The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
REMARKS OF Ma. CHITTENDEN,
or NEW YORK,
IN The House Of Representatives., August q
ls4l, on Me oil 20 make appropriations 10
the Post Office Department.


In The House Of Representatives., august "a,
lS4l, on me oil 20 make appropriations for
the Post Office Department.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: II was not my intention to have
detained the committee with any remarks of mine up
on the bill under consideration but have contented
myself with giving It my silent support. But, after
witnessing the extraordinary latitude Of debate that
has been INDUCED in and especially after hearing the
arguments that have been made by two of my homo
rable colleagues Messrs Floyd and Bowne) to defeat
the BILL cannot, in justice my feelings and sense
OF duty, consent to forego the privilege Of occupying
the time OF the committee for few moments.
Il deeply to be regretted that measure howev-
er just and nertorous, be discussed in this hall
without the indulgence OF some gentlemen in perso-
nal and party feelings.
What is the character and what are the objects Of
the bill under consideration II simply asks for an
appropriation of money "to enable the Post Office
Department to meet its engagements and pay its
debts or In other words, ii is bill to provide the
means for paying the just demands Of honest and
suffering creditors upon this Government demands
which have been long deferred which has occasioned
agreat deal Of pecuniary suffering and distress And
what the objections which have been urged against
this measure of relief which has its foundation in hui
m unity and justice Is il denied that the Depart
ment isembarrnssed and is without the Of meet
ing It's engagements Not at all But ii is contend
ed that i should not be relieved from its embarrass
ments by of the general funds in the Treasu-
ry, but be thrown upon It's own resources though
II was an isolated and independent branch Of the Go
vernment. In some respects, and TO certain extent
II Is an independent branch Of the Government hut
is not true, has been urged in this debate that
contractors with that Department TO look to that
source alone for the payment of their Just demands
and that the Government is absolved from all rcspon
sibity No. sir the idea that the honest creditors of
TINS Government are to have to insolvent
Department alone for their Just dues is not be toe
rated for a moment
II the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Reynolds who
has urged this argument against the passage Of this bill
and insisted that every tub should stand upon It's own
bottom, will take the trouble examine the
made with the Post Office Department he will find
that they are made by, and behalf of the United
States and upon the faith and credit of the Govern
ment, and no. upon that of the Department.
But my honorable colleague who first addressed the
committee, Mr.. Fioyd) has urged as argument
against this measure that the embarrasments of the
Department have occurred under the administration OF
the present incumbent, and alleged that in less than
SIX months after he present Administration came into
power we find that have neither funds nor Trea-
sury to put them in" The gentleman seems to have
lost sight of the fact that the only inheritance Of the
present Administration from the past was an onerous
d, bt and empty Treasury vaults.
And what was the condition of the Department
when il came into the hands Of its present able and
efficient head invite gentlemen who allege that ii
was IN 1ounshlng condition under the late Admins
traton, To examine the report Of the late Postmaster
General al the commencement of the last session of
Congress. II viii be seen from that report, that,
far from its being in "fourshinr it was in a most
dePtorabie condition. A variety of there
assigned for that condition Of the Department, and
various suggestions are made for its improvement
Ii will be found sir, from examination of that re-
port and the laws which now regulate that Depart
ment that legislation is necessary to place it in sound
and fourshng condition Sir is any further evidence
wanting to Prove that this Department was embarrass-
ed under the late Administration If So would re-
fer to the message of the President at the commence
ment of the present Congress. We there inform
ed that by the accompanying report of that officer
the Postmaster Genera appears that the exiting
liabiities OF that Department, beyond he means e
payment at its command, cannot be less than $500
00Op How them sir, and with what regard to truth,
can il be pretended that the Department has become
embarrassed by of the ineffciency or incom-
potency of the present incumbent at the head of it
Mere naked assertion without evidence, is not that
kind OF argument that is calculated produce convc
ton upon the minds of rational men
Another reason assigned by my colleague for re-
using the appropriation was that he had no confidence
In the head of the Deparment-that he believed him
utterly incompetent the discharge of his duties and
that he had been engaged in turning out from and
putting men into office, These certainly are very
grave and serious charges, aud furnish strong and
powerful reasons why this Government should not
pay its honest debts. Besides, it is a subject most
deeply to be amented that the gentleman has no con
idence in the present Postmaster General NV other
nonoTdUle CoHeanue MT boWNE) who has addressed
the Comm ttee In opposition TO this IT, after endors.
ing all that had been stated by the former gentleman
has made additional charges against the present head
of the Department. He alleges that in one instance
an individual has been appointed Postmaster upon the
recommendation of The Governor Of the Safe of New
ork And where would inquire, from what bet
ter or higher source could recommendation have been
furnished Again my colleague says, another indi-
vidual has been appointed Postmaster hose only
commentator was, that he was a steamboat po-
Ltlcs" This certainly comes with raiher an i'll grace
from gentleman who possesses the same qualification
in pre- emEent degree and who nearly resembles
a steamboat" or stedm-engine, at least far as
sound and concerned But, as another evil
dence Of the want Equalization for the discharge of
the duties of the Department, the gentleman has in
formed us that Mr.. Granger has been three times
rejected by the people of his State when a candi.
date for Governor And, if 1t be So is that any evil
dence Of his lncapaclty Does not the gentleman
know that in times of high party excitement the mos,
and even exccpionable candidates of len
defeated Has the gentleman FORGOTTEN that Mr.
Van Buren,, his great model in politics and
has been rejected by large "j-.!y ., me people oi
that great aud patriotic state, ana that ne once De-
came its Governor by minority OF its votes I can
assure my colleagues that MIR. Granger is the just
pride of the people of our State who know hun best,
and who duly appreciate his merIts-and they were
most sincerely graed when they learned that he had
been selected to preside over the fost ohce Depart
ment They regarded it not only as an net of justice
TO him. but as one of the highest donors that could
have been conferred upon them. Let me say to
those gentlemen that all of their ISLANDERS and de-
nunciations Of him will fall perfectly harmless at
his feet for he is deeply seated in the affections
and confidence OF the people in the empire State"
Yes sir, he needs encomium defence from me
for wherever he Is known he is much beyond the
reach Of their puny shafts and malignant ISLANDERS as
they and their base calumnes beneath his notice
And what is the foundation for the charge of pro-
SCI ipon that has been made by'genlemen during
this debate The only just ground of complaint that
know of against him is that he has neglected to
make removals of men who have forfeited all claim to
public con6dence--men who had prostiuied their Of
fees to party purposes Yes, sir the public would
have been much better satisfied if he had made many
more removals | could cite the gentleman to a va
ricy of cases within my own know ledge, where men
are retained 10 imnnItant post offices who ought long