Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-01-10

TWcnty-Fillh Congress.
sHcoND susexoN.
IN SENATE.

~ REsAN ~
TnuRsDAy, DEc. %, Is37.-Aner
the presentation ofpctitions, the Senate
took up the resolution previously offer
cd by Mr.. MILES, relative to ON insur.
ance OF the safe transmission Of money
in the mails.
Mr.. NILES offered q substitute for
that resolution, requiring the Post Mas.
ter General to communicate to the Sc.
nate his opinion of tho propriety and
advantages Of authorizing by law the
transmission in the mail Of sums Of mo-
ney, not exceeding severally a certain
amount, at the risk ofthe department;
the per centage which ought to DO
charged by the department for that
risk and such other information on
the subject as he may think necessary
and within his power.
Mr.. CLAY, Of Kentucky, asked whe.
Their IT had eve been the practice Of
the Senate TO call on the heads of de-
partments for their opinions on any
measure proposed ? Congress has the
right to call on the Secretary of the
Treasury for plans, &C., and to require
him to attend personally in either
House ; but Mr.. c. knew Of no exam.
pie in which the Post Master General
had been called upon for his opinion
on the expectancy Of any measure. If
he might give his opinion in writing,
why not as we'll have a seat in the Sc
nate, 10 defend that opinion, and take
a part in the discussion OF questions, as
was the practice Of members Of the
British cabinet lfsuch opinions ought
to come here, they ought to be explai-
ned and defended. A call for infor.
nation as to facts, or anything OF that
kind, Mr.. c. thought proper and par.
llamentary.
Mr.. NILES was willing to modify
his resolution, SO as TO make il call for
information on the subject. He adj
mitted the improperly of a call for a
mere opinion and information in do.
tail, was the object which no had in
view. He went into a minute detail
ofthe advantages Of a plan Of ;nsur-
ance Of this kind, and Of what he dee.
med the best mean Of attaining those
advantages.
Mr.. CLAY said he did not mean TO
give any opinion, or make any objec-
lions to the plan which the Senator had
in view. His objection was to the prac.
tice of calling On the head Of he de.
partment for his opinions. The Sena.
tor from Connecticut might attain his
object in the customary mode, by a
resolution authorizing an inquiry on
the subject by the Committee on the p.
Office and Post Roads, who would, Of
course, call on the Department for in.
formation, il they thought proper. His
objection, he said, was no technical,
but grave and important, involving the
dignity, as well as the parliamentary
order Of the body itself.
Mr.. GRUMPY said he should feel
obliged to vote against this resolu-
ton. He never knew, and hoped he
never should know, OF an instance of
a call by the Senate for the opinions
ofany executive officer ofthis Govern.
ment. 1t vas proper to call on them
for Information ; but this resolution
did not call for information, but a mere
Of opinion. Mr.. G. also ex.
pressed his opposition to the plan pro-
posed. 1t would make a great many
p~ostmasters responsible, and involve
the Government in a great many small
affairs of money. He was willing,
however, that a committee should make
the usual inquiry; but he had never
voted to call for an opinion, as was pro-
posed, and he did not think he ever
should.
Mr.. NILES, after a few remarks,
moved to lay his resolution on the tn.
BILE which was done accordingly.
Mr.. NoRvELL rose to lay some reso-
~lutions upon the table, and to move
that they be printed. Several days
ago, Mr.. N. said, after the Vermont
resolutions were introduced into this
body, certain petitions on the subject
Of abolition were put into his hands by
the Representative from Michigan.