The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-08


selves That 10 the reason why we must not proceed
Sir, that 10 reason. We must have an answer, SIR
with view 10 information and the Legislative action
OF this body; for the information in some measure will
be statement OF the fidelity OF these agents Well sir
will not speak Of the legality Of it. leave il to my
friend who gives lessons IN parasmsn;ary ascolgm 70
thing which would subject him to impeachment even II
he has done certain acs.
do. sir. no one shall seek in any ndirection for my
attack Sir will strike with the point OF my spear the
shisld Of their Dubois Gllberts
In my opinion, this resolution should have passed and
gone 10 the Postmaster General without debate II tits
all entirely nghtf there IS no evasion OF law, no vo-
ati0n Of laval can be justified; il is all we'll Il the
lay = defective and requires amsnd@sn We snodia
atve capacity, suppose, because certain answer %
certain resolution may mpicate the officers Of the gov
sr9msnt y no; INTENDED SIMPLY y o q
oe have offered. and have explained the reason, and
The only reason which induced me to OFFER the resolution
Ma eosssue for he very reason Sat was entirely IN
necessary that should do SO had reason TO believe
thai there had been course Of appointment WHICH
er % 1--WE his own relation Of the matter and such in
formation should be strictly official The public have
ayght 70 know what their agents have done and why
HI. PHELPS Since suggested to the honorable SEN
stcr the poeponemen have had an opportunity to look
q this resolution, and, sir agree entirely with the gen.
qury i made i should not Be made Of the Postmaster
General If there has been violation OF law by his SUI
bordnates have no objection 70 having that violation
made subject Of inquiry here il that inquiry directed
But lii. this resolution brings one Of the Presidents
sub0rdinates before us and Tor what II IS not merely
but the very concluding clause OF the resolution calls upon
him for his reasons-cals upon him to say under what
law and by what right he has assumed this power The
tendency Of this resolution very obvious. We arragn
before this body the Postmaster General to give reasons
for his think the resolution is entirely uncon,
stiiutonal believe the experience q inc senator WI
the heads Of the departments before this body TO give
reasons for his official acts II the Postmaster General
has which hn nsGn to ne we
from the President himself The inquiry should not be
directed to the person implicated We should not call
upon an officer 10 know whether he has been guilty OF
offence. and call upon him to before and give
his reasons for il. No, sir; if 10 have cores
pondence with any about it. let us not go the head Of
the department. but leave the President to call upon his
subordinate officers We should communicate, not with
the men whose conduct have arraigned here directly
but with the dsinerested party at the head L seems
to me that the opposition TO the resolution is alto
gether misconceived, ! repeat, have no objec-
ton to the inquiry, if the honorable senator will pro-
pose resolution making the inquiry Of the President
But cannot vote for resolution which requires the
Postmaster General any other head oil department TO
plead guilty not guilty before this body II ne IS TO be
placed in that position, should be done by the power OF
impeachment Ii the officer is to be called upon for IN
formation, the correspondence will terminate nobody
knows where II you call upon this officer to vindicate
himself, and make his vndicaton subject OF debate here
must have rejonder, and, for aught know, re-
butter and surebutter and should find ourselves enga
ged in contest with little prospect Of termination. II
The senator will reduce his proposition to an inquiry ofthe
President, whether this power has been exercised is
power to be exercised or not should feel my duty to
soM III. DICKINSON There ale one or two reasons why
this information be asked Of the President of the
United States In the first place. il is generally under
stood that he leaves all these matters TO the cabinet
Another reason is that the Executive knows nothing,
FINN NJ very
Once Department, OF what is going on there This IS
matter OF which the Executive can have no knowledge
made to the government would come back far as he,
in he executive capacity knows anything about IT. an en-
nre blank.
Mr. KING. ], sir, have every disposition, with my
friend, with any other SENATOR, to inquire into
the conduct Of the administration and its officers; but
believe that the custom has not usually been to
call upon the heads of the departments for information,
unless to matters particularly apPertaining to du-
ties they have 10 discharge at The head Of the de-
partmens Where the duties aPpertain TO another de.
isdivdus should be applied to for the information re,
quired Now. whatever power may have been arogafed
to ~ what has been done. for know nothing about
tit not duty appertaning to him, but apper
tanning 70 the President Of the United States by an act Of
duty and exercise that power Therefore, sir, thinking
thai - unusual, and unwilling to depart from what has
been adopted from the foundation OF the government
Ltrust that my friend from New York Mr.. DIcKNsoNl
III not press his resolution present. but will lei il lie
ovs that may look the matter; and ask this OF him.
declaring 10 the Senate that shall 60 with the senator
in asking for all the information necessary for our action
here trust that my friend will relieve by allowing
the resolution 10 he passed by informally
Mr.. DICKINSON. II the senator from Vermont Mr..
PHELPsl had asked simply that II should lie for the
purpose OF obtaining information il would have been laid
by common consent Of courses but he coupled that
request with the explanation that he supposed the resolu
ton 10 be unconstitutional improper, and forth So
thought that we might as well settle that matter.
Mr. PHELPS, Tin his seat) The senator entirely mis-
apprehended me
M DAWSON A fact has been stated in the pres
ence Of the Senate which should not pass unnoticed
The statement has been made that is generally under
stood that the President submitted all these matters TO the
cabinet trust that general rumor will not be taken
authority here. think il improper, and rather llberal
towards the President and the Executive, make in
snuaon Of that kind upon the floor OF the Senate based
upon common rumor consider the remark as due TO
him from me- not his vindcator, but merely for the
purpose OF supporting the dignity OF institutions and
The elevated position TO which he has been raised that
he never yields his authority at home abroad and he
10 known to the world and to this country particularly,
man firm enough TO discharge every duty incumbent
upon him. and with honesty enough TO fulfil every obi
CATION devolved upon him.
Mr.. DICKINSON. The eulogy the senator has pro-
nounced may be very true and entirely merted have
said nothing which could conflict with it
Mr.. DAWSON, Tin his seat Nothing could have
been more direct
Mr. DICKINSON did make the remark that it had
these matters TO his cabinet Now, sir suit the
taste OF the senator
Mr.. DAWSON, lin his seat.) | had hoped il would
c0mport viii xour own views of uronriefv