Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-05

sworn, but stated for instance, To Mr.. Reside. thai tl,s
order OF the Postmostcr- General was to carry a daily
mail from Bedford to Washington. lin Pcnnsylyania3
that the Department had so paid for il; that the proofs
taken did not shew u performance on his part, and if he
would name any witnesses who csuld ESTABLISH, his per-
ivrinnucc, they would be summoned; aud in this way
witnesses were brought forward and examined upon Sc
vcrai cases investigated by the Committee
As to Mr.. Browns transactions with MIR. Porter. he
ana Intimate 4 wish to know what had been sworn by
MT. Porter. did not feel at liberty 10 tell him, but
stated that | intended to call on him as a witness, and
he could tell all about il.
My reasons for not stating to Mr.. Brown what MIR.
Porter had sworn, werc-ls,, That il would be disclos.
ing the testimony OF u particular witness; and, I'd, MIR.
i"rter and MIR. Brown were the only persons who had a
knowledge OF the transactions, and / though, The surcst
way To arrive at the truth was to let each give his own
account, without knowing what the other had said.
l VIII further add, that | was present at the examine
uon 81 every witness whose testimony was taken by the
committee during the whole investigation.
Mr.. Robinson said-As n member of the Committee
OF the iost Office and Post Roads, indisposiiion had pre-
vented HIM from being present during the whole of the
investigation. But, upon no occasion, so far as came
within his knowledge, was any witness denied the privi.
isge oil reading over his testimony, after it was taken
uown by the Clerk, before the witness signed it. And
well recoiiects of many witnesses so doing.
Mr.. Southland remarked, that he had u perfect recol-
lection, that the witness referred to MIR. Brown did.
on more than ono occasion, read over the testimony which
he had given, as 1t was taken down by the Clerk of the
Communicating that lac also did, on one or more occa-
sions, decline reading il, because il had been taken down
as he wished it, and had been read to him. If he did not
read every part of 1t, il was his own fault. He was. on
no occasion, in my presence. refused permission 10 read il.
This witness was never taken by surprise, 50 as 10 be
o5hged, on any point, 10 give an answer hastily. When
ever he had any hesitation, or desired to look at books or
papers, or refer TO the officers of the Department, he was
permitted to do so-frequently had such permission, and
availed himself of it-sometiines delaying an answer for
one or two days. And 1t also, sometimes, happened that
lac was directed to make an examination of papers and
books, when lie had not expressed any desire to do so.
MIR. Clayton said, he had warned the members of this
committee not to suffer the opportunities which the ses-
sion offered them, to pass, without their unanimous con-
tradiction, on the floor Of the Senate. of all such asper-
sions upon them, and Misrepresentation of their CON
duct while pnUaOeII IN fblS investigation o, flo, Lnt -.
exposed. lie had heretofore had some experience of the
injustice done to those who engage in such investipa-
tons. lie was n member of this committee durin1 the
last session, and concurred in the report of the minority
made near the close of that session; and, afcrvLc adj
Journment OF Congress, he had been astonislcd ut the
number ana enormnty OF the misrepresentation made
through the party press, sustaining the Department and
arraigning the conduct of the Committee. But, sir,
(said Mr.. C) at the last session a Committee had becn
appointed by the other House to re-examine the matters
we had inquired of, while the Scnatc's Committee was
also directed to proceed with the investigation; and tho
grossly traduced and illuminated as the Committee was.
pending the last election, by the party press connected
with the Department, for what had been done: vet was
content to bear this abuse at the time, believing that JUS
tlce would eventually be done TO US by an honest public.
when the result of the examinations of all parties should
be iIirly communicated to that public. Sir, our report
has been re-examlned, and the result has been, that the
different Committees have now carried their condemna-
ton OF the conduct and management of this department,
lar beyond the point at which we had arrived last year
by that investigation, for which we were SO grossly caiim-
mated. What has been the consequence to those who
made the tate reports Sir, even the majority of the
ohiuhitl III me OltcF House. composed. as IL was. OF
the political friends ofthe Executive, had no sooner pre-
scented their report, condemning the outrageous miscon-
duct of the Post Office Department, than an attempt was
made to denouncc that majority; and the conclusions TO
which the honorable gentleman who thus reported had
arrived were also declared to be the results OF party dis
ciplne and party spirit. Yes. sir, the very man who. il
was confidently declared last year, would expose our cr-
rers, had confirmed our Judgment, and though reluctant
ly driven TO this result, u portion of the press has de-
nounced them also, as acting merely from party motives!
