Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-14

sdent of the United States any chief executive
officer TO the Senate, any ono 81 lie eommittses,
shall be held TO be confidential under the THIRTEEN
rule; but all such papers, after the decision OF the
question on any nomination, shall be returned 10
| the proper department Of the Government whence
they emanated. and not placed on the files OF the
| Senate, unless 50 ordered.
| MIR MERRlCK entered at considerable length
into the subject, with view Of showing the expe
| dieney OF establishing some such rule Of action as
he suggested for the Senate and committees, leaving
each member individually to assert and exercise las
right OF investigating documents on file m the de-
paTtmenis. lie insisted that such n rule had al
ways been acted upon by the Senate heretofore;
and he quoted MIR Bauy's refusal TO furnish the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads with
papers IN case in point. MIR Barry's letter TO tho
chairman OF the committee was datet LIST October,
1884, and contained such sound argument, that he
| should read IL as applicable TO this OCCASION
lie then read the letter which was Of considerable
length. He deduced from this, that the Senate had
no right TO demand such papers, and contended that
| ii they were communicated, they were subject to
the implied Injunction Of being conidentially sub
mtted for the purpose OF facilitating the action of
the Senate in executive session. and therefore should
not be made public, without express authority. IL
was evidently in the power OF the departments 10
withhold such papers and If his amendment was not
adopted, there would certainly be great reserve in
communications OF the kind hereafter. For these
reasons, II was expedent that rule such his
| amendment contemplated should be adopted. In
ened eulogy the official ability, courtesy. integri
~, perseverance, industry, department in Office and
| fidelity of the Postmaster General; which had en-
titled HIM 10 his fullest confidence, admiration, and
appreciation. His intercourse, as chairman of the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, had
been almost daily during this session. and m this in
tercourse he found the head of the department nj
his desk, and attending TO the public interests
winch engtossed his Whole attention, CT all hours
and IN all seasons.
| Mr. MANGUM observed that he felt very little
interest m this matter, way or the o,he-; but II
ihe Hon. Senator from Missouri desired this inves
tgation to 60 forward, he could not say that he
| would have much objection S to tho general prin-
ciple; but with regard to tho immediate matter in
hand, be would submit 1t TO the honorable Senator
whether II was rot rather small game for the occu,
patton Of standing committee OF the Senate TO make
inquiry how all the hlih and ealumny dribbled into
the common sewer of this Administration. The
Hon. Senator, he was sure would f nd it more con
genial to his taste to aim at higher game.
lie was glad however to find that there Il, leas
one member OF this body (Mt Merrickl who had
such uncommon powers of discrimination, us to bt
able TO discover, in the head Of the Post Office D.,
par'ment talents, official abItv, and fGsliiu s.
transcendent, to render the SCISSOR ontrey &c.
serving oi mis- fullest confidence md appreciation
What he remarked evidence Of this discr,mi-
nation ~as the Senator's eulogv on hat Functions
\ srv's fdstiiy. Fidelity whom7 Fidelity TO the
Wing partyl He thought the honorable Senator
from Missouri was placing himself in n false posi-.
tOn oy MS NCSullsy 10 the postmaster CIetcra he
was promoting to Office and retaining more of hi,
party than o! the Wing party. He confessed il haC
struck HIM with surprise 10 hear wing Senator
euog,zs such public officer for "hdelty." He
would be glad TO know whether the eu,ogy was
merited for fidelity" TO the Senator's patty.
! MIR MERRlCk said he would nev.r hesitate "a
besiow praise when he was satisfied that the obicc
was worthy. lie had bestowed II IN this irs ancs
where he thorght, IN his solemn helie, B.; was due
/ he again reiterated, tha; he hs6 found the Post
/ 4. 81 al 4 -
snd he believed thai he had successfully eudeayor.
eo to ourtai. The expenses Of the DEPARTMENT with
the view 10 bang ABOUT the reirenchmen; so much
desired de would no.. however, consult the Sc
nA'or from Nor'h Carolina as 70 where he should
mete out prhIso-
! Mr. BENTON said the hour OF one was come. ind
ne speeal ORDER Of The cav entitled 70 prefer
ence- de dId not mean interfere Nth that order
sno therefore should only say ,haI the Senator from
North Carolina Mr. Mansuml was 4 ittie misia-
ken IN sapPcsns that the object Of the resolution
ives 70 reach the proceedings OF printing Off &c:
on me contrary, the object was 10 reach the pro-
eeedinss Of the Post Office Department Cerfain
~ 'ss Of secrecy were assumed for that department
which excluded members from seeing napers on as
files which concerned themselves and their cousti-
tuenis and al the same time, publications appcnr in
a newspaper here, which cOntravene these rules
ana which publication bears interna! evidence oi
having emIneted from the department. The object
ot the resolution was TO ascertain that ficf, or, q
least, 10 give an opportunity OF showing from The
publication itself from its internal evidence that
Il had so emanated; and this, he believed fully
shown on yesterday. The publication itself was
relied upon TO show is origin, 10 wit, in the Pos.
Office Department; and certain II is that no Senator
hes expressed different opinion. The publication
fathers itself, and shows that the author had access
TO the files OF the Post Office Department made
statements Of what was, and what was not, in the
department; assumed 10 give quotations from let
tiers on hc, which copies of the letters actually on
file show to be false and that oil this was in viola
ton OF the rule of secrecy claimed for the depart
meni, and enforced against members Of Congress
and their constituents Mr. B., for himself, was rea.
dy leave the matter where his expositions OF yes
terday had left il; and should continue to stand mp
on the ground that the public Offices public
that the papers on file in those Offices were open 10
the inspection Of those whom they concerned, and
to members of Congress, the part of their const-
uents
Mr. MANGUM moved to lay the matter on the
able; and if 1t should he thought necessary hereaf-
Ter, it could be called up.
Mr. MERRICK said his amendment; was only
Intended TO, as it would, facilitate the intercourse
IF the Senate and committees with the Executive.
Difficulties would arise in obtaining information
rom the departments, unless this explanatory
solution adopted.
Mr. MANGUM had no objection to adopting
he principle of the resolution IT. indeed il was not
llready so acted upon.
Mr. LINN. The Senator from Maryland said
would facilitate the Intercourse with the E1ecu.
I've nut was very ques'iOhao's' ~ was very
questionable matter, worthy Of consideration, whe-
her the Senate should resort TO the Executive for
Information. Whether it would not be better to
AXE the stand Independent Of the Executive, and
cave him to send such information he thinks
proper to cary out his own nominations. lfhe did
not think proper TO send any, the Senate could
IN its own responsibility for it's action, asking in
ormation where II could be had.
Mr. MERRlCK said if the Senator from Mis-
our Mr. BENTON did not persist in his resou-
ion, he would Withdraw the amendment for the
present, and introduce 1t independent propo-
Ition.
Mr MANGUM renewed his motion to lay the
whole subject on the table.
Mr. MERRlCK then withdrew his amendment.
The question was then taken on laying the origl.
bal resolution on the table, and carried in the afir
native.
RELIGIOUS NOTICE.-The Rev'd VIM
Smith. will preach atthe Meihodst Epscopal Church