Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-30
The Chair pronounced the motion to be not

means anv Intention of MS to interfere with the
uuestion as related to the bill, whaleser that oiii
MIGHT be which the committee proposed to brii:9.,
forward. But. sir, (said Mr.. Preston) should
wish to understand this thing properly, should
wish the Senate, | should wish the whole coun-
try to understand this matter fairly, honestly
and truly. Let me them sir. propose one simple
question: it is this: Are we to come to the con-
clusion from the views OF the committee, which
we have Just heard, from the two Reports OF
that committee one from the majority and the
other from the minority-after these Reports,
would ask, are we to conclude that simple re.
organization Of the Post Office Department Will
be an adequate remedy, sufficient cure, Tor
evils so great and SO tremendous? 4 would ask,
sir, is the Senate, nay, is there single inulvid-
ual Of the Senate, prepared to MAINTAIN tnat
these disgraceful, these outrageous acts OIL ueep
corruption and fraud are grounds and motives
for no other step, no other course, no olher ac-
ton than a mere reorganization OF the depart
ment? When fraud and corruption SO mon
strous and so extensive is detected and brought
to light in department, shall all that we dare
TO do shall all that we dare to say, shall all the
notice we take Of it, amount to nothing more
than the recommendation Of new re-organl-
cation of that department? Is this the path OF
duty? is this the course, Is THIS all the ndeiliy
which we owe TO our country! lmust MAINTAIN
sir and do unhestatingly maintain, that II the
next after the extraordinary, the horrible, the
humiliating developements which have been
made such course would be the most unusual
most strange and most humillatlng Alter all
that we have now heard, proposition mercy
to re-ore anize The Department would be ildeeo
a dereliction from our duty and Il disgrace 10
our country. 1t it is n now the time 10 nlhch
from what duty and honor call upon us 10 do.
Now for the first time we have heard the fuIl de-
veopment of enormties of which last session
we had but foretaste Then an exposition OF
certain facts was made, but that more periect
enquiry would degulph such rottenous streams,
would bring TO light such frightlul depths OF dark
and deep corruption, such NAL practices so a
farming and humiliating and deporabie, no one
was prepared even to imagine.
Is it already passed from the memories OF Sc,
majors that last session, while the proud ana
imperious declaration was vibrating on the lips
of the President, that the Executive power be-
Ionged 10 him, and with it the Executive respon-
sibility then if any attempt was made to con-
tradct his assertion instantly all the most aoo-
minable sewers Of gross and filthy vltuperation
were let loose and poured upon our heads to be-
foul us! Is this forgotten? And with such de-
claraton before our eyes, when the Executive
took upon itself direct responsibility Tor the &C
tons of every department, shall we now hihch
from our duty, shall we hesitate 10 duach
blame where it belongs and simply and quiz
city pass over such hagtions enormitieS, ny
recommending merely re organization OF lne
department? Let il be considered 1t Is high
| " important to consider, that these enormlleS
are not the fruits Of the mechanical organlZa-
ton of this department Of public business, these
crimes of mal-adminstratiou and gross corrup-
ton have not been committed by chairs ana
desks and tables and ledgers, they have not
been per3etrated by the errors ofany system OF
organization; no, sir, they flow from far more
active, far more interested, and far more de-
graded agents. Who can imagine, who does
imagine, that any change ofplan or system, any
renewal Of organization Nil remedy the evil!
Shall the country have no hope Of redress, no
means of escape from future robbery and NAL
versation than proposition for new arrange
ment?
This department has become sink OF execra-
BILE confusion or foul and monStrous deeds OIL
foulest corruption, it is become an engine OF
public robbery, scene Of riotous waste and ex-
travagance, field Of dissolute speculatons, and
an instrument whereby the country is plundered
rather than benefited; the facts are notorious,
the case is most fragrant there is no one VINO is
bold enough to defend or even to deny thls glar-
ing case ofiniquitious fraud, and such being the
acknowledged state of the case, would ask, are
we to pass it all over by simply contrvn9 a
neu arrangement A reorganization merely,
a mere change in arrangement will afford Meth
Ell remedy nor justice for what past, nor guar
antee against future deeds ofequally arocious pc
culaton. Sir, ilthis is all the notice paid to deeds
of public inlamy, if crimes against the very
life and existence OF our country are thus to be
suffered to escape unnoticed, unbranded I'M
punished, why, then, would not give two pence
for your new arrangements
The scene opened to view, is most disgrace
full and sir it is truly melancholy to reflect, that
though our government does not exceed in its
duration the age ola man, yet at so early pc
Rod a gulph Of corruptions, such as these, which
properly characterize the decreptude of ruined
nations. should now be opened before US. 1t is
not consistent with the dignity and honor of the
country that we should leave things in their pre-
sent situation, that we should hesitate, stand
still and see around us such acts and such corrup-
tons with plactude and tame submission. II
the President will take upon himsefresponsibili-
ty for acts of turpitude and shame-if he is de-
termned to make them his own act, are we
therefore to let them pass UNDECIDED, and admit
entertainments to be thrown up to cover and
protect every deed of public robbery and NAL,
administration? No, sir, if no one else would
do tiff the Senate would show symptoms OF
fiinching from its duty, would mysefbe glad Of
the opportunity to lay my hand upon the cnIprlt;
would hold him up and say, "this is the cul-
,,o,,lJ an, r,., hand ,Ipop him and affix