Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-28
Che Constitutional aylbtD.
IN SENATE OF THE u s Frn 10, 1881.

Post Odice p0ririent from Investigating the |
principles upon which The rcmov ais have been
made in that Department
Mr. PRrsipENr: 1t ,s with unfcgned reluctance
hat ] rise for tho purpose of again engaging In
discussion OF the resolution OF the honorable gen
tlcnan from Tennessee LaborinE as ] DO at this
much more agreeable 10 my feelings, II consistent
with my sense of duty. to suffer those who origina-
ted this debate to form their political textbook for
the year, as the gentleman from indiana has phra
sed II, without any attempt on my part to iis
beauties correct It's but the remarks which
I had the honor to address to the Senate on this
,bJect have been grossly perverted and the real
state Of the funds OF the Post Office Department rs
they appear from the documents before us. has been
incorrectly represented by the members from
l.ew Hampshire and Tennessee, (Mcssrs Woodbury.
md Grundy,) that am again compelled TO trcspuss
upon hc indulgence Of this honorable body.
Before proceed to discharge this necessary duty
suffer me-, sir, briefly 10 notice an observation which
Eel from the member from Missouri, (Mr Benton, J
,hc course of debate the salt tax, originated
by him, and which you then pronounced to be dsor-
DERBY. He pleased To say that tho Senate
ought not to deny him hearing this important
motion abolish the duty alum salt, while they SO
willingly consented to this Investigation, (which en-
gagged them petty constsbles in icrretng crimes
Of which they might afterwards become iudrcs"
There was nothing, sir, in the source from which
this sprung, in the manner In which it made, or
in the occasion winch gave il birth that would have
entitled II to any notice ON but for the repe-
tiIion Of the argument involved IN il. that the Senate
ought not 10 inquire into mpcachable matter. That
argument, sir, has been urged by the Senator from
New hampshire and supported by the gen, -man
from Tennessee, to deprive the Committee of the
power of ascsrtainng the principles upon which
Your Postmaster General has removed so many hun
drrds o. Officers from his Department. II II has not
been sufficiently met and answered already, il was
because Such an argument was not deemed worthy Of
70v abnr- reply Ii is every hvpor ritical pre-
'-n's ".N ingenuity can resort to for the purpose
'- .c'cen'ng guilt or condcmnlng innocence not
t'a compliant vi every - eggplant who bends before
',er. and who would prostTGtc the dignity of the
into while he atftcs 10 mourn over lis fall that
meets an answer from But TO the gen'emln
from Tennessee who represents the Highly respect
able Legislature which elected him, and who doubt
less thinks there weight in this objection when no
presses 1t, answer that the object OF The whole
inquiry expressed the face of the resolution
under the authority of which he and 7 are actinn
Us members of Committee, is to enable us 10 r.
gisldte; that 1t not instituted to Law The finn,
dalton tor any impeachment that the right which
the Senate enjoys as CO ordinate branch OF the
whole legislative power OF the Union, involves tho
right to enquire into every abuse IN all the Drn,r,
nents OF the Government winch lerlslation c,,
reach, aud which Congress ougbt either to limit or
prevent. The power 10 inquire whether law be
necessary, mast be IHcIrnt AM .uisi.llafy 10 the
power to make II.
His reasoning 10 screen the P tnjas,cr T,,c-,l
from this investigation proves tnp mach II would
prevent us from examining the conduct of all those
subordinate officers OF this G,vcrumcnt Who are "a
: preS!aen, u of
Department. The gem eman from N zine Inns i.,sl,
remarked, that the Senate is for some purnos.s
Judicial, for others Legislative body 1t exercise,
all the powers incident 10 each of these capoc fjcs in
dependently of others. Was it ever heard tina, the
Senate forburc 10 counsel and advise :in prrsru, IN
their executive character, because they might there
by PREJUDICE matters which, by possibility nirh,
afterwards be submitted to them leg slators Shoud
we reuse TO hear word TO convince us OF the ne
cessiy OF passing m act to prev,n'. BIZ inrrpasir-
the penalties for. cXtorton in public Oil crs he
cause we might be called upon to try them as jud,os,
DID we refuse 10 decide in our l1iIalal canacty
question of contempt, Cause such hill rs has since
been introduced, 10 regulate the lazy If cokt.p,,.
might be brought before US The a-rrupc,, :, ,
deserve the name Of one, would subyeTt the now.-
and obstruct the whole action Of the Senate /, al
such cases the Objection OF Judging IL met & crush
u by the anita Gon!2nT Consideration that orr du,u,
the people and us To tic magma char,1 of ,Ior
Liberties require of Vs. 10 close every avenue a1ons
the possible abuse of power. and 10 expose md
tram every encr"achment upon their rights Sir there
are perhaps, hundred cases appear no on MIR ro,
cords, in which inquiries have been made hc,, ;u,,
abuses OF the government for the Purposes of Ingis
.ton; and 1t IS not too much to say that this is iLo
hrst time IN the history of this body when such an
objection has been advanced TO screen n Dubc ,C;.
'om fair and full investigation of the nr;ncinIoa
which have regulated his Official conduct. I, 10 NJ
loss striking thau novel, too that the friends or th
postmaster Genera should be'ray snch sen-i.,veu.ss
Test NE examination If ne Committee s6o,Li LnJ
n
pointeu IN the early part Of this session. il w,s
vaunngIy urged by his friends here, that thew dcS
cd the investigation, and courted the i9nu;ry J
Their cry was, "nono but tue CALLED Jade VIZ.
css' '-Examlne ,, every thing and you will find
oil right" The original resolution dlrcct;nc,
he inquiry into tho entire management of Iho ing ng
Partmen', was adopted with air of triumph, ,bonUb
the anxiety to AVOID the scrutiny of a Select Con-"
mitee did not very well compor,, ss | tbonrb,
then' cir with the lofty and sounding phrases which
accompanied IT. When the trial begins, we see
ha Va. ne" ng.i is suddenly shed on the question
men decided n part Of the power which va . doI
e9igated on the Committee must be now rcvokod
Inc llght begins TO shine too brightly md Tho Gro
Is. we arc AFRAID you will Disclose lmueacLmcy,
matter In other words, the fear Is that the Pn.t.
Muster General has 50 grossly violated the Law aud
ti'ution, that IT sufT,r Sour Con,,,,,,n''
to examine his principles of Official ac;nn n,'5
view 10 restrain him, we may BE- compelled ,o ,
MN on an impeachment! | will not drny tbis s,y
because 1t has doubtless bsCn permitted to ~, /
gentlemen to learn much more of the .ec,ot.
Of his Department than myself and. n / d.,
not love TO contradict gentlemen when cou
avoid II, ] agree that the onn,cbon.ia. ~ 10"