New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-12
N,cvv YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY OCTOBER IL, 1860
man ss he was, he sconed to seek any advantage OF


! The Commission was extended in 1851, March :, tt },
one year Toward the close OF the year iV oor,S
pas ey,enatd Il became apparent tn me tnst oouia
not on;te close my labors within the extended peou'
and AZ re ported 10 the Secretary OF state %nV com
mnnicattd tie information to Congress. Inc oeere-
t + ,b;nk recommended another extension OF nine
months. This was rot sctsd upon until about the
close cav 2ith) Of February, 1852. II was necessary
that haste should be ussd lest should, for wan. of
an extension, be left without authority TO act before
NV LAHORE should be completed. When l found the
Secretary had recommended nine months extension
requested Mr.. Hamlin TO ray TO the Chairman on For
eigD Relations, Mr.. Mason, that I was sure could
cloee up all my work in four months. This MIR. Ham
Lin communicated 10 Mr.. Mason, aud the term was only
extended four months. also requested Mr.. Hsmlin
TO zee that Congress should act upon the proposition to
extend promptly, lest might be left without author
y to act He took the part he did in references 10 the
eXtenion solely at nv request. He had no interest 10
doing account of his agency for the Tarquin On
the contrary, IS have before stated the Claim OF the
Tarqun would probably have amounted to q larger
than 500 600 if the Commission had not been ex-
tended at all.
At tha. time it was a common thing for lawyers in
Congress well out of it to prosecute claims before
Commissioners and hsd never hee tie Improperly
hintsd. My friend, the Hon. John w. Houston, tue
Member of the House of Representatives, prosecutor
a claim before az the same time. and am sure ne
never suspected that he was doug an Improper act;
II bad nothing whatever to do with Copgresslons,,
action and any interest he might hsye 10 clau c3uu
Hamlin and Mr.. Houston, in all their intercourse WIN
me as Commissioner, acted other Tlse Ia 40 az
gentlemen of the highest honor and integrity, snouo
have acted. Ny acquaintance with MT. IL ANN CoW-
merc,d think about the time was appointed Com
missioner snd his honorable, manly BEARING won my
esteem aud friendship. thuk-nay, L know-tha'
The miserable charge made by MesTs Smart and Mac
douald against Mr. Hsmlin is idle and absurd TO gay
the least iO'''' '''i''"oG GEO P FISHER.
PORTLAND, Aug. 81, 1860.
The Hon. f. X. SMART: Dear Sir:
fear that I haze misled you, and hare done mus
tceIO Senator HanuliR IN my letter OF the l0h uh 10
REMEDY sDy wrong, / now send you the result OF my
examination in TIE Congressional Globe, OF the pas
SAGE of the resolution of February o. 1852 extending
the time of the Commission under the convention win
Brazil
On the 18th of February 1852, the President sent
message to the Senate setting forth the obstacles which
inn edo the conclusion of the business Of the MIS-
sion for the distribution Of the Brazilian indemnity
This message wss referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations, aud on the next day Mr.. Mason, the
Chairman of the Committee reported Joint resolve
extending the time nine months
On Feb. "A Mr.. Mason asked for the consideration OF
the resolution, and the Senate amended the same by
giving four months instead of nine
On Feb. 81 the amended resolution passed the House
Under the resolution the Commssion for the distrbu-
ton of the indemnity expired July /, 1872.
From these dates IL s evident that there are state
ments In my letter of the 9th ult. which are incorrect
Mr. Hamlin must have filed his argument before the
Commission was closed, viz July i, 1852. must be
in error SIS to the time stated that be read it To me- as
the second session of the XXXII3 Congress did not oc
cur until December 1852 From memory should nx
the time Of meeting Mr. Hamln on bis way to take tes,
tmopy in TIE Fall of 1859; but the evidence would
be put in before filing the argument it must have been
the Fall of 1851.
IF his conclusion is correct, Mr.. Hamlins attor-
nfgskip bsfore the Commission wds ended PRIOR TO the
DGsSoge Of tie rcsors Of FEB. ~, 1852, AND IT WAS
UNJUST fer me TO 0tri5utehis c6orts for the passage
of his resolution TO pirate interest.
Yours, truly, M. MACDONALD.