Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18

pendent position, on which dearest interests are
founded"
THE LATE MEXICAN CLAIMS COMMISSION.
In yesterdays number Of the Washington Sen
tinel" we find considerate and wellintended arti-
Gle upon the necessity of guarding, by due precau-
ton, against the success of unjust or fraudulent
claims which may be presented before Commissions
Of similar character with that under the late Mex
can Treaty. The last paragraph Of that article is
in the following words:
"We have heard it asserted that Mr.. Commissioner
PAINE urged that the Commission should send out
agent the part of the Government protect the United
States by getting all the information necessary to form
correct opinion the testimony offered that the oppo
sition to this proposition the last degree vement
and that he finally overpowered, and joined in decd
ing the upon parte statements We desire light
on this subject" /.
OF the incident said to have occurred before this
Claims Commission we do not recollect to have
heard BEFORE though it might have occurred with
out our hearing of it. Our purpose in noticing the
preceding paragraph is merely to refer to facts
ating to this subject which may be new to the Edi
tor of the "Sentinel" They are of record in the
journals of the day, and we bring them again be-
fore the public, as we'll to crafty the desire of the
Sentinel" for Eight on this subject" as to show
from what quarter an influence was exerted to de.
feat the measure which we understand that journal
as now recommending, and upon whom, if upon any
party more than another, rests the responsibility of
having defeated it, soon after the opening of the late
Mexican Commission
The first annual Message of President TAYLOR
to Congress contained the following explicit recon-
mendation
"In the adjustment Of the claims of American
citizens on Mexico provided for by the late treaty,
the employment of COUNSEL on the part of the Gov
eminent, may become important for the purpose
of assisting the Commissioners an protecting the
Interests of the United States. I recommend this
subject to the early and favorable consideration Of
Congress"
In the remarks upon this Message which were
made in the Washington "Union," the preceding
recommendation was referred to in the following
terms:
"The Message recommends the appointment of a
Counsel for the United States before the Commits
sion on Mexican claims; the use Of ,otona ace can
not see, inasmuch as the sum which the United
States are to pay is limited, and the Commission
ers themselves are the counsel of the Government
We can very well see how the claimants would be
interested in having counsel to oppose improper
claims, but zoe cannot perceive aohat interest the
Government has IN 1t Except to create place for
some tauorite."
Entertaining at that time precisely the same opin
ion as seems to be now entertained by the "Senti-
mel" of the measure SO earnestly recommended by
the President, the Editors of the National Intelli
gencer" sustained that recommendation to the best
Of their ability, in the following reoinder to the OBJ
iections of the " Union"
"The Union must have very odd fancies fitting in
its brain when it give better for its oppos
ton to conessedy wise if not necessary than
that cannot what interest the Government mean-
ing here the Presidency have in it other than to
ate place for favorte The very last desire Of the
Presidents heart dare to say would be to multiply
places to provide favotes with He has had already
perence enough learn that the last thing that any wise
man should DESIRE for his comfort personal graft
oaton the possession Of the power Of appointment to
Office every exercise Of which, the most unexcep
tionable creates for him hundred aye thousand
mics where makes him friend No great
or relief could be afforded the President satisfied
than ut moment DC competent
authority of this very power But surely it is
tracted and sordd objection to any proposition in itself
commendabe that it will incidentally involve the employ
ment Of one qualified citizen in the public service
The Union can very well how The claimants would be
interested in the opposition by the Government to i'm
proper Claims but it cannot how the Government lin
any sense) should be interested in It'll Has the Govern
ment proper interest in ustcen seeing that the laws
Including eates be faithfully execuedand therefore
in preventing the intrusion of claims before
Treaty Commission the injury and denial Of adequate
indemnity to just claimantsH And, if the Government is
be at the expense Of paying properly authorized
agent resist unfounded unsound claims who to do
Is each claimant expected to fee attorney to
every claim but his own to ferret out evidence against
them and where he doubts their foundation to oppose
the dstrused claims by learned argument To subject
claimants to such invdious and onerous exacon to
protect them in rights which the Treaty with Mexico
cures to them would be very obviously unjust and a
failure Of duty the part Of the Government Yet in
case clear that though the Editor of the Union
in his own words, by Wen how important is this
commendation to the clamants-whose interests he and
the late Administration had much at heart to make
them the ostensible ground Of the with Mexicohe
cannot any other than vicious motive in the Pres
dent for making it! What real objection, what honest
accusation the Opposition have to prefer against the
Administration, when such miserable pretences this
up by its leading organ grave exceptions to the
Message"
Counterfeit Half Dollars in circulation in Baltimore,
but may be distinguished from the genuine by their