Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-04-05

called here at a moments warning
anon national concerns that the
Clerk Of this House aud the Secfe
|tary Of the Senate we're also high &
responsible officers, constantly in ths
public service. aud men better en-
titled to the privilege than many
who possessed it !; and a concurrence
lin the amendment, would be consent
ling to take rank below the subordi
rate officers Of the government. III
knew that great clamor had beer
attempted to be raised on the suhjec
OF another, [the Compensation bill
which lately passed the House; blu
what political materials are there sait
mfr. r.. which factious printers vii
mot work up t. serve their purpose
Was there shadow Of reason why
the Vice President OF the U State.
should be invested with this privilege
that was nat equally strong in favel
of the presiding officer Of this Houses
Ia privilege possessed by the highest
and The lowest officer in the public
empioy-from 'he President Of the
U. States, to deputy post master
who does not receive FIVE dollars a
year in postage. Compare this pri
vilege, said he, with the exemption
from militia service. which is con
ferred on post masters, and then de-
eide the question. He could not a.
gree to The practice of stripping the
members of Congress of q necessary
privilege, like SO many livery ser
wants, twenty days after the end OF
The session.
Mr Cuthbert was in favor ofcon.
currence. IL the privilege of frank
ing were,claimed as a matter oicom.
pensation, then gs matter Of com
pensation he was Oppossdto lift as
"a matter of privilege then IS mat.
ter Of privilege he was opposed to it.
He thenght also, that instead of
maintaining the dignity Of the mem
beys by eontending for this power,
they were putting themselves on q
footing with the subordinate officers
Of the government by il. The Pre-
sident Of the U. States, he said, was
the chief executive magistrate, cen
stantly engaged in corresponding
on national concerns, and required an
exemption from the payment ofpos-
tage, Whatever privileges are ne
cessary to aid in conducting public
business, aud not to suit private con.
venience, for the purpose Of cores.
bonding with friends, &c. was pro
per, but none others.
Mr. Webster spoke against con
cnrrins with the Senate ia their a.
neudment He thought il there
was any necessity or prophet, in the
privilege during the session. it was
agBaiiy proper during the recess, if
members " ere 60 be regardedas pub
lie men. The power Of abusing the
privilege was no argument how
many thousand deputy post masters
were there who could abuse the
privilege. yet it was not urged
gains' granting it to them. lie tho't
ii was proper to contine the privilege
strictly to the session, or to extend
it TO the recess also.
Mr. Reynolds was also in favor Of
retaining the privilege. An impor
tant reason for it was, the resolution
this very day adopted, to make the
standing committees permanent dur
ing the whole Congress, which W ouId
involve them in correspondence on
public business
Mr.. johnson spoke a short time
against the amendment Gle thought
it important that communication
should be kept up during the recess,
between the members and their con
stituents.. In this case said he, we
should not be presenting petitions OF
the last day of the session, if free
channel Of communication could be
kept open. In every point of view,
without going over the elevated, the
dignified ground on which this cues
ton stood, il ought to he maintained
by the house
Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Grosvenor
also made some remarks in favor of
the privilege after which,