Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-17


from what has been stated Congress- The annual re-
port oil contracts il oecssioned by change made in ser
wee required subsequent 10 the acceptance OF the propo
rs' anu tha' ~ s difference which the ancient practice
oil the Department always liable to exhibit and hich
was often actually exhibited under the former sdmnsra-
ton Of The d. parimeni, but that the Present Postmaster
General has recently corrected il.
shows that under the prese nj there is
system introduced into the Department If keeping books
Ia winch all the mail routes entered in numerical or
der, with the number of miles tia III of sch route
the names OF the several Offices it, The distance fom
one TO another the manner in which The mail tram ported
Oh eacn roo'e ami the number OF rpsiD day. week.
year From these books the of is as.
cer'aned to have BEEN in 1882 467 mssin 1888
asceralned TO have been l9 GIG Understanding that the
law OF 1882 establishing post routes. added Is
miles TO the length OF post roads, than one
part oil all the roads in the United States prior In that
Time From these books il il also ascertained that the
annual transportation OF the mail in 1882 was % $780,
MS l. iie more than what The Postmaster General
ported at that time; and the and evident fall
SHY Of the statement Of the msjoy, taken from the re-
port OF the Rraileys, is clearly demonstrated.
III appears that the majority OF the committee went into
an nvesga OF the private concerns OF the officers Of
The Department. constituting themselves secret nauisi-
uon searching into the details OF individual transaction.
and engagements evidently for the purpose of dra wing
uniavorsble inierences to make false sson upon the
pnGc mind without even giving the individuals concern
CD Information oil their doDgs designs Their first in
quifes seem TO have been directed against the Postmaster
General There was insinuaon that he had received
pecunary relief from person. or persons who were mail
contractors ne counter report shows that friend Of
the Postmaster General had endorsed or in some wav he
come security for him; that this end borrowed mo
that this oiher friend happened he mail contractor; bui
that The whole Transaction without even The
oil The Postmaster General butst The was
repaid aud The claim cancelled, without any reference 10 OF
fetal relations and by mutual friend who no official
relations with either OF Them IL proved that the Post
master General was Ignorant OF the whole In
Situations were also made against Mr. Brown the Chief
Clerk formerly the superintendent OF mail contracts and
now the Treasurer OF the Department. The CHARGE ~ a.
proved, by all the witnesses who could have knon any
thing OF the iransacon be false appears that Mr.
Brown had loaned money which he held the agent of an
ereQt In rl,n
That he had made loan interest purchase ptoper,v
Tor his own personal from other persons who were
contractors la these, indeed, in all his transactions
so Tar as hey nave come TO the view Of the committee the
counter report shows that there is nothing suLsfaufofed
fions inferred against him,
Many insinuaions made of favorism TO contrac-
Tors Tor transporting the mail all OF which were made The
subject OF close inv onp them IA. cops,c
Gus standing which James Reside holds as mail.co
tractor and Stage proprietor subjected his 10 spe
ciai scruoy appears, however from the counter re-
Por that lac 10 Transporting the mail much lower AT pre.
sent than he did under The former administration
ana here Is nothing IN evidence TO show thai he enjoy
any special n'or rom The department., any thug be-
>onu the MEASURE OF the strices justice. But Mr. Rec
sldee contracts were not alone subjected
VIC Cem"'"ee' The counter report states, that 'sthe
committee examined carefully into all cases where
complaints were made, where any suspicion was
inlimaed oil lavorism having been extended by the
Department 10 contractor or any inpronsr
oil the discretion of The Postmaster General in or.nng
allowances Every such became the subject OF RE
gd scrutiny and moi single instance of alleged abuse
mas been omitted by the Committee" IL gives the dis
closures made each of these in detail and il doe,
not discover an instance which ought subject the De-
parment TO censure. II admits that the amount At
penses Tor improvement had better been confined within
the current oi the Department but docs no,
discover single case in which the allowances made were
dered. 'e"
iapPears TO have been the practice, under the former
administration OF tie Department. TO procure The no,in
Of blanks, and other items OF Incidental expenses o, SONS
OF the northern post Offices thi oug the postmaste, o The
cry OF New york. The same practice have been
q nrpg emit naft.
ter report sa'es"ihst upon ulI Investigation oil his ar
COUNT every item constituting found 10 he accom-
panied by lie appropriate voucher the ans
appeared CHIEFLY to be such had been ordinarily under
former administrations paid Tor by the Postmaster at e,
YORK. and credited to him at the Department. as in this
instance. " " ~
The expenses for printing in all cases where that prjn
ing performed by ends OF the Administration seem IN
nave 5een the subject OF special inquiry by the commit
tee The result however, that such accounts are fair
~ kept properly audicated that they oppeared 70
embrace no articles or work which had been purcias
eu ana executed; aud that from all the information bev
were able 10 collect the prices paid were reasonable
ne whole report OF these two gentlemen, constituting
minority OF The committee, appearsto he candid dispas
eioae' anu GEAR " shows great ability and aborious
investigation. exhibits the Department i'm its true oh,
IL carries with demonstrstive marks OF correctness and
'Ao efedao'e 70 ITS authors. and TO the Department
PosT OFFICE REPoRr--we do not reco,Iect 10 have
violent party tat which purnor,s
TO be report OF The Committee the Senate alias The re
port oil Messrs Ewing, Clayton, Knight with the aid
'he brddeys on The subject Of the Post Ohee Depart
with several niiammatory papers which have emapaeJ
from the Senate during Tie present session hut hi.
appears TO be intended 10 cap the climax, IL docs
not bear upon IFS face one feature OF candor In
dsed, It's only meri, IL, that IL does not pretend TO
candor, nor refer 10 any adequate testimony in sun.
port OF its assertions. The whole object is potesI
There Is no hope remaining with The reckless leaders
oi that desperate faction which has gained the pre.
ponderance IN the Senate, but by fssebood and mis-
representation The have carried the az inst the
President ll The candid and honorable of their ow n
party have been Disguised with their madness But like
The isen sPIis the more desperate their cause The more
malicious aud violent their efforts Baying detrrmn-
cd uon the destrUc ion OF The honest democracy of
The country, they are willing TO any means
and TO use any Instruments, TO effect their object
and more suitable instruments than Messrs Ewing
Clayton, and The Bradleys could not have been Sc.
Iecied. None hut a person regardless Of principle
and OF yeraeiy, degraded in The moral sense below all
respect Tor private character public virtue could have
answered The purpose OF the faction Such an one lbev
have found III Mr. Ewing: such supporters have te
found ~ aId OF ibeir principal, MI Clayton and
Mr. Knight, who must excite The blush OF tile small
est Siales ~ the Union, OF bich one Ut least Is
knowno he misrepresened These have called wit.
nesses before them, without defining them any cause
without specifying any ojectsnd proposed 10 beIn oucs
tons concerning the private transactions Of others for the
purpose Of drawing her ssnderous rIerences and
presenting them to he public such Hgbfas night be cal.
cuiacd 10 make unilvofable impressions n witness i
puupon ms oath IN court Of justice, lac has right 10 know
the object oil his examinations bot in this case no object
spcchedail Is dark sDd mysterious. if individual
~ accused, the Constitution guarantees him the fght
Of being 30, only informed OF e cha ge bot Of being
confronted with his Witnesses, AMI Of being heard in dc.
fence But here, every principle sacred to lfeemen Is
fsmped under foot Honorable citizens and highly re-
sfonsible officers accused by implication in secret
ihey are not permitted 10 see or TO know who the wit