.MTA1Nw.NzEyNDM

To the Committee &? Council In General Council Convened I submit for your consideration to determine on the expediency and propriety of making appropriations for the benefit of attorneys at law employed to defend the rights of the nation before the Courts of Georgia. It is known to you that WmH. Underwood Esq ? has been long in the service of the nation, and that he has been faithful in our cause; that he continues to be active & vigilant in pleading the law in support of the rights of our citizens; that for all his past services he has been paid but one Thousand Dollars & that through the hands of T. W. Harris who was at first associated with him and who has since treacherously deserted the cause which he had engaged to defend. The appropriations should be as liberal as the state of our treasury under existing circumstances, will allow. - Edward Hardin Esq has also rendered essential service, in concert with Underwood, in arguing the injunction cases before Judge Hooper at Cassville, for which he should also be remembered. It has also been communicated to me that several our citizens, previous to the argument of the injunction cases, deemed it adviseable to associate L. Rockwell Esq with our counsellors, & accordingly engaged his services & gave him their joint bond for the sum of one Thousand Dollars. It is now submitted for your consideration whether the nation ought not to assume the payment of this engagement. The great importance of the case, the elevated talents & professional ability of Col. Rockwell, together with the weight of character & influence which he commands among the citizens of his state, were considerations which induced our citizens to secure his services on the part of the nation. I have also been informed that Judge Underwood has associated in our cause Major Hansell? with himself. The valuable services of this Gentleman are fully known to some of you. His engagement, like that of Judge Underwood, is dependent entirely upon the liberality of the nation to compensate him whenever it may be in our power. - Barron & Irwin have also rendered important service in filling out blank injunctions & attending to such Cherokee cases as required their attention from time to time, during the absence of WmH. Underwood Esq; but of the particulars of their engagement I am not informed further than is stated in a letter received from them on the subject, which I submit for your perusal. - You will make such appropriations to meet these services as in your judgment the means of the Treasury will now justify.