The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-12

in his seat he had made the motion just submtedto
| the Senate
THE APPoRTIoNMENT BILL AND THE COPYRIGHT
| Mr.. BUCHANAN observed that as the Legisa-
| ture OF Penn ylvania would be convened IN iew
days to take action in relation TO this subject he would
beg leave TO ask the Chairman of the COMMITTEE on
the Judiciary when the Apporiionment Bill would be
| reported TO the Senate. 80.
| Mr. BERRIEN replied that at the time ina Dill
was referred to the Committee there were but Two
members OF il in the city but he had not lost sght oil
the subject and had called meeting oil the commit
| tee for tomorrow.
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 DC
speedily reported
Mr. PRESTON remarked that as the precedent
had been set by the Senator from Pennsy lyania he
would inquire what had become Of the Copyright
bill
Mr. BERRlEN replied that, some time since, he had
conversation with the Senator who introduced the
BILL (Nr Clay) and expressed his readiness to report
IT. stating however that the report of the committee
would be adverse. The committee considered the
subject two months ago. but the bill returned to
the Senator for the purpose of receiving some further
suggestions.
INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE MApIsoNlAN NEWS
PAPER.
The following resolution heretofore submitted by
Mr.. Benton was then taken up for consideration, VIZ
Res6trsa, That the Committee on the Post Office
| and Post Roads he instructed to nqalre IN wha
manner the MaJIsonian newspaper obtained know
ledge of certain papers supposed to be filed in the Gee
neral Post Office Department in relation to the APP
pointnent OF MIR. Watson Postmaster at ST. Louis
to VITA letter from Mr.. Benton To Mr.. Van Buren,,
and another from MIR Bcnton 10 the Postmaster Gene
raj and also in what 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 on the sole recommends
~. AZ thar ~
inquire into the in which the said editor OBJ
tanned copy of the Postmaster Generals letter to the
Senates Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads in relation 10 the nomination of Samuel b
Churchill, and recommending him Tor confirmation.
And that they have power TO send for persons andpa
pers, and to take testimony on oath, and report the
same to the Senate
Mr. MERRICK submitted the following amend
ment to the resolutions, 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 or communicated by the Pre-
sident OF the United States or any chief Elk
ecuiive officer, to the Senate any one of its
committees, shall be held to be confidential
under the thirteth rule; but all such papers,
after the decision of the question any no
mination, 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
MIR. MERRlCk said that the original resolution
proposed that the Committee on 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
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 It's face the eyi
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 a
loss To know how the Senate had the power to make
such investigation. Ii had never been recognised
right the part of the Senate to 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 in
| virtue of some understanding between the party fur
nishlng and party receiving them. No other Senator
having seen proper 10 introduce any proposition
the subject, he had FELT constrained to submit the
amendment so 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 letter
bearing that date But he did not stand here as the
advocate Of the Postmaster General to vindcae him
from this or 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 (NIr
Merricks) confidence and esteem by his faithful at
tention to the public service. He had ALWAYS found
him, late and early, at his desk From the position
which he occupied as Chairman of the Committee on
the Post Office, it had been his duty to VISIT the De-
parment frequently and it due TO that officer to
say that his conduct had been gentemanly and he
was, in addition diligent, and toed for the public
good and evinced talent, perseverance and business
habits, worthy of all praise. He, too made his par
tcuar object husband the resources of thc Depart
ment, and improve the facilities for transporting the
mails being at the same time prompted by desire to
keep the expenditures of the Department within its
income Whether it was improper not for the Post
master Ge neral to make the publication alluded to Gil
he did) it was not for him (Mr. Msrrick) to inquire
aud he hoped that the Senate would not 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 small
game for committee Of the Senate to inquire how
filth and calumny had driveled into
and, entertaining this view ofthe subject he hoped
that the Senator from Missouri would abandon the
inquiry With regard TO communications Of a conf
dental nature, it was in his opinion, unnecessary TO
| attempt to define any new rules but on this occa
sion, if any gentleman felt aggrieved in relation to
any matter of personal assault, he would, if viola
ton of principle not asked, yield matter of
course. He was grati6ed to know that single good
! Wing this floor had been able to see such merit in
the head of the Post Office Department to bestow
upon him the most fatterng compliments for his
fidelity. But fidelity to whoml 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 unreserv-
ed use of the patronage Of this Department by pro-
scribng hgs and putting in their places others ofcon-
ficng political opinions and it strange to him
that Wing could rise in his place and bestow praises
on the head of the Department for his ability indus
try, and fidelity.
| Mr.. MERRlCK said that he would inform the Sc
nator that he should hesitate to bestow praise
where il WIS due--Whether upon WING .or Democrat