished member of this bodyan honor to his State an
honor to his country-a man whose eoquence was per-
haps never surpasseda whose integrity was
questioned, far as know he sir, appeared am
informed before that commission and argued important
attorney for parties in interest Who heard
his conduct questioned? Who heard imputation
upon his character for thus advocating the rights
those who sought the aid Of his legal counsel give
him one instance among Others But further still
have paper before me- from which it appears that the
Hon. George NJ. Dallas, while he Vice President of
the United States received fees for prosecuting with
others, claim before of the departments others
were engaged with him in the same case members of
Congress- of the highest character and the srctest pu
rity How men thus employed be said to be employ
ed against the Treasury of the United States? In most
instances the only question is who among several claim
ants shall receive particular fund
But sir, down even to this very tribunal before
which Senator Corwin agreed appear as counsel He
not the only member of Congress who appeared or
agreed to appear there counsel And if there was
any thing improper in his connection with it, it not so
with other members of Congress? Mark you, do not
aude to these facts by way of casting mputatons upon
any OF the gentlemen whom shall name but do not
intend, sitting here in this hail. permit false impress
sion go before this country that Mr. Corwn who
distinguished lawyer shall be made scape goat of by
any gentleman upon this floor. Mark you that the whole
charge sustained is, that Mr. Corwn, tche Senator was
employed by Dr. Gardiner to represent his claim
amongst other lawyers before the Board of Commissioners
For the testimony is conclusive that perhaps, knowing
the statute of 1889, which have read if from other
consideration he disconnected himself from that relation
sury.
But the gentleman from Ohio Ir oLps says that the
transfer of his interest was all farce. Well if So the
issue is between him and his committee They do not
report that it farce. The witnesses unimpeach
ed, and they that it unconditional transfer of
all his interest in the claim am bound, therefore,
to consider it. Well then sir, Mr.. Corwin the only
distinguished Senator who appeared counsel before
that commission? | have not the docket but
speak from information which has been communicated to
me- and which have no doubt is correct am inform
rat he
BESToS) appeared in n there. am informed that
the honorable Senator from Louisiana Mr. SoULE ap-
hsrs aas the
The honorable Mr.. BRIGHT Senator from Indiana, APP
peared there also in four cases. am informed Whe
ther those gentlemen appeared for fee reward do not
know. come now to this House; and mark me again
that do not intend to cast any mpuaton upon any gen.
tleman because do not consider myself that there
any wrong in it. There was no law against it, and it had
been the custom OF the countr- from the hegnnnS fur
holding such positions to act in such capacity But
am informed that the honorable Mr. HOWARD Of Texas
appeared before that Commission in behalf Of claim
ants. The honorable Mr.. EwIsG, of Tennessee who
then but not now, member of this House, appear
ed there counsel, represented some party am
told The honorable Mr. PHELPS of this House did the
same thing.
Mr. PHELPS. The gentleman from Georgia is mistaken
Il in relation TO that matter.
Mr. STEPHENS. Well, sir shall be glad to be correct
ed only speak from information received from Others
as have stated
Mr.. PHELPS. Permit me- then, to make brief state
ment When the Mexican commission assembled, one of
my constituents handed his memorial with the request
that would send it to the commission with the proofs
accompanying it. did send it. My constituent then
desired to appear before the commission il necessary,
and attend the Action was had upon the case
but appeared before the commission. only in
qured Of Of the commissioners what action had
had upon it. / received compensation for it what
ever | attended to the business as would attend to
any other business Of my constituents But did APP
pear counsel in the case.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee wish to ask the gentle
man from Missouri this question Did you receive
compensation for your action before this commission
Mr.. PHELPS. did not appear before that board at ALL
nor did receive any compensation for fling the memo
/ rial
Mr.. HOWARD. AS the gentleman from Georgia has
mentioned my name in this connexon desire to state
that two constituents Of mine to which
filed before the board presented them however, with
out having exacted or received any compensation.
Mr.. STEPHENS. Then understand the gentleman from
Texas did appear before the board but received
| pensaton for it.
Mr. Howard will state that received petitions and
papers made out, Of which corrected and pc
ttion redrafted signed them counsel and presented
them before the board but received any compen
sation charged any have charged receiv
ed any pay for business which here attend before
the Departments.
While am up, however, win state that do not my
self consider appearance before such board any
thing improper in itself agreed this report, how
ever because think 1t better for the representatives
and the country that members Of Congress should APP
pear before such commissions and because consid
cred such appearance anything improper in itself
shall take occasion to state my for this opinion
before the debate closes
Mr STEPHENS. What was informed then is true, that
Al oal afnrotb hnar1