Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-03
CONG gEM5 SI0MAAe
SPEECH OF MIR. WOODBURY
Or New HAMPSHIRE,

SPEECH OF MIR. WOODBURY
Or New HAMPSHIRE,
Relative to the Post Office Department..
Tho following are the rrnatks made by Mr.. WOOD.
BURY la his second speech on the resolution to re
strict the inquiries Of the special committee on the
Pos, Office from extending to the causes Of removals
Mr.. Woodbury. rose in reply. He regretted the
course pussued by the gentlemen from M ine aud
Delaware, especially by the latter. 1t had com.
PEELED him again 10 the indulgence OF the
Senate during the discussion OF this resolution, although
the subject must have become Iksome. But pc.
silions had been assumed-bew insinus utte ed
aud exraOI binary &C cusaons Turg in the OF
this body and OF the whole community Silence under
them might be construed into appreciation. In repe.
ling them, he dsciamed all that part Of the conp.
msnt bestowed upon hin, in xion with his friend
on the right, (Mr. GruOdy) that they were mos,
d.xteiOus ads ocales Of the Postmaster General He,
an individual, in this body the ADVOCATE Of
body He acted In his station a, Senator, and only
as Senator; aud whomsoever in public station he
might be called upon, in the OF official duty,
vndicate or condemn, he should endeavor to do il in
becoming that public station, and with sins
eye to the public interest. In the discharge Of what
had devoly ed on him, member OF the special Post
Office committee in relation TO the esent deba'e, he
had used, and should her after use, xteri,y be-
yond dry appeal TO our cong ressional documen
and to such mathematical computation. their con.
tents as every gen LEHMAN could disprove verify fer
himself
Poetry bad before, but once he believed been
brought in aid OF examination into aby Il FISCAL
concerns; aud though that done by the head of
both that example and the example Of the gentle
opposed to this resolution, in preeIring figures
rhetoric 10 6gurfs Of arithmetic Nor sbo Id Re will
ngIy follow the last speaker in making poIt cal pro-
Ihecie whether as TO men or measures. He felt
much veneration for religious prophecies but 10,
political ones, when uttered by poll ians, who had
made mens to bring about tho events ioreoid
and endeav0rng, he hoped in VAIN to verify their
predictions, he cherished not sufficient respect for
sucb prophecies to initiate such an example. The
grave character of This body nded Of Il, to cons
that in fact examining the c.nduci OF one
of the most elevated officers OF the Government; an
officer who, from his public station we'll his high
personal character was en- tiled to at least ordinary
comfy, and adherence, on our part fair mauly,
and liberal course of investigation. We carrying
scru my INFO the receipts and expenditures OF nearly
two millions annually; and should do it, he trusted
the jus, principles and the settled rules
of evidence, governed 10 relation sim ar sub
ecs 10 oher departments, and in her periods OF
history.
How had we got involved in this wide and desuItory
debate! Assurediy by marvellous departure frou
the language and spirit OF the resolution ITSELF %
the pert OF its opponents. The resolution proposes sim
ply check the inquiries OF the special committee into
the removals in the Post Office Department
This is single and fair propo oD for the decision of
this body. The Committee being divided, an appeal
made 10 you, as you the authors Of the refer.
enee and have power to cousrue amend, abolish
altogether In favor OF that propo oB, the minority
Of the committee believed that the Senate had pro.
nounced opinion the last winter, alter very full de-
bate, AMI, therefore, no, carefully ayOding as the
member irom Delaware alleges, argument on The
construction which might be given the words Of the
led pendent OF that opinion, but cont ndinr
that, after such opinion The Senate could not int nd
TO have construction placed on the reference hostile
to their OVID decision, the minority opposed going into
an inquiry OF the spseial causes removal They te-
eved, also, that we ought not to embs in that nqui.
because all admit the Postmaster General has both
the legal and Constitutional to dsplacs any of his
dspu'ies The rish or power being conceded there
l. no law nor sense in making hun amer able, 10 the
rst instaIce 10 the Senate for supposed abuse of
That power Fo such abuse he il responsible only 10
The. ohe' House, AZ the impsacbng body. or 10 the
Pfesideni ~bo can control OF him pleasure
but we the Senate can Dsiiher impsach nor remove
hin; and, legislative body have no more rig ut 10
Investigate die particular motives which influenced
hin, in any removal, h,n We have tbA ro,iVe, If
collector Of h4 customs, marshall ~ the removal
of iheir d'pue'. The general course OF sdmin.,rs
fion ~ respect 90 remoVaa II nil b. proper 10 s.c
tain a. once beore remarked, With view 10 Irsi,Ia
ton 50 might ~ be ia respect 70 the fiscal concerns
Of the department with the REV; and the latte,
investigation might be pushed further int the small
lest miour@' TO see u any departure had been msds
from the acts OF Congress about receipts and xpopd
tures; sod II any departure, what remedies might h.
proper TO prevent occurrences OF tho mischief. But
10 relation TO particular removals, the Law had entrus
ed the Postmaster General with unlimited discreon
and power. Such discretion could not be vioI.,ed
There would not be, in any removal departure 6o,n
the law, because there existed 90 Law resfic,io1 bin
and hence an inquiry into particular cases was unust
useless, and improper
So much for the direct nerils Of the rssou,ion p,,
mark the ingenuity Of our opponents 10 getting up the
rest OF thi, extraordinary debated The Senator who
mas Jusl addressed you, AYERS that the moneyed con
Germs Of the Pos Once Department are rapidly yeI1
ing TO insolvency. that This has been caused by he
miseonduct OF isihless and fraudulent off -erJ recently
appoi1,ed; aud hence, that you ought 10 permit ihs
committee TO ferret out the causes Of the r. tpoyai Of
their predecessots To reach this IL will b,
seen that the gentleman has bsen Obliged 10 resort
two assumptions OF iset # no, of doc,tios - IN ,bs
language Of Col. Lawless. IL either Of tboss snon
lions fail him In the proof or invest gaon b nfs,snr
against tho check contained in the rssolnon Sc" ~.
foundation to stand Like the Indiin oh ioson1 80
TO the foundation which the earth stand. h. -
rest some OF his positions the elephant a d ~
elephant Upoo the tortoise; bat what does his IN,
toiss sand, " The Department t. not in truth vsrgins
70 iosoveneyo', u embarrassed " has not in rub
become 90 Ny neglect and corruption, but by your ov
system o. legislation largely increasing its expepd
.uIeH me gen Lehman, likewise, has INDUCED In these
Two assumptions at the very moment when m. rom
mittes we're Ioquifng toto the real eooduion nj the
t0pds OF the Department, aud when his ouss,ioa -,
removals might have been judeiousy pvstpon 4 - -.
beisved, Till the truth Of The assum ton ss
cy, on which Tie other questions rect, were 1u,Iv az
eefsiDed Boz no; this did not silt the A. Al so3 To-
Panenee % ipe prosecution. II was thought better n
guess al The fact Of nso vsrey or ssnp, 10 ,bow !,