The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-21

route. II Mr. b. believed that, he certainly should
never eulogize such an officer as worthy OF conn
dence, or fit for his station. BY The arrange
menls" ct which the Postmaster General spoke In
his report Mr. b. understood him to mean contracts;
and IL he had made such contracts as would absorb
the whole OF The surplus, he could have none Of u 10
apply 10 these i've hundred new routes proposed IN
this bill and as he must establish them, II The bill
became law, he mud Of necessity abridge the Ia
cilies now enjoyed, especially in the old States TO
this MIR. b. never would consent. The estimate OF
the Postmaster General showed thai 4 800 600 more
was TO be spent this year than last Lasl year the
expenditure had been 80 800 con; this year II was
TO be $4,600,000, which was III 100000 more. OF
this sum he had, say, Ss00,O00 on hand still there
would be 100000 more 10 be expended. Mr.. b.
would not and 10 this $3.50 O00 more still and, as 10
lending TO the Department he could not 60 that
We were borrowt rs ourselves, not lenders.
MIR. WISE wanted 10 know how Amos could have
this balance OF ssS00,OO03 He believed the state
menI to be utterly false and that Amos knew il 10
be false when he made IT,
MIR. BRIGGS here quoted the report showing the
items Of which il consisted.
Mr. WISE admitted all that; but wanted 10 know
whether the debts which MIR. Barry lef had ever
been paid II not, the balance was all falsehood
and deception. Now, in one case, he knew, and the
country now knew, that The Postmaster General had
held ON TO $50 600 Justly due 10 Stockton a Stokes
and had defed the judiciary OF The country, until
compelled TO dsgorge under mandamus. This
was the way he paid the contractors. And who
could tell how many other balances in the like
condition He had never stated this sum Of 600
but had clapped Il into his balance Of surplus, to
show what magician he was in bringing the affairs
Of the Department into soundness and abundance.
Mr.. w. did not believe he had now, or ever had
had, the balance be stated, or half of il. And what
more light had the chairman of the committee given
(Mr Montgomery He guessed his way through
out; giving The House his opinion, and his hopes,
and his confidence in Amos's honesty and truth. Mr.
w. had as good right, and greater reason 10 doubt
both for he had the sentence OF court to back his
opinion.
The Chairman had given reasons why the alleged
balance could not be applied 10 the routes in This
bill LIST. That contracts had been made 10 absorb
The whole; but those contracts were previous to the
report and the report stated this balance as sum in
hand, applicable TO whatever might be required if
i did not mean this, il was jugge he had it, and
he had not Il; ii was in hand, and not in hand 3D.
TO The reduction Of postage. But he, himself, had
recommended the reduction, and the House refused
il. Sd. To the general condition Of the country
That condition, Heaven knew, was bad enough,
(and whom had we TO thank for it7) But instead OF
being a reason why the receipts OF the post office
should be less, II was reason why they should be
greater. There was more need of correspondence
than ever. There was more sending Of protests;
more writing Of dunning letters; more letters beg
ging time and offering terms more letters from
clients 10 lawyers, and lawyers TO clients more
letters from brokers; more pressing of country
merchants Tor payment more begging of country
merchants about local bills and terms Of exchange
Blessed, beautiful fruits OF the grand experiment!
Yet they were reason why the post Office got more
money, than less money and as TO private ordinary
correspondence, the dead letter Office would show
that as many letters were now taken out as ever:
and all paid for in the ready rhino, too. As TO the
invitation TO raise committee, II was needless lst
Because there was standing committee con Ex-
penditures in the Post Office Department" whose
duty II was to make this very examination, but who.
though warned in time thar they would be called on
for report, had made none And, O. Because all
committees OF investigation under the existing state
Of things were utterly futile. MIR. w. had tried
that. This session he had play-time He was a
spectator. Once he had been working man. and
hard work he had had OF it, 1t was vain. The
country never could get from these honest Amoses
and honest lagos what they had done with the money.
The great Amos answered like an au,ocrat abe
would take care of himself he would not permit the
Department to become bankrupt during his admins
traon." No: not he. Mr.. w. believed him; for
he would prevent II by Withholding the contractors
pay, he had done in the case Of Stockton & Stokes
The Chairman's three reasons were good for no.
thing. And now Mr. w. would put the plough
into the ground up to the beam, and let Amos pull.
He had boosted Of his surpiusses and his strength
Now lei him pull, and show how strong he is The
People should not, with Mr.. WIS consent be de-
prived Of their mail routes while this Amos boosted
he had $500, 900 Of their money under his fist He
had got Amos upon stump at last. He was ''tree'd
for once. ta
Mr.. CALHOON, Of Kentucky, made some further
comments on the Postmaster Generals report, which
Mr.. Briggs explained in reply.
MT. ENEhE j maze some explanations about
the case Of Stockton & Stokes but in so low voice
and with so much rapidly, that it scarcely pos
sble to report them fully. We gathered from what
he said, that the Department, besides the sum Of
ss54 900 justly and legally due to Stockton & Stokes
had made them extra allowances first Of $4,000:
them afterwards, of 1922, 900 more: and finally of
$76 900 still. All which those contractors had
| received under a report Of the Solicitor General
and by the award of the court How the Solicitor
| General ever came to make such report Mr. E.
was at loss to understand; and it was his own firm
belief that that officer had been sent out of the coun-
| try on a foreign mission TO avoid the anticipated
consequences of making it. And as 10 the award of
| the court, il never would have been allowed had
| Mr.. Kendall, instead of putting himself on his
| dignity and denying the jurisdiction Of the court
exhibited the true state of the account Of Stockton
| & Stokes and resisted their illegal demand The
saving that would thus have been effected would
have been sufficient TO pay for all the routes in this
| bill.
On motion of Mr.. REED, the committee now rose
| and reported progress.
| The SPEAKER laid before the House two Execu-
| tive communications, viz l. A report from the War
Department, stating the architectural plans which
| had been prepared by its order. 2. Letters from
| General Arbuckle, touching the hostile disposition
| Of the Indians on the frontier.
! Mr. HAMER informed Mr.. Everett that the So
lcilor General had returned from his foreign mis-
sion and was here ready to answer for his report
The House then adjourned.
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ra...... IN SENATE. ~ ..