Litchfield enquirer., 1831-03-17

the SenatOf from Tennessee, charging JMr.
Barry with gross violation Of the law in some
If these cases (particulariy in the case Of the
South Carolina cOntract) was written more
than year ago. and shortly after his remov-
al from office that this letter had been sworn
TO by Mr.. Bradley ia the Committee, and
that the tendency Of this Justification of the
documents, If undetected. was to convict Mr..
Bradley Of swearing falsely, who IN saying.
on his oath. that the Post Master General
made the allowances, stated the exact truth.
Sir, have bestowed much attention on these
papers, and do not undertake to say, that
these are all the misrepresentation contained
in them. They arc enough, however, to in
ducr the Senate, both in justice to its own
character, and the reputation Of an excellent
citizen and an innocent man, to refuse to give
any publicity to documents which all can see,
and all now admit to be spurious and mntila-
ted. If they be printed. even with the evil
dence which proves them false, still injustice
may possibly result from it for it will appear
to the world that the senate had some conf
dence in these papers and it may happen
that those who shall hereafter read the calum-
ny will not, among such mass of papers, al
so advert to the refutatiOn Of it. AT the time
these papers were sent in, Bradley was wit
ness against the Department, and under exam
inatiOn before the Committee. All here know
wha; an effort was made in public discussion
to impeach his veracity, and / trust all will
now admit how entirely that effort failed
But will not stop TO inquire into the motives
of those who directed those alterations to be
made. With motives we have now nothing
to DO. But the fact is incontrovertibe, that
these documents are unworthy Of credit. 1t
is therefore unworthy Of the Senate TO publish
them, and hope the order for their publica-
ton, made in an unguarded moment may be
rescnded.
Mr.. Holmes said-Mr. President, having
been selected by the Committee as Il sub
committee with the Senator from Tennessee,
Mr.. Grundy,) TO go to the Department, ex-
anime the books. and ascertain what was the
truth, we took with US tina witness under ex
animation. and proceeded to the General Post
Office. We took also the abstract Of allow
ances now before the Senate. This abstract
was obtained by call made on the 18th Of
April last, made by Senator from Ohio,
MIR. Burnett,) requiring among other things,
information Ofextra allowances made to Con-
tractors, and for what additional services, that
| the Senate might compare the value Of the
service with the compensation. The answer
to this call did not come to the Senate until
the 10th February Of this Session. near nine
months. 1t was referred to the Committee
on the Post Office, &c. and by them return
ed to the Senate on the god, and ordered to
be printed aud was then referred to the
Committee of Inquiry. 1t was voluminous
and exceedingly confused but some men,
bers of the Committee discovered at once
that it must he erroneous, to sayIthe least. The
| fact is, that Mr.. Mclean left the Department
about the 10th March, l820-that MIR. A..
Bradley, the Senior Assistant, was then the
Acting Post Master General. as locuns tenens.
from that time, until 18th April, less than four
weeks. Still, within that time, additional al
Iowances appeared by this " abstract" to have
| been made, of about $4,000. Upon exan1in-
ing this "abstract" itappeared, mOreOver,t thar
there had been thirty-six erasures, and A.
Bradley's name inserted. The allowance to
Harrall appeared the most extraordinary
This was the case Of erasure. 1t seems that
Bradley had, on the 18th October, 1929. in a
letter to- the President. among other Thugs
charged Mr.. Barry with i;rodigulity, and had
instanced this allowance to Harrall. HarralIs
contract was for carrying the mail from
Georgetown to Charleston, South Carolina, |
for 5000 dollars, and the extra allowance was |
] ,992 dollars, about SO per cent. and the |
cause alledged was two hours expedition =
the law allowing only pro-rata addition,
which would have been about per cent if
NHO WV HoWS ca PCuitIVb ucCu IcuuITeU.
But here was another error in The abstract, |
the expedition required being only one aud
half hours.
This extravaganza, which Bradley in his
letter to the President, had charged upon
Barry, and had be fore the Committee verified it
By has oath, Barry had, in an official communi-
cation. charged back upon Bradley. The re-
pntation of these two gentlemen seemed, !
therefore. to be so deeply involved, that it be.
came the duty of the Committee To ascertain |
how the fact was. and the subcommittee was
accordingly appointed.
In pursuance Of this appointment we pro-
ceeded to the Department; MIR. Barry was
not there; we inquired of Mr.. Gardner, the
Assistant. and others, for the persons who |
made out the :" abstracts and Mr.. TAYLOR,
aud Mr.. Dundas were introduced, and, after
a preliminary examination, were sworn and |
testified. We required to the erasures. |
and asked what was erased to make the
blanks which were filed by Mr.. Bradley's
name They answered Mr.. Barry's and Mr.. |
M'Lean's, hut chiefly Mr.. Barry's. WHY
were Messrs. M'Lean and Barry's names first
inserted! Because they supposed it was
right; hut Mr.. Bro,en, by order Of the Post
Master General, as he said, had determined
otherwise, and directed this rule tn take the
ledger and look at the account of the con.
tractor which was adjusted for each quarter.
ana II the credit Of the allowance al the end