what justice, then, have my friends on this Committee,
appointed by a prosecuted Senate, to expect from such
sources? Sir. i warn them again that the blood-hounds
OF the political kennel, which is maintained on the spoils
of victory, will be let loose on their trail the moment
they shall leave this city, and iorego, for six months lon
ger, an opportunity of exposing every falsehood against
them, which is now Matched, or undergoing the process
OF incubation Let them stand on the alert, and resort to
their associates on the Committee as well as every other
source within their reach, fer a justification Of their
moment The session closes fcaves them powerIcss and
deicnceless, while they present n shining mark for the
envenomcd shafts of the most rancorous and dangerous
OF all party spirit-that party spirit, sir, which contends
for pay.
ELECTION or PRINTER.
MIR. Preston, pursuant to notice given, moved that the
Senate proceed to the election of Printer to the Senate.
MIR. Clay said, that a few days ago, he had suggested
that they had better not proceed to the election of a Print
er until the other House had moved ON the matter.
Mr.. Benton asked The consideration Of the joint reso-
luton to repeal the existing Joint resolution which pro-
vides for the election of a Printer to each House.
After a few words from Mr.. Preston and Mr.. Poindex-
ter, Mr.. Wright asked for the yeas and nays on now pro-
ceedIng to the election of Printer, and they were ordered.
The question was then taken, and the yeas and nays
are as follows:
Yeas-Mcssrs. Bell, Bibb, Black Calhoun, Clay. Clay
ton Ewing, Frelinghuysen Goldsborough, Hendricks,
Kent, Knight, Leigh, Mangum, Moore, Naudaim, Poin-
dexter, Premtiss, Preston, Robbins, Silsbec, Smith, South
ard, Swift Tyler, Tonlinson, Wcbstcr-27.
NayS-Messrs. Benton, Brown, buchanan, Cuthbert.
Gfundy, Hill, Kane, King of Georgia, Linn, Mexican,
White, Wrght-1S.
Nj. Benton prcstcsted against going into an election
at that time for the Printer for the next Congress.
MIR. Preston replied at some length, contendino that
they had a right TO elect a Printer then. They were
justified, indeed required, to do so by the resolution of
~, which sanctioned the one that was passed in 1919.
After atew words in reply from MIR. benton, and n re-
joinder by MIR. Preston,
MIR. Benton moved to postpone the election, and asked
the yeas and nays; which were ordered.
The question was then taken, and decided as follows:
leas-Mcssrs. Benton, Buchanan, Grundy. Cuthbert,
Hill, Kingo of Geo, Kane Linn, Mexican, Morris, Rue.
giles, Robinson, %Shepley, Tallmadge, Upton, White,
~Aays-Messrs. Bell, Bib, Black, Calhoun, CLAY. Clay
ton, Ewing, FrelInghuysen, GoldsboIough. Hendricks
Kent, Knight, Leigh, Mangum, Moore, Naudain, Pom.
dexter, Porter, Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, SilsLee.
Southland, Swift, Tonlinson, Tyler, Waggaman, Web
The Senate then proceeded 10 ballot, and the results
were as follow:
: g gzzaaz 3
pS@G5fSo, - l. 4 - u 10 = 70 3 9 8 20 :!
G5%lsSS&s'a' e IS Is i5 i Is IS % Is d = & 3 y y j y j i
r. 'Bai,
Scattering, > Q 1 ! l Q .
After the 10Th ballot, Mr.. Wright moved to postpone
the further balloting indefinitely, and asked for the yeas
and nays, which were ordered.
The question was taken and resulted as follows;
eas-Mcs Benton, Brown, Buchanan, Kane,