The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-07-16
Mr. Buchanan on 'Whig' Prescriptions
CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS.


Mr. Buchanan's resolution-ths resolution asking
for list of all the Removals since the 4th Of last
March-we now give the outline of his remarks,
which were excluded yesterday by the lateness OF
the hour when our analysis was prepared for the
press:
Mr. Buchanan said il had not been his purpose to
say one word on his own resolution, believing, as
he did, that the call for information correct
in ITSELF and the information required was so prop
ell for the public, that he could not have antclpa-
ted opposition iiom any quarter, He was sorry to
find himself mistaken, and that gentlemen on the
other side were so sensitive in regard 10 the sub
iect of it, that they could not let his resolution pass
without encumbering it with an amendment calcu-
lated to render it negatory. If this had not been
the object of the Senator from North Carolina,
Mr. Mangum,l he would, instead of his amend
mont, have offered separate resolution, 10 the
adoption of which he (Nlr b. could net have the
least objection. But if the amendment were at
tached to his (NIr B's) resolution, when was it
probable that an answer could be obtained from the
President' If a range Of inquiry as to all the re-
movals and appointments, which had been made
during the last twelve years, were TO be entered
upon would j. be possible to get an answer to his
resolution during the present session OF congress,
even if it should continue until the middle OF Sep
tember? This was The only objection he had to
the genteman's amendment, If the original reso-
luton had called for the reasons of removals from
office, the gentlemans sensitveness would be ex-
cusabe; but he (Nlr b. asked for no reasons. lie
simply desired list Of those removed and those
appointed by the present Administration, He at
first thought Of entering into some explanation Of
the nature of his call for this informaon but the
resolution itself was so plain on its very face, that
he deemed it unnecessary, AT the present moment,
to 90 into particulars
Mr. b. said no could declare, in all sincerity, that
the first idea of making this call for information had
been suggested to his mind but few days before
| he left home in consequence Of hearing daily Of
removals aud appointments of posimasiers through
out the county where he resided Respectable
men, who had been solicited by their neghbors to
accept of little offices established at the cross roads
for the public convenience, were removed, in order
that some good wing might be rewarded with these
| small crumbs Of Executive bounty. In at least one
instance, he believed that the post office itself had
| been removed to sOwe distance from the place
where il was first established in order that the
Postmaster General might find worthy wing re-
cipient Of his patronage. After his arrival here, he
learned that the work of prescription was progress
ing on grand scale among these petty post offices.
These removals were so extensive, and so mystic
rious, as to produce much sensation, Every where
tho victims were falling like leaves in October; but
10 man knew whence the blow came, or who had
put the Executive arm in motion. The names of
these fatal victims were concealed from the public,
ms Ear n. this was possible Neither of the official
journals here had published the removals or APP
poinlmen,s made by the Postmaster General. The
blow was aimed against these Democratic post
masters from the secret recessGs of The Post Office
| Department; and their number and their names
] yelled in Executive mystery, and were not per-
mit,cd to meet the public 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 it from authority on
WEIGH he relied, that tho Postmaster General was
now removing nj the rate Of one hundred and thirty
postmasters per week; and for any thing which
appeared in the public papers of this city, he had
never made single removal since he came INTO
office. The country had thus been kept in utter
Ignorance of the extent of the prescriptions of this
an,i-rroscrpiye Administration. They had con
cealed their hand. And the honorable Senator
from North Carolina had informed US that what
has vet been done was only the prelaco-the vol
umes would hereafter be written. We have had
hut small duodecimo; hereafter we were 10 re-
cevc the quartos.
Was it not necessary for the public information
that the changes in tho different post Offices should
be published II was often, very often necessary
that individuals who had business to transact in re-
mote district Of the country should know who were
the incumbenis Of the different post offices. Show
yonr hands, gentlemen, said Mr. b. and never dc
that which Won ARE either ashamed or afraid tC
publish. Amos Kendall, the late Postmaster Gen
+ eral, never set such precedent TO his successor
He then called upon tho Senator from North Car
olina to answer him the question directly why
when removals were proceeding at the rate Of one
hundred per week. and if thoy were not, the nm
swer to this call would disprove ii, the Wing Jour
mails of the city were entirely silent on the subject
The public acts Of public men under a free Gov
eminent. were public property, and should nove
he concealed from the people When this had IL
be resortei to, it was always evidence that there
was something wrong. lie nigh. refer particular,
TO the proscripiivc conduct of other Departments
but should forbear Cor the present.
: Another reason, he confessed. which had indu
ced him TO offer tho resolution, was to show The
beautiful consistency between wing professions ant
wing practice; between promises made before The
election, and performance afterwards. II the late
Administration did make removals he asked whcth
or. in doing so, they had ever violated any of thc
principles OF promises The maxim which ,h'
Senators on the other side had attributed to it, anc
which its friends had always denied was, that ''tt
tho vctors belong the spolIs" 1t was certain
however. that when opportunities offered, we hat
preferred our friends 10 our encmles; but all wa
open and fair in our conduct. The late Admins
,raiion had never shrunk from the responsibility
their actions: and either afraid or nsha
med to publish Them TO The world.
But how had the supporters of the present AZ
ministra,on acted throughout the canvass whlc'
preceded the late Presidential election Had the
D not made professions subscrve them instead .
principles Could any man deny that there wer
y numerous and respectable individuals every wher
who had enlisted under their banners, because the
g were made to believe that tho late Administration
: had pushed the principle Of prescription enire
too far. and that the election Of General Harrison
It was loudly demanded for this reason alone, even
= no other existed Tho wings solemnly promse
: radically to reform tho system, which they sal
( converted tho Presidential election into a mer
( struggle between factions eager 10 seize the spoil
of victory instead Of gres, contest for tho ascen
l. depcy of poliiica principles. They would lie nc