Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-23
DEBATE IN THE SENATE OF THE
UNITED STATES,
February 7th, 1881.

|
to examine into the present condition of
the Post Office Department, are not au-
thorized to call witnesses who have been
removed before them, for the purpose of
asc scertaining the causes Of their removal,
being under consideration
Mr.. HOLMES addressed the Presi-
dent as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Were l to consult
my own individual wishes, should vote
for this resolution. Its object is to limit
the inquiry directed by the Senate. The
Committee were to inquire into "the en-
tire management" of the Post Office De-
partment, and to this end they were EN-
powered to send for persons and papers.
The resolution under consideration pro-
poses to prohibit the Committee to ask a
witness why he was removed from Office
by the Postmaster General. Now, as |
deem such an inquiry essential to the per-
formance OF the duty assigned me, the
Senate, l know, would not, ii'they could,
compel me to perform duty in manner
which | conscientiously believe to be
wrong. If, therefore, they should think
proper to pass this resolution, should
ask to be excused from further service
on the committee; the Senate would of
course excuse me; and should be there
by relieved from this troublesome busi-
ness. But were | the particular person.
al and political friend of the Postmaster
General, should vote against this reso-
luton. So far from being afraid Of in
quiring into the official conduct Of my
friend, would court the strictest scruti-
ny. Let the witness be partial or impair
tial, an honest and faithful officer can
never suffer by inquiry. Let him submit
to the severest ordeal, let every thing be
subjected to the strictest examination,
and ifhe cannot stand, let him fall. These
are now new doctrines with me-they
have been the maxims of my whole po-
litical life. In Government like ours,
those who receive and disburse your
public moneys, should be watched with a
vigilant, and even jealous eye. Here
is the commission under which we are
acting:
"Resolved, That a Committee be appointed
to examine and report the present condition OF the
Post Office Department; in what manner the laws
regulating the Department are administered; the
distribution of labor, the number and the duties as
signed to each; the number of agents, where and
how enployed the compensation Of contractors;
and generally the entire management of the De-
partment; and whether further and what legal
ts sIfIIin-
istration of its affairs"
In proceeding under this broad COM
mission, it became necessary to have
power to send for persons and papers,
and the committee unanimously agreed
to ask for this authority, and the Senate
as unanimously granted it. The Com
mittee had sent several interrog atories to
the Postmaster General, of which this
was one: "VVhat Postmasters have been
removed since you came into office, and
for what causes' Please give the names
and place of residence when removed,
with the time and causes Of their remov-
al-classifying the causes for brcvity
sake" This interrogatory was put by
me, but not in its present shape. My in
quiry was into the causes of removal OF
each; but the friends Of the Postmaster
General insisted upon a classification,
which, whatever the intent, does in eff
feet leave it in the power ofthe Postmas-
ter General to evade the whole inquiry.
Now in this state of the case, and while
this inquiry, thus modified, is before the
Postmaster General, Mr.. Bradley, a
former Assistant Postmaster General, is
summoned before the Committee. The
first question put by MIR. Holmes was
this: GLOW long were you Assistant
Postmaster General, and what were the
duties assigned you in the DEPARTMENT.
This question was objected to, unless the
interrog ator would first state to what ex-
animation it was intended to lead. The
answer of course was that no such explain
alton would be given, none was neces-
sary, for the intcrrogatory carried the in
tent upon the face oft. Even this mere
preliminary question was seriously opPos-
ed in Committee, and was ut last permit
ted to be put to the witness by a majority
Of one only. Messrs. Clayton, Holmes,
& Hendricks, in the affirmative; Messrs
Grundy and Woodbury. in the negative.
The next question, and which is the ioun-
dation of this extraordinary resolution,
was this: "Were you removed from
office, when, and if you know, for what
causc or causes" During the discus
sion whether this question should be put,
motion was made by MIR. Hendricks to
adjourn, and carried. Messrs. Grundy,
Woodbury., & Hendricks in the ailirma-
tive; Messrs. Clayton q Holmes in the
negative. In this prcdicament were we,
ian inquiry of the Postmaster General
into his causes Of removal, a question To