Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-02
TWENTY-sEyENTn coNGREss---lst sess.

NV sSEN ''SsS'
SENATE.
WasuiSGToS, June Owe gave yesterday part
of the proceedings Mr.. Buchanans resolution. We
now give the outline of his remarks, which were ex-
cluded Yesterday by the aieness Of the hour when our
analysis prepared for the press
Mr. Buchanan said il had not been his purpose 10
say one word his resolution, for he did believe
that the cal! for information was so correct IN 'tse'
and the information required was SO proper sof .Ne
public that he could not have anticipated opposition
from any quarter lie was sorry TO hnd h'mseh ms
taken, and that gentlemen on the other sue were
SO sensitive in regard to the subject OF II, that they
would not let his resolution pass without encumber'ng
il with an amendment calculated to render II huga'o-
rv If this had not been the object OF the senator rom
North Carolina. mir Mangum. he woaid, instead
of hrs anne ndment, have offered separate resolution,
10 the adoption of which he (Mr. b. could not have
the least objection. But It the amendment were 1t
tached Ia his (Mr BIS resolution, WHEN was u pro-
babe that an answer could be obtained from the
President: II a range of inquiry as to all the re-
movols and appointments, which had been made
during the last twelve years, were 10 be entered up
on would it be possible to gel an answer 10 ms fesou
tion during the present session OF Congress, even
if 1t should continue until the middle OF September
This was the only objection he had TO the gentleman
amendment If the original resolution had called Tor
the reasons of removals from office, the gentleman
constituencies would be excusabe; but he Mr. Buchah
am asked for lie simply desired list oil
those removed and those appointed bv the present ad-
n,nstraton He at first thought Of entering into some
explanation Of the nature Of his call for this n!ornaon
hut the resolution itself plain on its very face,
that he deemed It unnecessary, at the present moment
TO 90 into particulars
the first idea of making TINS call Tor information had
been suggested his mind but few days before ne
left home, in consequence OF hearing daiy OF 'emoVais
and appointments OF Pnstmasters throughout the coun-
try where he resided. Respectable men, who had
been solicited by t,"if neighbors to accept OF little
Offices established al the roads for the public
convenience, removed, IN order that some gooo
Wing might be rewarded with these small crumbs OF
Executive bounty. In at least one instance, he be-
leved that the post office itself had been removed to
some distance from the place where il was first es-
tablished in order that the Postmaster General might
find worthy Wing recipient OF his patronage
After his arrival here, he learned that The Work
Of prescription progressing on grand scale
among these petty post Offices These removals
were extensive, and mysterious, as to produce
much sensation. Every where the victims were falling
like leaves in October; but no man knew whence the
blow came or who had put the Executive arm IN mo-
ton. The names Of the faed of these victims were
concealed from the public far this was possible
Neither of the official journals here had published the
remoy ais or appointments made by the Postmaster-Ge-
neral The blow was aimed against these Democratic
postmasers from the secret recesses OF the fost Omce
Department. and their number and their names veed IN
Executive mystery, and not permitted TO meet the pun
lie eve. When the late Postmaster General had made
removals. they were weekly published in the Globe and
were thus communicated TO the whole country. But
what was the case now lie had 1t from autlio.
yty on which he relied that the Postmaster-Generai
was removing al the rate OF one hundred anc hry
postmasiers per week; and for any thing which APP
peared in the public papers Of this city, ne had never
made single removal since he came into Office he
country had thus been keptln utter ignorance oil the
extent of the prescriptions OF this ipfoscrNe AZ
minstration. They had concealed their hand. ana
the honorable Senator from North Carolina had INFORM
81 ,la hal hos,
the volumes would hereafter be written. We nave
had but n small duodecmo: hereafter we were to re-
ceve the quartos.
Was it not necessary for the public information that
the changes in the different post Offices should be pun
shed: II often, very often necessary that indvi-
duas who had business 10 transact in remote districts
nf country should know who were the incumbents oil
the different pos, offices. Show your hands, gentle
men, said Mr. b. and never do that which you are CT
Their ashamed or afraid TO publish Amos Kendall, the
late Postmaster General never such precedent to
his successor He then called upon the Senator from
North Carolina TO answer him the question directly
why when removals were proceeding at the rate OF one
hundred and thirty per week, and II they were not the
answer 10 this call would dsproyc IL the Wing journals
of the city were entirely silent on the snbJec: The
pn, lie acts of public under free Government,
were public property, and should never be concealed
from the Ieope. When this had TO be resorted To, 1t
was ALWAYS evidence that there was something wrong
lie might refer particularly the proscrptive conduct
1 other Departments, but should torbear Tor the pre-.
sent.
Another reason, he confessed, which had induced
him to offer the resolution to show the beautiful
consistency between Wing professions and Wing prac-
tice; between promises made ss!ere the eiecloh ana
performance afterwards. Ii the late Administration
did make removals. he asked whether IN dong So they
had ever violated any of their principles or PROMISES
The maxim which the Senators The other side had at
tribued TO it, and which its friends had always Denied
was that "to the victors belong the spolls. II was
certain however that when opportunities offered, we
had preferred our friends TO enemies but all was
open and fair in our conduct. The late Administra-
tion had never shrunk from the responsibility oil their
actions; and were never either AFRAID or ashamed u
publish them to the world.
But how had the supporters of the present Admins
traton acted throughout the canvass which preceded
the late President al election? Had they not made pro-
fessions subServe them instead of principles Gould
any man deny that there numerous and respecta-
bic individuals every where who had enlisted under
their Banners because they made to believe that
the late Administration had pushed the principle oil
prescription entirely too far and that the election Of
Cen Harrison was loudly demanded for this reason
alone, even if no other eSis,ed The Wings so,emnly
promised radically TO reform this system, which they
said converted the Presidential election into mere
struggle between factions eager to seize the spells Of
victory instead Of great contest for the ascendency
of political principles. They would be actua,ed by
higher and nobler motives; and thousands and tens of
of moderate men had been deceived BY snch
professions. How wretchedy had these men been dts
appointed? Prescription assailed us at every step
We lived and moved in the atmosphere of proscrip-
tion and its victims were scattered every where
around us