The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-02

Mr.. TALLMApcE called the attention OF the Senate
TO the extraordinary language Of this communica-
lion lie regarded Il an insult 10 that body but ow-
ing 10 his connection 70 The resolutions which called
FORTH he lett 10 Senators who appreciated the inn
poriance Of maintaining the dignity and honor of
the body to take such in regard 10 il as they
thought proper.
Mr.. SEWER, Of Arkansas, friend Of the admins
'ralion, suggested the propriety Of returning the
communication TO the President, Nth request that
NE Postmaster General Be dismissed from office, On
considering, however that the power of removal was
'ne exclusive prerogative OF the President, Mr. Sc
sier modified his resolution so as TO read as fol-
lows:
hfsored, That the Postmaster General to the Presi
aeni o he Senate stating that the only reason why he
nso nor sent an answer TO previous resolution, was
because was not ready. considered by The Senate
as disrespectio to'ths body.
Afer some very felicitious remarks from Mr..
CRiTrENDEN, and also from Mr.. Foster, the resolu-
lion was adopted, by the following unusual ma
joriy;
YEAS-Messrs. Bayard, Brown, Buchanan. Cal
houn Clay, OF Ala, Clay, of Ky, Clayton, Critten-
den, cSIhber Davis, Fesier Fulton King, Knight,
las, Norve Prentiss, Preston, Rives, Roane, Rob-
bins, Robinson SEWER Smith, OF Indiana, Souhard
Swifl, Tamadgc, Walker, Wall, Webster, White,
Williams, of Me-, Williams, of Mis-.
NAYS-Messrs. ALLEN, BENTON, HUBBARD
NILES, PIERCE, SMITH, of Conn, WRIoHr, YouNc-s
Let the eight Van Buren, Senator'S, who are thus
willing 10 be instruments of Executive insolence in
the degradation Of the Senate, and the passive vic
Tins of official insult, be marked and remembered,
| as unworthy the dignity Of the place they enjoy.
| Aner some further remarks by several members,
he al n.l
luton, which brings the case before the President,
and enirusts him with the responsibility and the pri
riiege OF maintaining the decency of his own cabi-
net and OF defending the honor Of the Senate to wit:
Rssolred, That said letter, with the resolution 10
which II purpors to be an answer be laid before the
President Of the United States for such action he
may deem proper.
The following was lhe.large vote on the adoption
Of this resolution
YEAS-Messrs. Bayard, Calhoun, Clay, OF Ala,
Clay, Of KY, Clayton, Crenden, Cuihbert, Davis,
Foster, Fulton, King Knight, Mexican, Merrick.
Mouton, Nicholas Norvell, Preniiss Preston, Rves,
Roane, Robbins, Robinson, Sewer, Smith, OF india,
Southland, Swift, Tallmadge, Walker, Webster, and
White-3l.
NAYS-Messrs Allen, Benton, Brown, Buchan-
an Hubbard, Linn Morris, Miles, Pierce, Smith, Of
Conn, Wall, Williams, OF Me-, Williams of Mi,
Wright, and Young-l5.
NE iequeSt ol tue senate, anu the answer VI TIC
Postmaster General were, in substance, these:
4 Ssnate.-Why have you not answered our resolu-
/ ton
| Postmaster General.-None Of your business.
The fact that his answer was not ready must have
been pre- supposed by the Senate and, therefore, 1t
was, that they requested the reasons why it was not
ready. If there had been any peculiar or unusual
difficulty in answering slight request, might it
not have been respectfully stated, is usual in such
cases? But decorum and custom were not the virtues
suitable to the exigency. Insult, contumely and
superciliousness are the fashions Of the court and
the answer TO all just demands upon Executive con-
! descenson.
Such was the Indignation generally feltin the Sc
nate on the reception Of this imperial letter that, had
there been an Anthony there to put the question,
whether this man should lay down his commission
we cannot doubt the answer would have been in the
affirmative If the Postmaster General possesses any
sensibity, he ought to resign. fhe does not, the
President ought that it due to the country to
dismiss him from Office.