, 1860-04-27

| Is not probable more just or accurate re
suit could be obtained than these gentle
men have arrived at The amount CSccr
tanned to be due IS a very large one, anC
Congress will have to make provision fJl
its payment, if it is intended they shall b
Iiquidated, Of which presume there eau b,
/ doubt"
Although the fitness Of the members o.
the commission to perfIrm the duties de
yoyed upon them is determined by tht
mere fact Of their appointment, it nay no
be amiss to say that two Of the three Nom
bers of the commission were officers Of the
army who had served for long years in the
Territories, who were familiar with the'I
population and resources, familiar with
prices and familiar with the Indians Of the
country. Capt. Smith, the president Of the
commission, had served in southern Oregon
aud was familiar with the Rogue River war
Capt. ingalls, was the principal quarter
master for the district Of the Columbia
river, and was familiar with the movements
Of troops, and with the cost of supplies and
transportation, both Of the volunteers aud
regulars. The other member Of the com.
mission, Mr. Grover had served on previ
Gus commissions to the acceptance or the
government, and had participated in the
operations of the troops in the campaign,
both in Oregon and Washington.
The manner in which the commission dis.
charged their duties is shown by their re.
port. They say:
"In examining iato the amount Of ex-
penses necessarily incurred for the mainte-
nance Of these volunteer forces, the com.
mission deemed it proper. under the author
ity contained in the order organizing the
board, TO visit extensively both territories,
with view Of being informed fully OF the
nature aud extent OF the late Indian hostil-
tiles, the means employed for their sup.
preston, the rates of labor, the prices cur
rent of property furnished the service, and
the facilities and expense of transportation.
THE Ciicers Of the staff departments Of
the late volunteer service were visited, and
the\modb Of doing business and The integ-
rty OF their accounts inquired into r.
regularitics and imperfections were, Of
than might have been anticipated
'The commission, in pursuing its inqui-
ries into the character aad extent Of such
liabilities, first took up these vouchers aud
examined each in detail with reference to
lst, its being genuine and sufficiently nn-
thenticated; I'd, the kind of property or
services embraced, whether or not proper
or necessary under the circumstances for
military purposes to which devoted; and,
Sd, the rates Of compensation allowed or
contracted for.
Frequent conferences were had with Of.
icers and agents who originated these
vouchers, and with the parties claimant, in
all cases admitting Of doubt in the regular
ty and integrity of the claims, and, when
necessary, the sworn statemeHis Of disn-
terested persons have been taken.
"Such claim, and items in any claim, us
were based upon the furnishing Of property
or labor rot necessary or proper for the
maintenaHee of the volunteer forces have
been rejected.
"In passing upop the rates Of compensa-
ton and allowances, the commission took
into consideration the various market prices
Of the different sections ofcountry embraced
in the field of operations during the late
Indian war, and established, oil the state
ments and testimony Of the most competent
witnesses, carefully adjusted prices current
Of the several local markets. with these
rates as guide, each voucher was exam
ined with reference 10 tie sums therein al.
lowed for the property or service described.
In all cases where there existed established
rates for particular kind Of properly in u
district, and the rates in the voucher were
excessive, q deduction was recommended
and endorsed thereon. Iu cases where rates
were not excessive, tie YOU her was ell
dorsed approved"
1t was clearly the intention of Congress
to assume the payment Of all Expenses ne
cessarily incurred in the Suppression of the
hostiities referred to, aud heyNrec(ed the
appointment OF tribunal to ASCERTAIN these
expenses. Complicated questions of ac-
count can never be properly determined by
legislative and hardly by judicial bodies
1t has been the practice in this government
to refer questions Of this character, which
do not come within the ordinary jurisdiction
of the courts Of law, to special tribunals,
called commissions. Such commissions
have been appointed under treaties to set.
tie claims between the United States aud
other countries, to make combinations oil
lands and to settle war expenses These
commissions, unlike ordinary tribunals, are
selected by the executive for their special
learning and fitness for investigation on the
subjects committed to them. They act uu
der the highest sanctions that eau be i'm
posed upon men, and their judgments have
been invariably held as conclusive upon the
questions submitted to them. Such was the
tribunal which has passed upon these claims
1t is unnecessary to speak of the ntegri
ty or special qualifications Of the member:
of the commission.
BY the plainest rule Of common sense anC
justice, by the auaIogies of judicial proceed
lngs, and by the invariable practice of thil
government in similar cases, the judgment
of this tribunal is conclusive upon all mat
ters which came properly before it, aud can
not be questioned, impeached or set aside