Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-03-10
Session.
POST OFFICE INQUIRY.
DEBATE IN sENATG.-Feb. 9th, 1881.


not authorized TO call before them the persons
who have been dismiss from efiice. for th'
nurpose of ascertainlug the reasons or cause
of their removal" having been taken up io
conside ration:
Mr.. GRUMPY rose and said, be was sorry
10 have 10 trouble the Senate, by asking th'
.xpressioD of their opinion on the subject o.
the resolution ; but from difference OF opih
ian which had occurred in The Committee. he
felt il was "A matter of bsolute necessity. Fol
fhe understanding of the matter, he would
read so much Of the Journal of the Committee
as related thereto, TO show the nature of the
difference which existed. Mr.. Grundy here
read part of the minutes of The proceedings IN
the Committee from which IL appeared that
Mr.. Abraham Blade had been under ex
animation by the Committee--that Mr.. Holmes
rad proposed the following questions to the
witness how How long did you fill The Office
of Assistant Postmaster General d? When were
YOU removed from office, and FOR what cause 2
&c Mo Grundv objected 10 the questions as
did Mr.. Woodbury. and Mr.. Holmes refusing
10 give an explina ion OF the purport of the
uDstions, an Adjournment had taken place,
aud Mr.. Crundy had thought II necessary TO
have the opinion OF the Senate on the sub
iectl Mr.. Grundy proceeded--Thus you see
sir, the committee cannot get along in harmo-
nv, and il is necessary that the question should
be settled, or thu re is an end at once 10 their
labors.-it II should be the wish Of the Senate
10 give their opinion III the case, and TO decide
that the committee should go into an ex"mi.
uation of witnesses on the causes of their re
moyal, though It was his own opinion that
such course Of proceeding would he ehtlrey
foreign to the legitimate OH ice of the commit
ter, still he would cheerfully submit to the de.
sision, aud perform his duty as a member.
honest y and Yea ously. But when the com
mdee va; first arranged, he had no idea that
such course would be proceede! on, or even,
adopted particularly when he remembered
the decision of the last session on the sub
Ject, and that when the question was read
VI prying into the Causes OF removals by the
Executive, the proposition was put down by a
strong negative.
He thought that this would have been suf
fcient to guide the Committee IN their node Of
enquiry but majoriry'ol that Committee had
thought fit 20 go beyond that proper limit. Lei
us, said MIR Gruady but imagine, for a mo-
ment, the case OF an individual who has been
removed, and is IL possible that he can know
The cause OF his removal as ", II IA the person
who has removed him ifenQuiry is 10 be
made into the cause, IL should be sscertained
from the remover, as being the best Judge, as
knowing better than the individual himself, tue
fault in the performance OF his Official duty for
winch he Ddu UetH ttuiOfGus pui dsh Tue
individual removed, and it could not " expec-
ted thai he would give all the reasons against
himself which led to his dismiss n. | object
also, continued Mr.. Grundy, to such system
Of espionage on the administration, on prln-
cpIe The Executive are ansWera1le
for their conduct 10 their country Ii
TemSs IN the performance of their duty--ii
they beray the trust reposed in them, TO Tie
voice of their country are they amenable, and
public Justice will follow in lis course. II there
was any just cause 10 suspect abuse OF power
twas wrong 10 wait iii all the injury had
been dcne aud the possibility OF i, should have
been prevented. But there wasno such abuse as
was iasnaale I--lnd eve0 If there had been,
they were not the proper body to take II up.
II is not for US, said Mr. Grundy, 90 pieJudg"
such matters, and TO assume to ourselves the
right and Office OF the other House He wish
ed It 10 be distinctly understood, ia tue cOu' Sc
he had pursued, that the act was bis own,
without consulting what was the wish OF Others
on the subrc,. lie la j not the slightest OBJ
Jeclion 10 70 N with he enquiry, through fear
Of any truth being told that might initiate
against the department. for ofthis he was in
no dread-but he opposed the system, winch
gentlemen on the Committee would commence
on general grounds. Another thing he had to
state: His objection did not arise as mem
capacity oil Senator Of the United States. Is
fright to call in prejndiced witnesses to
bring forward every individual who fanci cs
himself mal-lrealed, TO give evidence III his
own cause Is it sht or just to found mate
flais tor report on such er pGrte testimony,
~heie there is no opportunity or where II is
mol 10 the power of, The other party, the Post
masier'General 10 cross-examine7 He hoped
that this intruded course would he arrested in
us progress thai those who we're Justly pun
l'hed would not be afforded an opportunity
Iof 'he mere qualification Of their revenge. Mr.
Nrundy SAID that the conduct of Mr.. Holmes
N enquring into the causes of the removal oil
ogcers, was unbecoming aud calculated TO make
,al'e Impressions abroad--t was mainly cslcu'
,o'ea 10 do injustice-and therefore did he ask
ior ms resolution 10 be adopted.
MI tLAf lON rose TO reply 10 Mr.. GRuN
VI lie sad, that until the esolutlon was sub
'""'ro' he was not aware that such course
"as contemplated, and he Was surprised tina
should have been adopted without the direc
Nv" '" knowledge of the Commtlee-especlal
~ 10 "ey mad not yet come TO any decision
=" we sdR)' matter of the resolution. Ii
W 'he proposition objeclionabl', because
"' '"e ehec TO eiicita partial history o
'ae proc edlngs OF the commi tee, befor
r,, regular report Of those proceeding
oe submitted to the Senate. Bui h
'surprised by il, because it W as caIcula
x', give The pubic very erroneous impress
If .. 10 pec'lng The conduct and great objeC
G "e inquiry. Tbs resolution declares tina
h eommIilee d" are mol authorized to Ca
tr' ,mem The persons lVho hare been dismisse
emu, oV'ce' tor ine purposes oil ascertaining til
!, 'eS oil their reaoyai.' From the tenor
~" han would infer that no membe
bsd nave offered il unless a determinatio
h sI oeen evinced by the committee to ca
nsrsa uem a great portion-if not all OF III
H. VINO have been removed from office b
xt ry-nun'er1 us us the cases were,
nat me causes of such removals. b.
led lug oil this kind had ever been contempl
y Tue committee. He would take III