Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-12-24

diminuton Of service aud of commentator q; .l -
also, what routes, II any, have been discontinued
3D. The expenses incurred in putting into IN
Posoutes established by the act of the 18th June 1892
cost T OF transporting the mail in each year.
Inc resolutions having been read,
MIR. Grondy requested their imme date consideration
The question being then on their adoption,
mr.. Clay SAID hswas happy that the gentleman from
tennessee had offered these resolutions He would give
his vote for them with great pleasure III what public ru
NOR mad said concerning this Office correct there was
no branch OF Government in this or any other country
where there prevailed greater abuses Ii was the duiv
oil The Senate not only the past but 10
remeay He wished that the resolution should be so limit
Gu as 10 It's CALI as not to allow the Postmaster General
Pretext Tor evadng it, because he was that
every delay which could be devised would be
10 prevent reply. The Srnsc might otherwise be told
OIL vou'nnous contracts and might be referred to the an
eent documents TO illustrate the charge of error which he
s seged against the Department, far back as
MIR. Grundy informed the Senator from Kentucky that
the resolution did limit the call the year 1920 the pc
Rod when the present Postmaster General came into OIL
hce The gentleman from Kentucky had referred 10 Ger.
tain ruours which charged gross abuses on the
neht ne mad supposed that the Senator from kentucky
anu every oody eIse would not be willing give very
great credit TO what public said in reference
10 public department., or TO public desired to
nave me trulh and when we had got it, and examined
the facts, he would be ready give his opinion
any corruption exs ed In the partment or not II was
uue ns tumor had said great deal; and lac wanted the
aeH, IL was true, in order that the country nigh,
discern Them III nothing censurabie had occurred he
desired 10 see the rumor put down. was the onlv
way In which justice could be 10 any public man
The people could then form their judgment from the facts
and not from any thing published in a partizan
he could not conceive the possibility OF any delay being
nterposed, and he had doub, that in few weeks ali
the Information asked by this resolution aud as much
az any Senator might call for, would be furnished
Mr. Clay said, he had looked the Iimi alton in the
resolution, and was satisfied with il.
Inc resolutions were then agreed 10.
MIR. Mangum of North Carolina rose and said il was
with profound regret that he felt himself mpeed nv
sense OF duty to call the attention Of the Senate 10 sub
Jec involving considerations OF deeply interesting and
most delicate nature He said, that he alluded 10 the
llent Of Tho
TO request contained in resolution of the Senate in
relation to paper purporng 10 be published by his au-
thorlty IN reference 10 the deposes Next grave
ana novel occurrence requiring this notice, he said he
most regretted that the duty had voved upon him TO in
vte TO the consideration OF the Senate He had de-
yed taking this course for several days, hoping that
some other Senator would conquer the repugnance so
natural and so inevitable, in the discharge of duty so
delicate and painful that he had hoped that some
notice of the subject would have proceeded from diff
ferent quarter But his hopes in this respect not being
reaZed and as he oil those who for the re-
this course.
The subject involves high and grave matter, not in
reference 10 the character oil the information sought for
mat Is comparatively of utter insgniGcance; but as
touching the constitutional rights OF the Executive and OF
me Senate ana what among gentlemen, eau be consider
ed as OF but little less that high and
mutual respect so essential TO the action and
eiheent cooperation OF the different departments in our
political system.
That the Senate should at any time through inadver
tence, any otey course attempt invasion OF The con-
shtuionai rights OF The Executive, prove deficient in
the Proioundest regret TO every lover institutions
That the President regarded the resolution alluded TO- in
me ght o. an invasion Of the rights Of The Executive,
most ma"iestly clear and ineligible. That the Senate
did not regard their proceeding any respect trans
cendng the just and legitimate rights conferred by the
Constitution upon this body, and sanctioned bv long
usage, he supposed equally manifest and
For himself he did not DREAM that by his vote he was
eroaehihg upon The rights OF the Executive or in any
wise manilesliDg the slightest dsrespect TO that co or
nate branch OF the Government He should have been in
se simplicity OF MS heart at an entire loss TO conceive
y, any very speeious ground upon which the application
could have been resisted due respect however 10 the
opinion entertained by the Executive did, in his udg
men require prompt review Of the whole proceeding
with calm and dispassionaie deliberaon Any exhibi
'on OF temper on the part Of the Senate would be as in
compatible WIN It's dignity, .si would be revolving to the
wholly incapable of feeling any.
~ tue senate mad erred, II was magDanimous il was
their imperous duty, instantly reraci the error II was
due alike 10 the Executive TO our institutions and bov
ALL TO ourselves.
IT. however, after calm and deliberate re examination
oil our proceeding, we shall find nothing 10 retrdct; but if
on The contrary we shall feel eassured that We have
exercised none but the clear and cons
tuioDal rights OF the Senate, il will be euuaiy our dutv
however painful may be the conflict of opinion TO re
sert and maintain with dignity, and with frmness the
constitutional rights OF that body
ne trainers Of our system wisely saw, that power must
oe broken INTO fragments, or resolved into its
elements, and distributed among the dHere MT
win deep sagacity, and wise caution TO secure the bar
nohTuS and successful action of the whole. They fore
sw The tendency, deeply impressed upon the nature of
every political system, TO the accumulation and concen
raton oil power at single point They foresaw thai a
perpetual vigilance over the power assigned 10 each de-
par'nen was The only condition winch liberty coold
be preserved. Hence, every intelligent friend or our
system should be reluctant invade the rgbtII
efs oil the Executive, he should be prompt 10 resist tho
entertainments OF the Executive upon the clear
onai rights OF the Senate To do the one or submit, N %
other, would be equally breach Of that high and
rus uevoved upon us under the most impressive and So
Tenn sanctions. "
All questions OF conflict of power, between
branches OF lhe government should be treated with the
greatest caution, and the utmost decacy Yet to define
The boundary distinctly and satisfactorily is i'm every
pect oil H. highly desirable. In political as i'm The So
ar system When every power is confined proper or.
ot without tendency 10 infringe other order and
beauty and harmony will be lie certain result.
rs The Senate can have ambition crafty nor any
conceivable moiye IN usuTpng powers assigned 10 IL
by The Constitution; so II can forget for an instant
The respect and courtesy which due TO the Executive
Even me enemies oil The Presdenpersonal enemies he
trusted, he bad nonebu the political enemies Of he
President, must always feel pride In being enabled 10
regard nm, whe the rst Magistrate, the first gentle
man III me country; and most anxiousy desire tat the
whole oil his official intercourse with his constitutional adj
Vlsers shall be marked witt high and noble thought 81
use 10 heart oil courtesy Tie spectacle could not but
be gratifying TO the pride OF every American citizen -
The Senate, feeling and Opprecang he believed the
value oil such example, would on all occasions be u
dious to avoid any exhibition OF temper or violation OF
courtesy. -
Entertaining the sentiments TO which he had advcrted
be regarded as oil The first importance that the Senate
should review its whole proceeding with The most cain,
and dpassionate deberaon; that error hall be found
" was honorable, as well matter of duty 10 reract il
instantly ana promptly. II, The cOntrsfy the review
shall add strength 10 their first Impressions honorable m n
would perceive that there alternative but t main;
tam win dignity and with irmness, the high cons.i,o
onai rights OF the Senate
lie moved d t9kc i'm tho nncssaoo -