The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-29


wing IN the State who would have declared him obnox
ious 10 any charge for which he ought to be prescribed
from ofheeTn9t even that Of interfering in elections.
Is the language OF wings have before letters equally
strong, written by democratic members OF the legislature,
and signed, believe, by members Of all parties. to the
sane effect but these choose not to read choose to-
place bis defence upon the character given him by his po
lcal orponents and although have only read the ties
timony OF four or five of them, have by numerous
others and can assert without the fear Of contradiction,
that the language employed by these gentlemen 10 the
language which would be employed BY all impartial men
in the State, both wings and democrats; No charge
would lie at the door OF that officer, either for interfering
with elections or for anything else.
But, Mr. President, must be permitted to inquire, in
relation TO the subject OF prescription for interfering in
elections, what is the character OF the men who APP
pointed by the present administration, in that respects
Does this administration select men who take part in
politics, and feel and express interest In eectons Is
that the character OF the whom is the habit of the
administration to select for appointment TO office in the
place OF those who removed under the charge OF IN
terferng IN elections doubt not that il constitutes
objection against those that they take active part
In political affairs. II is not account Of the neTer
ence but account OF the side upon which the nerfer-
ence takes place, that the objection II is that
ground that they take part in the elections II is not that
the prescribed is politicanfor II is politicians almost
uniformly who are selected to gill the places Of those
that are removedbut it is that they politicians
the wrong side. Mr. Brown, who has been appointed TO
this very Office OF marshall is, believe, Of The most
active and efficient politicians OF all that section of the
not think that il constitutes any objection to any man,
whether he is wing democrat, that he comes forward
and takes an interest in the elections of the country n ia
vor OF that party that will carry out the principles and
policy TO which he is attached But sir, the gentleman
in relation to whom have been speaking is free even
from this charge, according to the testimony OF wings
themselves, as well as Of all others
There is one other case to which would refer ask
Of my colleague what objections did there exist to Mr.
Robt; J. Chester9 must say, sir that | have never
heard any objection urged against him, although his resi-
dence being further from mine. my colleague may be bet
ter able to answer. My acquaintance with him is not
greats but have never heard even, that he was liable TO
greatly mstaken MIR Chester will be much surprised to find
that charges OF that sort made against him here by my
colleague, on whom, know, from letters received BY
his Office. know that he expected my colleague would
exert himself in his behalf for the purpose of having
him retained in Office have not only not heard OF
believe him to be agenteman OF high character and stand
ing, both in private life and officially. and believe no
charge can be made and maintained against him He
has always discharged the duties OF his Office 10 the salts
faction OF everybody, both wings and democrats.
Well, Mr. President there are one or two other officers
TO whom will aude shall not attempt to travel over
the whole ground Of removals in my State, for believe
that there officers, except few very unimpoItan
who have not been subjected to the process OF be-
ing reformed out; will allude to man by the name
was removed have before me remonstrance. signed
by every legal voter in the town and its vicinity ncu
ding wings and democrats My letters inform me that il
i.
McNely. the party to whom the remonstance relates,
old man. was in the battle OF New Orleans was
wounded, and is now unable to labor and support his
family. Everybody bears testimony TO the fact that
he made an excellent postmaster, and never inter
fered in politics All these facts are set forth III
this petition, signed by every voter in the vicnage
OF the post Office He was removed, as believe, by
some misunderstanding of the Post Office Department
! think the Post Office Department was imposed upon
They could not have intended the removal OF such a
man. il they had had right understanding OF the sub
REM 90 -
thing never known probably in that region Of country be-
foethe ladies' Of Tennessee, some ninetysix in num-
ing his reinstatement in office, setting forth the same
facts stated in the petition OF the voting population
took these papers myself 10 the Post Office Department and
presented them TO the Postmaster General asking him to
restore the old man to his Office asked him whether
there could be any in my filing the papersi was
informed that no action would be taken upon the case
Whether the Postmaster General had been imposed
upon originally not, he had then the facts before hin.
through the medium OF both wings and democrats, as
well ladies'; and assert, sir, that il must be extra
ordinary circumstance which calls out the ladies of that
part OF the country TO take part in political measure OF
any sort They take part whatever in the general
politics OF the county at all but when case OF extreme
they and fel-an old soldier unable to support him
self and his family turned out OF Office against the wishes
OF all his neighbors, and likely be sent to the poor
househey raised their voices and demonstrated against
it but their voices could not be heard.
would like 10 know, Mr.. President, II this has
been removed for cause, what the cause was. What
charge was ever made against Mr. McNiellyi What
charge was he ever obnoxious 10 i deny that any
change either OF interfering in politics or OF any other
Sort be made and sustained against him. And, SIR,
who appointed in his place. A who, believe,
made his all in the elections OF the year s4S by which
he enabled TO establish democratic newspaper in
Dresden. Not receiving the patronage and support OF
the democratic party he changed his prospectus and es
ablished wing paper. Not being more successful IN
that he converted il into neutral paper and this again
was finally shaped into wing paper WE'LL si!, think
that he might be regarded politician and inererer
in elections. He Is holding the office now--l do not say
by way OF cwardng him for the part he took in the late
presidential election charge such thing but he who
was first democrat and is now wing, holds the oil
fee now, and that, too, against the will and the wish oil
the whole community, both wings and democrats
Well, Mr. President there Is also another removal
Graham-a who has held his Office for thirty years
under the various administrations that have been in pow
er during that period, and II had before been dis
covered that he guilty Of any improperly that he
far intereed with the elections 10 require his removal
from Office. had occasion and permitted 70 exam
man, and there found that the charge that the gen.
tleman was democrat, that he was man OF wealth,
and that he inierered with the elections have taken
pains inquire from others in relation TO the truth
of this CHARGE and told that regards his interer
ing with the elections, il entirely unfounded How
ever that may be, will not pretend to say but will
say this that after holding that Office for upwards OF
thirty years. during which no former administration ever
discovered any improperly unaiihfuness in his
duct il is very singular that the discovery should have
been made after the present administration
into power.
shall not consume the time OF the Senate by alluding
to any further particular which could easily
fer TO- My colleague has said that these removals
made upon charges which sustained by proof |
r..J h,rn hat IN h,a