Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-13

mani nc anv others in any of the Departments.
and as those in the other item OF this Dill. tie
made some general remarks on the manage
ment of the Department, stated Its debt to De
SRI OS9 600, and said that the Postmaster Gene
raj himself had admitted thathe could not get
along without aid from Congress to the amount
of S45O,000
Mr.. CONNOR replied, as was understood, in
vindication of the Department; but, owing to
his position, (while turning round towards Mr..
L. his remarks were totally lnaudlple TO the
renorters. except at the close when he said, he
was authorized to declare that the Department
was not indebted more than $500, 600 beyond its
available funds.
Mr.. WILDE rose, amidst cries for the ques-
ton which indeed were repeated at intervals
throughout the rest Of the EVENING" and sad,
that, when it was deemed sufficient vindlca-
ton of Department to say that its debts were
not more than $500, 900 beyond its available fund,
il would be hopeless task to make an:argument
in support of the amendment; he would, there
fore, only demand the yeas and nays.
Mr.. MCKAY said, he must vote to strike out
this item, unless some proviso should be insert
ed, declaring that nothing in the bill should be
considered as giving any sanction to the right Of
the Postmaster General to appointed extra
clerks at will.
Mr.. BATES, observing SO wide difference
between the statements of his colleague (Mr. LIN
coLN) and the Chairman of the Post Office Com
mittee. (Mr. CoNNoR,) inquired what were the
available funds to which the former answer had
reference?
Mr.. CONNER replied, but, as before, his re-
marks were so imperfectly heard that not sem
tence could now be given We hope to be able,
hereafter to obtain them in an authentic form,
when we come to report the debate at large
Mr. LINCOLN requested Mr.. CoNNoR to tell
him which of the clerks marked in the Blue
Book as clerks Of the Post Office Department
were clerks, and which were ertra clerks?f
Mr.. COMMON referred him for an answer
to the Chairman Of the Committee of Ways
| and Means, Mr. Polk, who had list the clerks.
| Mr. WHITTLESEY denied that the conduct
ofthe former Postmaster General, Mr.. Mclean,
| furnished any precedent TO justify the recent
management of the Department, on the subject
| of extra clerks.
Mr. COMMON replied, and read letter from
MIR. Mclean in support Of the positions ne had
taken.
Mr. WHITTLESEY resumed and went
| good deal at large into course OF structures
| on the condition of the Post Office Department.
disavowing all personal -wi to the Postmas-
ter General, compmenting the ability and dill.
eencelGf some of the clerks, but protesting his
beliefthat niiny held places there which were
perfect sinecures; adverting TO the state OF the
| funds, and starting doubt, whether, by permit
ting the debts of Postmasters to remain<o long
outstanding, their securities had not in many ca
| SeS been forfeited.
Mr. PEARCE replied: he said, that the large
! sum mentioned by Mr.. LINCOLN was only the de-
! bit side of the account and declared himself
authorized to say, 100000 would pay all claims
of every sort against the Department nor did
| tile Postmaster General wish any aid from Con-
gress All that was now asked, was, that Con-
| gress would do this year what it had done the
Hast.
! The cry for the question was now tremen-
dOus1
! Mr.. MCKAY moved proviso Of the nature
he had indicated when last up, and spoke some
time in defence oft. 1t is as follows:
"After line 271 insert Prouided, nothing
therein contained shalibe construed to sanction
the practice that has prevailed to some extent
| for many years past, of Heads ofDepartments
| appointing additional and temporary clerks,
| or to authorize the Postmaster General to en-
ploy extra clerks in his Department beyond
the present year, without provision being pre-
| viously made by law"
| Mr.. REED replied to Mr.. PEARcE, and insist
ed that it was not for the Postmaster General to
decide whether his Department did or did not
call for aid from Congress. What Congress
wanted was statement ofits real condition; and
when that should be known, they were the judg
es of what ought to be done.
! Mr.. HAYES replied with warmth to the re-
marks of Mr.. WILDE; went into general de-
fence of the Department, and assigned, as one
chief cause of its embarrassments, the great
number of Bank Documents circulated by the
| Opposition among the People. The gentleman
| from Ohio (Mr. WHITTLEsEY,) in particular had
hunted among other districts distant from his
own, and circulated these document there
! Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON now moved the Pre-
rious Question.
Mr. WILDE moved call of the House
| Mr.. WISE moved an adjournment.
| Mr. CAMPBELL. South Carolina, demand
ed the Yeas and Nayes on the adjournment
They were taken, and stood Yeas 4S, Hayes SO.
So the House refused to adjourn.
Mr.. WILDE, referring to an assurance ofMr
Polk as to an amendment Mr.. w. had wished to
offer in Committee of the Whole appealed to
Mr.. JOHNSON to withdraw his motion.
Mr.. POLK explained.
The CHAIR put the question, Whether the
motion for the Previous Question was second
ed by the House? Ayes rs, Noes 81.
| No quorum having voted
/ MIR BEARDSLEY moved call ofthe House.
The CHAIR decided the motion to be not
| then in order.
| Mr. BARRINGER was about to explain why
some gentlemen had declined voting, when he
was called to order by Mr.. BEARDSLEY. He
in turn called Mr. BEARDsLEY to order.
| The question was again put. The Ayes were