Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-21

Office Committee, he ought, perhaps t. 5n sparing
IN his remarks on the question before the Senate.
Gentlemen were. however, mistaken as TO the bur
den Of business which that Committee had ~ per- /!
form. They had nothing to do. except what might
be specifically imposed upon them by the Senate.
tie was Indifferent about the disposition which
might be made of this resolution but the duty OF
the Post Office Committee was connected with the
business of that Department It was duty especi
ally assigned to them. They were to ascertain
what laws were defective, and i'm what manner they
should be amended He did not obi ect to the pro
posed scrutiny; and if it were committed TO other
members, he should cheerfully acquicsce. lie was
no fonder oflabor than other gentlemen Ii the eX'
| amina ton assigned 10 the Post Office COM
mittee, he, for one, should BIO willing to engage in
| il.
Mr. Holmes observed, that the practice of REFER
ing duties of this kind special committees not
novel 1t was mol unusual in tho other House Whom
There, he had heen member of COMMITTEES OF
Investigation. Tho House had given them the pow
or To send for persons and papers. Some Of the
Heads Of Departments had been brouo ut before them.
The committee had made thorough examination
aud Ind discovered some abuses which required cor
rection. new Administration was now IN power;
and it might be well for the Senate to take peep
| behind the executive curtain In the Post Office
Department great changes had been made; mis- axes
errors, aouscs, might have crept in 1t was there
fore proper, in ordar TINT the subject might undergo
a full and thorough examination, that it shoald be
referred to special committee.
! Mr. Noble said that he did not moan to be tedious
but he should tell the truth Great complaints had
been made against this Department. There was
Obadiah b. Brownie did not wish to be rough
and there 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 at the favortsm shewn by
this Department. 1t was well known, that in tina:
and other Departments Of the Government they
who the most in the habit OF dancing enhance
ware the most successful in their applicat;ns Rash
as this declaration might be considered in him. he had
said it, and he should not reract. Let these Depart
| q q este by
their conduct. II he were ofthe majority, he
wovss not withhold m inquiry into the conduct of any
Officer, even from Andrew Jackson down to the hum
blest mental He meant IN this remlrk no allusion to
the high minded and honorable public officers who
differed from him in politics. He respected them
u,uch gentlemen. A star from he West
would shorty appear here. He hailed its approach.
Mr.. Noble then inquired ofthe Secretary, who was
the Chairman of the Committee the Post Office and
Post Reads? And upon being informed by the Chair
that it was Mr. Grnndy he inquired whether Mr..
Bibb. of Kentucky, was not also member of that
committee? [The Chair said not Mr. Noble said that
he mean, no disrespect by the question. Mr. Bib
vas the Chairman at tho last session, and he had
thought that lie was member at present. He de-
cared that rigid committee required on the
present occasion. The sooner the Augean stable
was ceansed the better. II would be better have
special committee for the purpose He referred as
precedent in point to similar investigation into
the General Post Office affairs years ago, by q
special commit of which that distinguished reform
the present Secretary of the Treasury had been
the chairman. He also alluded to that other chief OF
refrmers, whose late message had shut UP the great
outlet ofthe west.
Mr. Bell said, that many complaints had bean mad q
concerning the Pos, Office Department They had
lately been moro general than at any other time.
| He did not say that they we'll founded; bu,
tthsy deserved thv atsen.ion1D the Senate. It had
been the general practice to refer particular invest
cations into the manner in which executive duties oil
the government had been performed, TO special COM
mitsecs He did not know why this practice should
be departed from this occasion. II was proper
that this enquiry should go to gentlemen disposed 10
make the most thorough investiga ion. IF gentle
men were convinced that the complaints were I'M
founded they ough, to permit those to make the in
vestigation who were impressed with the opinion
that investigation was necessary, because q re-
port from such committee in favor of the Depart
ment would be satisfactory to every body. 1t was
due therefore. to those who desired the enquiry,
we'll as to the Postmaster General himself that it
should GO to special committee These reasons in
duced him to vote against the motion to amend.
!! Mr. King said, that gentlemen seemed TO treat
this subject as IL any member of the Senate were OPP
posed to the inquiry.
Mr.. Bell explained. He assured the gentleman
! from Alabama that it had not been lis intention 10
max any such suggestion.
Mr.. King considered that tho Post Office commit
teo composed OF hoDcst and as honorable men
| az any other members of the Senate. As to their
having too much to do, it notorious that they
little nothing to do until after the Post Office
| Committee of the Mouse of Representatives had
made their report Unless effec, different from
fair exposition were lntoned or expected from this
inquiry. he could ina CINE reason for taking it out
of the hands Of the standing committee to which i,
properly belonged. Was it proposed to refer the
subject to special committee in order to impress
belief in the existence Of extraordinary complaints
and Of abuses? He was no apologst for any depart
meDt Ifany head of department had done wrong
let him be brought before committee; let him DO
censured, punished. if punishment was pro-
per. He did not believe that the individual now ut
the head Of the Post Office would shrink from any
Investigation. if it intimatrd to him that it was
desired He had administered that department with
integrity, skill, and ability. His predecessor did the
same Mr.. King hoped the enquiry would be re-
ferred to the committee on the Post Office ard Post
Roads 49,.
MIR: Cl,yton expressed hope. that gentlemen
wond not suppose, that he wished to take this enqui-
~ from the committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads, because of any want Of confidence in them-|
he had no such ldea. Because he had confidence in
that committee, did follow that this special and la
6orlous investigation should be referred to them?-