The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-12


could call for the consideration of the bill indicated.
Mr.. LINN was aware of that. He had given no
tice on two several occasions that he would move To
take up the bill One of them, the Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, was absent but seeing hm now
IN his seat be had made the motion just submtedto
the Senate.
THE ApPoRrIoNMENT BILL AND THE COPYRIGHT
LAW.
Mr.. BUCHANAN observed that as the Legise-
ture of Pennsylvan would be convened In few
days to take relation to this subject he would
beg leave to ask the Chairman of the Committee on
the Judiciary when the Apportionment Bill would be
reported To the Senate.
Mr. BERRIEN replied that at the time the bill
referred to the Committee there were but two
members of in the city but he had not lost sight of
the subject and had called meeting OF the commit
tee for tomorrow.
Mr. BUCHANAN said that the explanation was
entirely satisfactory and he sincerely hoped that the
chairman would at that time be able to get majority
OF the committee together, SO that the bill might be
speedily reported.
Mr.. PRESTON remarked that as the precedent
had been set by the Senator from Pennsy lvania he
would inquire what had become of the Copyright
BILL
MIR. Der RlEN replied that some time since, he had
conversation with the Senator who introduced the
bill, Mr. Clay and expressed his readiness to report
1t, stating, however, that the report Of the committee
would be adverse. The committee considered the
subject two months ago, but the bill was returned to
the Senator for the purpose of receiving some further
suggestions
INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE MADIsoNIAN NEWS
PAPER.
The following resolution heretofore submitted by
Mr. Benton was then taken up for consideration, viz
Resoirea, That the Committee the Post Office
and Post Roads be instructed to inqaire in what
manner the Madlsonian newspaper obtained know
ledge OF certain papers supposed to be filed In the Ge
neral Post Office Department in relation to the ap-
pontment OF Mr.. Watson Postmaster at 81. Louis
to vita letter from Mr.. Benton to Mr. Van Buren,
and another from MIR. Benton the Postmaster Gene
raj and also In what manner The editor of that paper
became possessed of the information that there was
no other recommendation for Mr.. Watson, and that
his appointment was made the sole recommends
ton of Mr.. Benton. Also, that the said committee
inquire into the manner in which the said editor OBJ
tanned copy of the Postmaster Generals letter 10 the
Senate's Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads, in relation to the nomination of Samuel B.
Churchill, and recommending him tor confirmation.
And that they have power to send for persons and pa
pers and to take testimony on oath, and report the
to the Senate
Mr. MERRICK submitted the following amend
ment to the resolution, viz:
Strike out all after the word resolved and insert,
All letters of recommendation, and other papers
touching or concerning any nomination for Office,
which may be sent communicated by the Pre-
sident Of the United States or any chief Ex-
ecuve officer, to the Senate or any one Of its
committees, shall be held to be confidential
under the thirtieth rule but all such papers,
after the decision OF the question any no.
mnation, shall be returned to the proper de.
partment of the Government whence it emanated,
and not placed on the files of the Senate unless so
ordered.
Mr.. MERRICK said that the original resolution
proposed that the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads should make certain inquiries as to pub
LEGATION in newspaper in this city-an inquiry which
it seemed to him was inappropriate to one of the
committees of that body. 1t would besides, be
introducing novel principle, scarcely short of
a censorship of the press. The Senator from Mis-
souri, Mr.. Benton) remarked yesterday that his
design in introducing the resolution was much
beyond the Madisonian, and was in relation TO
a newspaper editorial "bearing IFS face the evi.
dence of being the work of the Postmaster General
But suppose that the President of the United States
the Postmaster General authorized the publication
of any paper, private confidential which might
have been in their possession-he was wholly at
loss to know how the Senate had the power to make
such an investigation. 1t had never been recognised
hit the part Of the Senate call for papers or
documents in possession Of the Executive Depart
ments relating to appointments The Senate had no
right to demand papers and if given at all it was in
virtue OF some understanding between the party fur
nishng and party receiving them. No other Senator
having seen proper to introduce any proposition on
the subject, he had felt constrained to submit the
amendment, that all difficulty in obtaining private
information from the Department might be removed
entirely out of the way. On the first of October
1884, Mr. Barry, the Postmaster General refused to
communicate certain letters to the Senate in relation
to the removal of the Postmaster at Putnam Ohio
(for reasons which Mr.. Merrick read from a letter
bearing that date.) But he did not stand here as the
advocate of the Postmaster General to vndicae him
from this any other act he had nothing to do with
the misunderstanding between the Senator from Mis-
souri, and the Postmaster General Since he had be-
come acquainted with that gentleman he won his (Mr
Merricks confidence and esteem by his faithful at
tentlon to the public service. He had always found
him, late and early, at his desk From the position
which he occupied Chairman Of the Committee on
the Post Office, had been his duty to visit the De-
partment frequently and due TO that officer to
say that his conduct had been gentlemanly and he
was, In addition dilgent and toiled for the public
good, and evnced talent, perseverance, and business
habits, worthy of all praise He too, made it his par
cula object to husband the resources of the DEPART
ment, and improve the facilities for transporting the
mails, being at the time prompted Ivy desire to
keep the expenditures of the Department within it's
income. Whether it was improper not for the Post
master General to make the publication alluded to f
he dld) it was not for him Mr.. Merrck) to inquire
aud he hoped that the Senate would impose upon
him this duty
Mr. MANGUM said that he took but little inte-
rest in the matter, but if the Senator from Missouri
desired the investigation proposed by his resolution
he could not say that he would have much objection
to it. However, he would suggest that it was small
game for committee of the Senate to inquire how
filth and caumny had drveled into a common sew :.
and entertaining this view of the subject he hoped
that the Senator from Missouri ud abandon the
inquiry. With regard 10 communications of conf
Dental nature, it was in his opinion unnecessary to
attempt to define any rules; but on this 0cca-
sion, if any gentleman felt aggreved in relation to
any matter Of personal assault, he would if viola
ton of principle not asked, yield a matter of
course He was gratifed to know that a single good
Wing this floor had been able to see such merit in
the head of the Post Office Department as to bestow
upon him the most fatterng compliments for his
fidelity. But fidelity to whom? Not certainly to the
Wing party. The honorable Senator from Missouri
had got into rather false position in this matter as
the Postmaster General had made the most unreserv-
ed use of the patronage of this Department by pro-
scrbng Wings and putting in their places others ocon-
fictng political opinions; and it strange to him