Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-10-20
POLITICAL.
PosT-OFFiCE INVESTIGATION.
To the Hon WIN. L. Barry.

| 1 y.
To the Hon WIN. T. BARRY,
Postmaster General
! STA The Committee of The Senate on ihe Pos
Office ask for the inspection of all the orig nal e,
tiers and papers in your Office concerning the reno
val OF H. Stafford and tho appointment Of J. Her
ron, os Postmaster ut Putnam, Ohio
very respectfully, sir, your obcd't scrv't
FELlX GRUMPY, Chairman
WAsnIAeroN 22i Sept. 1881
Posr OrrIoE DGrARrMrNr,
October |, 1884 !
SIN have the honor TO acknowledge the rceeip
OF the official note which il became your duly Il,
Chairman of the Committee of the Senate Oh tho
Pos Office to address me, asking, in behalf Of the
committee, for the inspection of all the original
letters and papers IN my Office concerning the re.
movn of IL Stafford, and the appointment Of
Heron us Postmaster at Putnam, OHIO
Sincerely disposed 10 comply with the calls Of
the committee for information, feel restrained IN
tbs instance by a regard for those funda mental
principles which mark the division be,wcen the CO.
ordinate branches of our Government, and which
III their application, show how far the Committee
may justly proceed IN its inquiries In declining 10
comply with tins call | am Influenced by no desire
TO conceal the paoers (of which an inspection is
asked respecting tho office ut Putnam, Ohio, nor
do hesitate by reason ofany thing IN the nature OF
the motives which induced me Ia mako the change
al that eficc fully 10 set them forth The course
adopt IS dictated by higher and more imporren,
considerations
As the Committee have already called for, and
been Informed Of The facts this case by mn Off
cnol communion, stating what appears upon the
books OF the Department respecting the time of the
appointment OF Mr. Heron, and the state Of his ne.
counts, no motive of the call Tor nm inspection OF
me letters and papers is perceived, other than n
desire on the part of the Committee nsco rita n tho
reasons oil the change and if prime pies forbid lhn,
MS the head OF an Executive Department, should
be called upon to yield these, they also deny TO the
Committee The right Of inspecting the letters and
| papcls os demanded
The principles applicable 10 this subject low from
tho constitutional organization Of our Government,
and from the character which that organization has
| impressed nPon the Senn,c The constitution re.
cognizIne three kinds of powers, separates accord.
ingly those Of our Governments INTO three divl-
sons. Each dlylson Of powers being nruscd to
separate body Of mogisraey, constitute the Three
Departments of the Government. As these De.
paflmchis are coordinate, the magslracy of one
branch IS not responsible 10 smother, by reason OF
any supposed constitutional lacrWrty subordl-
nation to II but the officers Of every branch nrc a.
like responsible, by the distinguishing feature Of
our institutions, to tho People. This rcsrunsibl,-
~ hive ever felt and acknowledged.
As the operations Of the Government should be-
the jas, execution of tie PcoI les Will, in modes
compatible with the organic law which they hnvc
adopted deem 1.-THE duty Of the public Offices IN
trusted with discretionary powers, 10 observe the
indications of that will, and act conforn,bly to It's
requirements The expression Of hcs views " III
prevent misepprchension and destroy the snppo l.
ton that would claim the night to exercise powrr
| arbitrarily and without control. They VIII SHOW
that whilst Will not give the reasons or my oclon
| TO those who assume 10 nsk them Wthou, right ]
do not affect 10 impair the responsibility fot ads,
which shall ever acknowledge to that great ribu-
nal, whose judgments in our country arc lappily
as correct as they are fnal
As an Executive Officer, subordinate TO the Pre-.
sdent, III whom Is vested tho e,nerI Executive
powers Of The Government, ! fcl lhe rcsYonsilp.
lty 10 him whlch flows from NY I'll an of nfcfi.
orlty TO the Chief Mogi,rate 'ia,s spons,blluy
oil an officer in one Depa,irlen, nc - Government
% the Head of that Departmenf, II suits from The
very nature OF Gosesnmen, nod IS fcr IN very
| bran-h h.
In addition 10 these accoani1b.hd every off
Ger 10 the people and to his chief, tn construction
has specially provided IN ee,isin Tor respon-
si5Ilny To another Department of tn .fo"emmcn,
This responsibility appears 10 have been created
for the purpose Of practically enforcing, IA ,clo.
ton to The executive and Judira Experiments Of the
| Government, that Accountability to VII choii ne a.
! like SUBJECT the Legislative bing responsible hy
| the means OF frequent Il elons The process III
/ enforce his responsibility 10 The nation is that q
Impeachment; in pushing which, the leg slativ,
branch lays ASIDE ITS nPproPf ate character, and IS
erciscs judicial finrious The power of impencr
mcni, vested in tn Legislature, confers upon IT nc
right 10 take par IN the perofmapca Of xeeu.lvc O,
judicial duties l. IS aright merely iotty officers ol
! other Departments for acts Of oiiencs, mud mighi
have been vested IN tribunal specially constilut, d
/ fer The purpose.
| Ii seems to result from Inc independence Of the
| Departments Of the Government u iheIf nprYnpti-
ME spheres, EXCEPT Ear is specially pto, IJeJ
by the constitution, and from the different nature Of
| their respective functions that no Department an
take part in the performance Of duties properly per.
taining TO another that executive functions are to
be exclusively committed 10 executive officers, free
| from The con rol of the members Of the Lfgisla-
lurc and that the judgments oftbe courts arc 10 he
rendered without The n,erfrcnce either Of the exec.
utlve Or legislature. 1t is this complete separation
Of the powers Of Government vested in different DO.
dies Of mngisraoy which, to the respous bill.
;,y Of every branch 10 the People, constitutes the
| chef guarantee Of good government
Duty an! the interes, Of the nation alike require
therefore, HAT each body of mag sracv should
guard with jealousy the power Intrnsled % il rom
The encroachmcns OF olhcr branches Of the Govern.
| men The first instancc Of assumption by one de.
pattm'nt NJ powers bconglng 20 aunfher, or of a
control successfully excrtcl By one Department o.
yer another IN the performance Of duties copfled
by the constitution and laws exclusively to the lat
ter, may be The c1mmenoemcnt OF series Of volu-