The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
QUESTION or OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF PAPERS
FROM THE OFFICE
MEsT CHARGED MR CONGRATULATIONS LIT
Mr.. GlDDINGS rose for the purpose of calling
the attention Of the House to scandalous article
appearing in several Wing papers in New York
and Boston, charging him with official misconduct
| member Of this body, in abstracting papers
from the General Post Office. This inputation
had been made against him. He held in his hand
one OF these letters, appearing in the Boston Atlas
II was his intention to ask the House to take action
on this subject as duty 10 themselves, not to him
in order To maintain the dignity of this body, and
to protect the public archives OF the nation. Before
making further remark, he sent the article to the
| table, that the Clerk might read it.
The CLERK read the article, which is signed
''L'Occidcnt," dated Washington, June q and
which appeared in the Boston Atas Of July 2, 1850
There is good deal of remark to-day in Ger
tain qua rters in regard to recent outrage upon
the files of the General Post Office Last summer
Ohio, by the removal Of the old Democratic incum
bent, and the appointment of n bogus Wing. The
change was obtained through misreprese na ton
and gave great dissatisfaction the good people OF
Obern. Not so much fault found with the
| removal with the appointment. Indignation
meetngs were held, and very numerously signed
petitions and remonstrances were gotten up by all
parties and forwarded to the Post Office Depart.
ment. The Postmaster General finally that a
| mistake had been made, which was corrected by a
second change about January last The change
gave special offence to the Hon Joshua r. Giddings
and he called at once on Col. Warren for expla-
nation He asked for the papers in the case and they
were Immediately handed 10 him, and he took a seat
! behind Col Warren at table, and devoted about
two hours to n full examination of them. When he
had completed the examination, he placed the pa
| pers together in bundle, and they were returned
TO the file room; yet, few weeks after this, it
discovered that portion of the papers, together
with the brief OF the case, we're gone from the Dc
partment, and were circulating among the people
! Of Oberlin.
"The case has excited much feeling in the com
munity, and men who had thought proper to adj
| dress the Department the subject have done ~
with great freedom. When, therefore, the papers
were found circulating among the people Of Ober-
lin, great deal Of local disturbance was created
and especially among the Wings. SO soon as this
enormity was known to the Department, Colonel
| Warren made full inquiry into the matter, but
could only learn that, immediately after the last
appointment III the Obcrlin post Office, the papers
were inspected by General CRowELL, of Ohio, the
| Hon. JoHN w. ALLEN, formerly of the Cleveland
district, and Immediately after by the Hon JOSHUA
X. GiDDiSGs Since then nobody has called for
| them, or had access to them.
"Tbus the matter rested until quite recently
when evidence obtained that the abstrac ted
papers were received at Obcrlin, under Mr.. GID
DISGs's frank.
alt ID unquestionaby true that the men who are
the loudes in their pretensons to high morality
and who arc always appealing to God and their
conscences for approval, arc the most in need OF
vigilant watchers. This matter will certainly, as
IL ought to- attract the attention Of the House of Re
/ prescntatives.
'If the official filcs of the General Post Office De-
partment are subject to such outrages. the public
should know at once, 50 that IN all cases the time
| Of communication may be regulated accordingly
and il should be asccrtained how far the control OF
"A member Of Congress the file of depart
ment extends. If he may abstract the correspond
cnce he take but one step further to reach the
official bonds of postnasters and mail contractors
At all events, this should be looked into. II ma
be that Mr.. GIDDIsGs can explain these circum-
stances to the satisfaction of the public
at IL certainly due TO the character Of the House
OF Representatives that he should have an opportu-
| nifty 10 do L'OccIpKsT."
! Mr.. TooMBS asked whether this was question
of privilege.
Mr. JONES could not possibly sec how ques.
ton Of privilege could be made out Of this. IL had
nothing 10 do with the House, and a matter en-
urely between the newspaper editor, the author OF
the article, and the gentleman who was charged
with improper conduct.
| The SPEAKER said that, with reference to mat
ters oi this KIND, he aware that there were
! only two Instances where the questions had been
presented. One occurred during the twenty ninth
and the other during the thirtieth Congress. In
| each Of these cases the question submitted 10
the House, and il was held that the question to
privilege was not 10 be decided by the Chair, but
by the House. The gentleman from Ohio had
| brought forward a paper against himself, and the
Chair held, in this instance, in the two previous
| instances, that IL is for the House To determine
whether this is a question of privilege.
| MI IOOhbS appeared from the decision oil the
Chair; and he suggested that there was no mode
OF obtaining the judgment Of the House but by this
means. He was aware that the Speaker prcde-
cessor (Mr. WiSTHRop) had cvaded the question
in the same way but the rule says that when 8
question is rais the Chair shall decide, and then
IL IL Tor the House 10 override the decision If they
believe il To he wrong.
Mr.. ALLEN inquired whether the question wa,
dcbatable
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative.
Mr.. WENTWORTH said that in the case OF Mr.
Sawyer, Ia lettcr-writcr charging him with GER
tain lmproprieties,) the House decided 1t was
Mr.. TooMBS said that the privileges Of mem
bers are defined in the Constitution. They ar,
clear and distinct Members privileged from
arrest in all cases, except treason, felony, anc
breach Of the peace, during their attendance at tn.
session OF their respective homes, and in going {,
and returning from the same and for any speect
or debate in either House they shall not be ques
toned IN any other place. As for newspapers
they make threats, and indulge in falsehoods and
calumnies towards every man IN this House. Thei
integrity IL abused and assaileJ and these MOI
questions Of privilege. The gentleman from Ohic
has not been called in question for any thing h,
has said in debate; he has not been arrested.
Mr. STEVENS, Of Pennsylvani inquired on
what ground Of privilege the House took action or
the conduct Of the Secretary OF War; in relation L
the Galphn claim.
Mr.. TooMBs replied that that was not ques
ton privilege, and that nobody contcnded il was
The Secretary asked an investigation We mus
go somewhere TO ascertain what our privileges
they arc not 10 be sought anywhere but in the Con
stitution. Can citizens in Boston be punished
They have got license To abuse everybody Gen
tenen would be fortunate If they escape nc wspapci
hbcls. II the House have a right to protect their
privileges, they have right To punish. When they
60 outside Of the Constitution, and beyond the con
enc. Of what is there laid down. they do that which
ought TO be resisted.
MIR. BAKER did not understand how they could
get the matter before the House, except by an ap.
peal He hoped that both the House and the Chair
would indicate their sense by declaring that Their,
Is no need Of further proceedings. In the frs
place, he should vote against any investigation be
cause the charge does not involve the privilege oil
the gentleman from Ohio as a member Of Congress
In the second place, IL il the privilege Of member.
! OF Congress TO go 10 the Post Office Department
| and interfere in appointments, sometimes right
fully and sometimes wrongfully. II not tn,
duty Of a member Of Congress. He would not dc
any thing 10 show that the House have power TO i'm
qure into the personal conduct Of members. As "a
inquiring into the comments Of a letter writer on
the conduct Of Mr. Sawyer, OF the cases alluded
to, he wac accused Of breach of good faith. IA
yoice-"He accused Of eating saussges'J II
was against tho dignity Of this House. MIR. Saw.
yer was accused Of breach Of good faith, causing
delay in the transaction Of the public business;
81 ahu he