The Washington union., 1857-05-14

DulltSS RESPONSIBILITIES, AND LABORh OF The
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNI
TED STATES
Having recently seen bill reported during the
last Congress by Mr.. Adams senator from Missis-
sippi for reorganizing the Attorney Generals Office
and changing it into law department, have been
led to make examination into its present duties,
responsibilities, and labors. The Office was created
by the Judiciary act of 1889, and specific duties de-
volved upon it, relating to arguing causes in the Su-
preme Court and giving legal opinions when re-
qured by the President requested by the head of
department. These were increased by the act of
1880 creating the Office of Solicitor OF the Treasury
for which he was made the counsellor and legal adj
wiser. His duties were largely augmented by the
law of l841 requiring him TO examine and certify
upon the validity of the title to lands purchased by
the government for public purposes. They fur
ther increased by an executive order of 1855, ma
king him the organ Of the departments in giving in
sructons for the institution and defence of suits
where the United States are interested. When re-
qured by the President a statute, he takes
charge Of other legal matters, specially directed
as in the enlistment suits and California land
All these duties performed under high response
blties with only the assistance of clerks receiving
the ordinary salaries, without the aid of single
bureau officer. This simple statement must be suih-
cent to satisfy all that law department should be
created, and the Attorney General provided with
those aids common to all departments. The public
convenience requires that there should be cen
trail head for the management Of all the legal business
of the government This can best be done by uni
ting the Solicitors office to the Attorney Generals
thus forming department, and clothing 1t with all
the powers necessary to supervise and control,
through the district attorneys the civil and criminal
law business arising under the laws of the federal
government.
On recent occasion gentleman familiar with
the affairs Of the government and the operations of
the various departments and Offices made the follow
ing remarks, which we permitted to copy:
'Ours is complex system of government consisting
of national State, county and town laws, enacted by
separate authorities and construed and executed by diff
erent Jurisdictions These various laws constitute
of political machinery more complicated than exists else
where in the civilized world Wheel revoves within wheel
from that which encres the Union to that of the smallest
school district The harmonious working of this immense
body of legal machinery mainly depends upon each portion
being applied exclusively to its proper functions. When
diverted from its legitimate and appropriate uses
urous if not fatal consequences The judiciary in ex-
pounding and applying the laws constitute the great regu
ating power which confines each portion to its proper
functions quickening when necessary, and restraining
when proper, and guiding the whole for the
good The Judiciary consists of magistrates of diversified
Jurisdictions from those setting upon the supreme bench
Mt the Capitol to those who adudicae upon the minor
differences as village Justices each having assigned him
duties adapted to his jurisdiction In each Of these the
parties may appear and be represented by counsel whose
occupation is studying and expounding the laws and
sorting and protecting the rights OF their clients Judi
cial tribunals settle the contested rights Of parties with
the aid OF all the light which counsel shed upon
them.
.sWhcn aided by the industry learning and intelligence
of counsel the duties of the judge properly esteemed
most aborous and arduous and his position of the
highest responsibility Permit to describe of the
duties devolved upon the Attorney General In adj
dition to those of member of the cabinet, others
atng to judicial appointments and the investigation of APP
plications for pardons are now committed to him AS
counsel and advocate he has charge of the entire ltiga
ton in the Supreme Court where the government is
cerned, including the California and other land
But his greatest labors are in his quasi judicial
pacity, in the performance of which he is seldom aided
by the abos of counsel and never except upon side
He required by law to examine the title to every pur
chase Of real estate made by the government, whether
for sites for lighthouses, custom houses, post Offices
marine hospitals, navy yards FORTS other public
purpose No money can be expended upon either until
he ceres the title to be valid still greater subject
of judicial labor is found in the calls by the President and
to aid them in the discharge of their official duties His
opinions give direction to the operations of the national
government and often influence those of the States In
forming them he from necessity, acts from his
annaons, without the advantage which the courts de-
rive from forensic discussions This branch of his duties
is rapidly increasing During the first half century Of
government few of this class of opinions given
and none upon titles these published in three
mon-sized volumes Those given by the present incum
bent within the last four years, will fill the same
number of volumes Those relating to titles during the
same time would fiji another These duties have
stoned labor which few could endure, and have
been performed from the character Of those who have
held the office, feel authorized to say with single eye
truth and justice, and with wachul solicitudc to
cure the citizen his rights and to keep the operations of
the government within their legitimate sphere thus
curing the harmonious working Of that portion Of
complicated government machinery which is committed
to the executive branch of the national government
The opinions given will in all time be quoted by the bar
and respected by the bench reliable expostons of
constitution and laws and relative rights and duties
as a member of the family of nations
THE COAST SURVEY.
This valuable work calls forth the following judi