Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-03-21

ed out OF our last paper.-It is too good
however. to be lost Amos Kendall
hnds TO his sorrow that the Senate is
mot ready" to pocket his insolence, al
though it did bear more than was NEE,
IRON his former master.-It is a good
omen'-Ihere is redeem:ng spirit a,
work in the land.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
AND THE SEN ATE.
Our readers have seen, in the reported
proceedings IN Congress published in Satur-
days paper, that The Postmaster General
was censured by the u. States Senate, on
account ola communication addressed by
him TO that body. In order 10 a proper un-
Outstanding of the case we subioin a brief
statement of the facts in connection with i,
IL appears that resolution had been passed
oy the Senate on the 18th OF February, call.
ing on the Postmaster General for certain
information from that Department. Nores-
ponse having been made by that officer, the
following resolution was adopted by the Sen
ale on the 9th February :-Balt finer.
Ia SENATE, U. S. Fob. 81, 1889
Vhereas, The Senaie, on the 18th day of
February inst. passed u resolution as icl.
lows, RESOLVED, That the Post Master Gen.
erol communicate 10 the Senate. the number
OF removals OF deputy post masters since the
18th day OF March, 1887, the names of the
persons SO removed the names of the per-
sons appointed to fill the vacancies; the
names Of the Offices where such removals
have been made classifying the whole by
States and Territories - and whereas no
answer has been received TO the same, there
fore,
Resolued, That the Post Master Gensra,
inform the Senate, without delay, why he
had not communicated the in formation re-
quired by said resolution.
On Friday last, the following answer
was presented and read to the Senate:
Post OFFICE DEPARTMENTS,
February 27, 1899
Hon. r. nj. JOHNSON,
y. II. and President ofMe Senate.
SIR: Just as my messenger was about
to start for the Capitol, with several commu-
nications, including my reply TO the resolu.
ton of the Senate, adopted on the 18th inst.
received their resolution of this dav, ask
ing why the information then Called for has
not been communicated.
In reply, have the honor to state, that
the only reason have to give why il has
not been before communicated, is, at il was
not ready.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
AMOS KENDALL.
On the reading ofthis reply, Mr. SEWER
OF Arkansas offered the following resolution
which was adopted, yeas 3S, naysS.
ReSolued, That the letter CT the Postmas.
ter General 10 the President Of the Senate.
stating that "the only reason why he had
not sent an answer 10 previous resolution
was because II was not ready" is considered
by the Senate as disrespeclfuI TO this body.
The following resolution was also subse.
quenlly adopted, by vote Of 81 TO is.
RESOLVED, That said letter, with the res>
oluiion to which it purports To- be an answer,
be laid before the President o: The UniIed
States for such action as ne may deem pro-
per
During the sitting of The Senate on Friday
night, the President transmitted commu,
nication from the Post Master General, OF
which the following is a copy:
"PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
March l, 1889.
SIR In reference 10 the resolution Of the
Senate, adopted this day, and by you just
communicated TO me, expressing the opin.
ion that communication made by me on
the 9Th uliimo, in reply TO their resolution
of the same date, was disrespeciiu to that
body, have only 10 say, that no disresrect
was intended or felt. Their resolution of
the 18th ult. calling for The names OF reno.
we'd postmasters, designated no specific lime
a L. h.rh fh1 III
waniedj and as il did not appear TO look TO
any immediate Legislative or Executive ac.
ton on their part, the necessity Of great ex-
them, TO The delay Of other pressing matters,
was NOT appreciated by me SO highly as il
appears to have been by the Senate, or as
perhaps il ought to have been. And az the
reply 10 the resolution OF the 18th, was al
ready in The hands OF The messenger. and
would accompany the reply TO that of the
9th, showing that M disposition existed 10
withhold the information called for, j, did OF
Occur 10 me that any detailed explanation
why IL had not been sooner sent, was Deces-
sary or would be expected. Hence il will
be perceived, that the letter complained OF,
was written hastily, Ohe messenger having
been in fact detained until il could be writ,
len and recorded j and bot for The hurry Of
the moment, not allowing time Tor consid
Grafton, | should probably have given The
more TOLL explanation contained in this let
Ter. Very respectfully,
Your obedieni servant,
AMOS KENDALL.
"To the PRESIDENT"
This letter proved satisfactory to the Sen,
ate.
limos Kendall .-When we refer 10 the
character OF The enquiry proposed by Mr.