Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-05-04

prOprlety ct taking up the subject, uncon-
nected with the merits of the case. He
adverted 70 fact which had come to his
knowledge--the dismissal of some OF the
clerks from the post Office and ne should
be glad To learn whether that had bee
done in consequence OF any facts they had
disclosed; or whether it appeared to the
e9mmittee that those men possessed any O.
whence which their dismissal might be
intended to prevent, sc.
Mr.. Wright saw no reason for pressing
this matte~ on the eve of the adjournment,
and after the members Of the committee
which had Investigated the matter had
gone away. He had uinuIely examined
the report and evidence, and he saw no
foundation for the accusations, which APP
| peared to be perfectly groundlcss. He JUS
| tined this d sCharge of the clerks, &c.
MIR. Grosvenor thought, il the Postmas
ter General, after asking the investigation,
had discharged clerks with view To pre-
vent the remainder of the clerks from Civ
ing testimony, it was high contempt of
| this house, and deserved it's severe ami
madversion. He did not know that such
was the f1ct-he had no evidence Of it but
common repnrt, &c.
| MIR. Johnson of Ky. said, that this was
| subject IN the estim 1ton of the member
from N. Carolina (Mr. Culpeper) sulfici-
entity important to arrest all other business
before the house. 1t is little astonishing
SAID Mr.. J. that member, impressed with
| TINS Importance, and which he would not
deny, should make suck motion one dav
| only previous 10 the close of the session.
| when the house had before it a great num-
| Der o; bills, which it was Indispensable 10 be
acted upon; not only this, but TO make the
motion the day after the chairman of the
committee had left Congress, and not the
! CHAIRMAN only, but other membcrs-onc
| from Virginia, (Mr. B,rbour) who was an
X'ous to have the subject before the house,
| out which the house, on several occasions,
mad refused, or neglected if you viii, to
Ike 1t into nsderation. Mr.. Johrson
said, he WIS equally anxious that the sub
| CT should re invest;ga ted-yes, thorough
! " investigated for he never had been
placed N situation where he was afraid
TO accuse or acqmt any person, if it be-
| came ms duty to do so. To met the
WISHES OF the gentleman from n. Carolina,
| he I'd. he would vote to resCind the ioinf
7, solution for Adjournment, If the prnDosi.
ton was made; for no member could he.
leve THAT justice could be done to c,hsr
party, in SO short time, ifthe subject was
81 import'nt. Nj. ]. said. that he was We.
| ny g I'd TO fin1 that thu honorable mover
knew so much. Did he know more than
ne committee OF investigation If so, how )
l)id the committee refuse testimony. or did
they suppress any important fact? Mr.
Johnson wished to ask each member of the
commIttee on this subject, and he wanted
% Know II the committee agreed to the re
port unanimously, or was the committee
| divided? These were ENQUIRIES he ehorId
4 III fFaa 4,
lima knew more than the ccnnro;tte, IL
would enquire from what source he nh.
tanned MS information, and why such in
formation was withheld from the commit
! tee But At tins zine these enquiries
Could not be made of all the committee. be-
cause one half had lett the city.
! IF this matter was not brought forward
whose fault was it? 1t was in the power of
any m smber 70 make molten at any time.
| that would have involved the discussion of
the merits of the report. Those very mem
| perS we're 10 blanc, who we're dissatisfad
with the Course the chairman pursued in
calling up the report, when the Speaker
read the order of the day on that subject
| Tor to his knowledge the chairman had CAL
| Id 1t twice, and on neither occasion would
| the house take up the sutherland he pre-
su'n~d because the more PR ssing concerns
| OF the nation were before the house. If
that was the reason, or whatever reason.
1t IS impossible, SAID Mr.. ]. that Justice can
be done TO the parties concerned, It this
time; nor Coald members express their
sentiments, VIII ch he WIS desirous To 20.
at the close Of the session. This view a.
lone would preveat him from voting to take
up the subject now. Some observations
hid been made i'll relation to three If the
Gle ks ing dismissed. Mr.. Johnson said.
IT the necessity existed FOR such dismissal.
he regretted that necessity. If they were
dismissed without necessity, he would still
more regret the circumstance, because.
de erved or not, the dismissed CLERKS would
no doubt, feel It IN relation to their avoca-
tons. But, MIR. ]. s id, who was the in iee
on this occasionf Who hid the power Of
appointing clerks in the various exccu-
tive Offices from the foundation of the
government? Was it Congress, or the
heads If Departments? Would 1t lie pro
per for Congress. to appoint the various
clerksl If so they would then have the
right to dismiss. Have we ever had an
enquiry into the caus of the dismissal
OF any officer of the government, By the
eXecutive--or the dismissal of any clerk
by the head of a department? He belev-
ed no such case could be adduced of
course, Mr. j. said, whether he considered
these clerks worthy Of confidence or not
ne was not tile Judge Of their continuance
N employment it was the Post Master
General But, say gentlemen, Shall
clerks be turned out for giving evidence
IN an enquiry into the conduct of the De-
DartmCDt To which tIgv b-IOpo5 M