Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-21

den OF business whic that Committee had 10 per.
torn. They had nothing 10 do. except what might
De- specihcally imposed upon them by the Senate.
tie was Indifferent about the disposition which
might DC made Of this resolution. but the duty of
the Post Office Com.nittee cd with the
business OF that Department. 1t was duty esprci-
ally assigned to them They were TO ascertain
what laws were defective, and in what manner they
should be amended He did not obi ect to tho pro
posed scrutiny; and it it were committed to other
members, he should chccrfully acquicscc. lie was
no fonder OF labor than other gen, emen Ii the ex
animation were assigned to the Post Office Com.
mittee, he, for one. should be willing to engage in
lii.
Mr. Holmes observed, that the practice Of rcferr
ing duties OF this kind to special committees
novel II was not unusual IN the other House When
there, he had been member of committee oi
investigation. The House had given them the pow
or tn send for persons and papers. Some If the
Leads cf Departments had been brought before them,
The committee had madea borough cxa mnation
aud had discovered some abuses which required cor
rection. new Administr ar ion IN power;
and it might be well for the Senate to take a peep
| behind the executive curtain. In the Post Otic.
Department great shangcs had been made; mis- axes.
errors. aouses. might have crept in 1t was, there
fore proper, in order that the subject might undergo
full and thorough examination, that it sho3,d be
! referred tn special committee
MIR Noble said that he did not mean to be- tedious
but he should tell the truth Great complaints had
been made against this Department. There was
Obadiah IL Brown-he did not wish To he rough
and th"re were the relations of Richard NJ. Johnson
OF Kentucky, who had large contracts with that De-
partment for carrying the mail. Worthy and honor
able citizens felt aggreved Mt the fvorsm shewn by
this Department. IL was well known. that in thai
aud other Departments of the Government. they
who were tho most IN the habit OF dancing tendance
were the most successful in their Applications Rash
as this decllra ion might b. considered in him. he had
said It, and he should not rc'ract Let these Dnnart
mens be brough, TO the bar ofiustre and tested bv
their conduc,. lfha were ono ofthe majority. he
would not withhold inquiry into the conduct of anv
Andrew lar RI lo b,p,
blest mental He meant in this remark no allusion
the high minded and honorable public officers who
differed from him in politics. He respected them as
much gentlemen. a star from he West
would shorily appear here. He hailed its approach
Mr.. Noble then inquired oeihe Secretary, who was
the Chairmln of The Committee on the Post oi.a and
Post Roads: AMI, upon being informed by the Chair
thar il was Nj Grundy. he i'qnreh whether Mr.
Bibb of K'nturkv, was not also member OF that
committee: lThe Char SAID not Mr. Noble said that
he meant no disrespect by the question. Mr.. Bihb
vas the Chairman at tho last session. and hc had
thought that he was member at present He de
clarel that rigid committee was required on the
present occasion. Th" s,oner tho Augean stable
was cleansed the better. II would he better 10 have
special committee fr the purpose He referred. as
n precedent in point 10 similar investigation into
the General Post Office affairs some years AFRO bv a
special committee of which that distinguished reform
err the Secretary of the Treasury, had been
'vr.''." virus" Iute message had Shut up the great
outlet ofthe
Mr. Bell sud, thar many complaints had been made
concerning the Post Ofc" Department They had
lately been more general than at any other time
lie did not say hat they were we'll founded; but
they deserved the atieD' ion If the Senate II had
been 'he general practice to refer particular investi
CATIONS into the manner IN which executive duties of
the government had been performed, TO special COM
mtecs. He did not know why this practice should
DC departed from this occasion. 1t vas proper
that this enquiry should 60 to gentlemen disposed
M Ike the most thorough invesiigu' ion. If gentle
men were convinced that the complaints were I'M
founded they ought to permit those to make the in
ves'lGation who were impressed with the opinion
that an investigation was necessary, because re-
port from such o committee in favor of the Depart-
ment would be satisfactory to every body. II wos
due. therefore, TO those who desired the enquiry as
well as to the Postmaster General himself that it
should 60 to special committee. These reasons in-
duced HIM to vote against the motion amends
Mr. King said. that gentlemen seemed TO treat
this sDhject f any member Of the Senate were on
posed to tho inquiry.
Mr.. Bell explained. He assured the gentleman
from Alabama that il had not been his intention 10
make any such suggestion.
Mr. King cons iercd that tho Post Office commit
tee was composed OF as honest and honorable men
as any other members of the Senate. As to their
having too much To do it was notorious that thew had
little or nothing to do, until after the Post Office
Committee Of the House Of Representatives had
made their report Unless effect different from
fair exposition were intondet expected from this
inquiry, he could agne reason for taking il OH,
"
properly belonged. Was it proposed to refer the
subject to special committee in order to impress
beilef m the existence Of extraordinary complaints
and ofahuses, lie no apologis for any depar,
ment IF any head off department had done wrong
let him be brought before committee; let him be
censured, or even punished if punishment was pro-
per- He did not believe that the individual now at
the head Of the Post Office would shrink from any
investigations IT II were lntimat"d I" him that wos
desired He had administered that department with
integrity skill, and ability. Ills predecessor did the
same. Mr.. King hoped the enquiry would be re-
ierrcd to the committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
MT Cl'yton expressed hope. that gentlemen
would not suppose that he wished take this enqui.
ry from tho committee the Post Office and Pos,
koads. because Of any want Of confidence in them -
lie had no such idea Because he had confidence in
that committee, did it follow TINT this special and la
borious Investigation should be referred TO them;.-
The same argument would apply with cqua force
against the reference Of any other proposition 10 a
special committee. Were not other standing com
mi'tees composed also Of honorable men: The OBJ
lecou 1t were sound. would apply on all occasions