The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-26
MIR. BADGER Documents, not letters.

| Mr. BADGER Documents, not letters.
| Mr.. WESTCOTT No, sir; letters and documents
both was particular IN my inquiry and he expressly
Told me the instructions applied 10 both. ID.
| Mr.. BADGER. All that is desired to be atiar,ed by
the resolution presented Isl that shall ii stand
upon the footing the senator from Florida II II
has been reced in regard TO him. let II be so generally
Mr. UNDERWOOD, me rely rise TO state that per-
maps have as much reason to complain OF post office
regulations as any member of this body have suffered
from them grlevously. When | was member of the
other house. constituents on one occasion were charged
SIX hundred dollars Tor few speeches which ranked
to them. 1t was done IN this way | wrote the frank,
and got my wife TO direct Them; i left the city in the
morning, and as was aflerws rds told the speeches were
not sent to the post office until the day The franks
were all erased, and those 10 whom they
charged dollar and quartet postage on eaeh-amoun
taken from my district by the assumption of the post
office to degrade me by refusing my frank The enve
opes great any of them, sent back me- to show
the abuse that had been praciised by the post Office
have made rule, since have been Congress, never
to frank for others During the last summer, conceving
that had right to send receive all my letters free
of postage, fianked those which to Louisville,
aud was afterwards informed that the franks were
erased and postage charged regularly Another gentle
man has told Inc that he was served in the way
1t papable msconstructcp of the law and il is real
y time that we should take the subject under our con
m c2s ssd Se 1 purpose of the resolution
Is it inquiry whether the law has bee violated'
Mr.. BADGER The object is to charge the law, and
| Mr. CASS. Why the law is clear in ITSELF is it not
AT the request OF several senators, the resolution was
again read by the Secretary
Mr.. CALHOUN really doubt the prOpriety of adopt
ing this resolution. There is no auhorit v as under
stand, by which the Postmaster General is authorized
put such construction as he may think proper upon
law of Congress. The resolution ought to be in the
form of an assertion OF our rights.
Mr.. BADGER. | will cheerfuly concur in any reso-
luton which the honorable senator from South Carolina
may think proper to propose in regard to this matter
which will secure to rights And will go fur
Their, and express clear and decided condemnation of
the practice on the part of any officers of this government
views, but OF amending them would make it an of.
fence, punishable IN high degree, upon prosecution in
the courts OF the United States, IN case any postmaster
should dare to charge postage upon letters that
ranked by those who entitled TO the ranking prvi
Mr. CALHOUN | submit to the honorable senator,
whether the right exists the part of any of.cer
of The government to put his Interpretation vi
law of Congress | am not aware that it is | would
suggest the proper be pursued, to CO upon
the Postmaster General to state upon what prn cipe is
that he gives the construction to the law which he has
given and after have received reply from him, then
let resolution be passed indicative OF the sense OF this
body in regard to it.
trouble to look at the law they will find that the Post
master has done exactly what the law requires yet am
in favor of the resolution had my attention called
this subject last year. had occasion to send letter TO
Alexandria The postmaster there dsregared my frank
wrote him rather letter :; and he came up and
took the trouble to look out the provisions OF the law
given him. If senators will look athe law, think they
will be satisfied that the construction given to it is right
sibe Tor us IN all cases to direct our documents
selves.
Mr.. BADGER. think that the senator is under
misapprehenson. An alteration has been made in regard
to the fr2nkng privilege by an act of last session.
M B 8il quoted lot from the ACT ..,
senator from South Carolina NV opinion is that the law
is correctly construed, and that probably will be right
remove the difficulty which the senator has alluded TO by
enactment. II the department has given ILL
bea construction the law may be necessary to pass
decaraory act know how the law formerly, as
had the honor 10 be for short time in the department
The question has been considered there turning
upon the circumstances OF directing the letters packa
ges has been placed substantial foun ation,
and that is, whose act is the sending of the document
If the document is SENT and the department is satisfied
that cannot be the act of the person whose frank
bears postage is very properly charged The mere fact
does not change the act far sending the letter the
document is concerned it remains the act OF the person
franking it and has always been SO regarded appre-
bend that the law right u.s. but have objection
to inquire whether any amendment may be nade though
would not assume that it is wrong.
Mr. FOOTE earnestly deprecated adjudication without
investigation He hoped that the Senate would never
despse the great principle of justice embodied in the say
ing :" strike, but first hear me-"
The resolution was then agreed to.
CHEROKEE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. BAGBY submitted the following resolution; which
considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:
Rsolred That The Secretary Of War be requested to
geedngs of Mess5s Eaton and and Hubey I'M
and the Cherokee nation of Indians.
DEPARTMENT.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a re-
port of the Secretary of War; communicating, agreeably
10 law, report of the Second Comptroller, showing the
appropriations under the direction of the department. for
the fiscal year ending 3Oth june si7 the amount
drawn from the treasury and the balances the LIST
july 1916 which was read and ordered to be printed
BLACK.
The bill for the relief of John Black late consul of the
United States at the city of Mexico read the second
me and considered in committee OF the whole and
no amendment being made, reported to the Senate
read third time, and passed.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday
MONDAY FEBRUARY 81, 1s4S.