The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-04

And among other things that GENTLEMAN, in his argu
ment against this bill, has informed us that he wal
once postmaster and always paid the due her
called uponi and that the most sensible and con
yincing portion of his argument ia opposition TO thi
Dill Ana VIII say TO the genthman and To Thu
COMMITTEE that If all other postmasters had been go
verned by his example, instead Of embezzling the mo
neys OF the Government and evading justice the De
partment would not have been in its present embar
rassed situation, and there would have been many es
removals than there have been Of fahess and disho
| nest men.
Mr. Chairman, the object of this bill is to enable
the Post ofhca Department to perform an act of jus
tice to pay the honest claims upon this Government
and fully respond to the sentiments advanced by my
friend from Georgia (Mr Dawson that called
upon by every consideration of justice and humanity
TO provide the means for the payment Of the suffering
creditors OF tins Government. And whether those
debts were contracted under this or the former ADM
nisraon is perfectly immaterial. Such considera-
ton should have no improper influence upon men act
ing in the capacity of Legislators and bound to dis
charge the high obligations deyolving upon them
faithfully honestly, and npartialy. And, sir, II i
deeply TO be lamenled as well as disgracefu to this
body that party personal feelings should control the
actions OF men upon a subject of this kind 1t il
enough for me TO know TO induce me TO sustain this
| bill, that the Government owes the money that il
asked for and with the amendment of the gentle.
man from Virginia, Mr. Glner,) IL shall receive my
support That amendment secures the refunding the
money into The public Treasury whenever the means
of the Department will enable to do so.
The simple question then submitted to is, Shall
this bill pass shall the suffering creditors of this
Government meet with denial If Justice The
President in his message Cater stating the embar-
rassed condition of the Department has informed
that il must therefore, be left to Congress to deter
mine neither the moneys due TO contractors shall
be paid from the public Treasury whether that De-
partment shall continue under its present embarrass-
ments Yes sir, that is the question Shall the De-
paItment remain in its present embarrassed condition,
shall we furnish il with the means of Teef1 How,
them hesitate, and why should there be diff
ference in opinion among US II has been well re-
marked by my friend from Georgia that the passage OF
this bill is an act of justice and humanity demanded
from II the reports which we hear from every
portion of the country be true (of which entertain
no doubt } hundreds of faithful contractors are now
suffering Tor the want Of their honest dues from the
Government And in some instances they have been
compelled to submit to a sacrifice Of their property by
seizure and sale under execution, for the want of
the moneys due them md this is not all BY rea
of being thus deprived ofther property they have
been prevented from regularly transporting the mails,
and thereby subjected to heavy penalties which have
been imposed upon them
And where is the honesty or morality Of refusing
to make this appropriation under the circumstances
which have been stated Ii does to that no
man who has proper of duty, and who pos.
sesses the feelings of man. can refuse this appropri-
alton. entreat gentlemen 10 be governed by the
same rule on This which would control homo
rable in their private relations and intercourse
with their fellow-men Be just and faithful TO your
Government, and protect it against violation of its
pl GIFTED aith. Ind under full conviction that this
bill based upon the principles of right, of justice,
and humanity, hope that it will pass without serious
opposition