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

formation from the Postmaster General win not send 10
the Secretary oil The Treasury, or 10 the President OF the
United States The President is not supposed 10 act in
this maer-s not supposed according 10 the resolution.
TO know anything aboutit II is simply asking the Post
master General whether he has done certain acts and
what his authority for doing them H. am very glad.
sr. 2 see that this administration and especially the Ex
from Georgia who Is able 70 see that an attack s intend
ga upon The President Of the United States, when
# my friend from Georgia I'M nds A. sscE upoe The Pss.
zeal IN h. defence viii Se called into TO- isaaisiSon
nothing intended 10 this resolution and no one has
nght-l mean parliamentary and with proprietyA 10
which does not appear upon the face Of It Is very
important for this Senate to know whether certain clss
Of officers are 70 be appointed BY the President Or shall
for to know whether that officer has exceeded bis
power, by mistake or otherwise thelaw sdefectve.m
Is important that we should have that law arnended, and
above all sir is important TO enforce rigid account
ability in these departments and that they be required 70
give Their own explanation q any and every act trust
vent the inquiry from being made 'ATsss
Mr.. PHELPS arose again, but gave way TO
Mr.. DAWSON. am not here in advance TO defend
ecty up TO the object intended to be attacked Now
sir the senator from New York is distinguished law
yer and the law regards every individual as performing
upon this floor that the subject Of inquiry il part Of the
executive duty and yet he calls upon subordinate officer
s ass sssn s e s ipss m
himself and have asked him if he had permitted subor
dnae to usup his power repeat sir and do i with
great Difference the senator from New York. that do
think he ought have adopted this mode TO ascertain
the Of conduct of the President Of the United States
Mr.. PHELPS ! certainly desire no issue upon this
delay, because have not had time examine the sub
jec i may be right to present resolution Of thatknd
s n % Il. Ss
the under discussion. have, however, no objection
to inquiry. have been informed and have no doubt
it fachat the Postmaster General will be ableto
answer the inquiry to the satisfaction OF all have no
idea that that officer has usuped any power have no
idea that be has assumed any power belonging 70 the
Of shielding him that make these remarks; for doubt
not he will show, in manner satisfactory to all that il
men n sa s and desire that may
the table until we can have an opportunity OF examining
Mr.. SEWARD have examined this resolution, sir,
for the purpose of seeing whether il constitutional
or not, and wish that others might examine il also
an satisfied that there is nothing 10 the resolution WHICH
Senate TO have, and which might not be- under the regu
laons Of The Senate, its duty 70 call or from the head
o. ms rosi Hmcs S - Inc omy
and that is does not specify any particular instance
the name place and person. at which, and in relation 70
to attract the attention Of the department that supposed
violation OF the law. would have preferred that the
resolution should have given notice e 70 what case g
the resolution is sufficiently distinct then have no
ton that point and hope the resolution will pass and
as i is question whether pass to-day OF
Mr. HALE. feel no particular interest in the de-
fence q the administration now in power nor DO know
tends by his resolution but strikes that there Is
something exceedingly indecorous in it. I do not mean
to be personal about il but i seems so To- me- because
the attitude Of insaring q officer 81 The government
0 ans
Office il il be true, Now, sir am not willing 70 put
myself in this position have said tha, feel no
IFS assaiants care not how they come up, point blank
quarter But hoping, strand that faith Is sotayery
strong one-that day may soon dawn upon ths hstGfy
this example set. do not want il to be said that
sravely asked member Of the caSnet-sa have you moi
started in the administration OF your department in gross
violation OF law, and in papable outrage upon e con-
not in other words, by OF the snbordnates OF the
department been doing that which you have no authority
70 DO In other words not es m psesIdea "a, VINO appoint
move the wires at your own bidding .JInI
The resolution goes further and says: Now Mr. Post
the authority into your hands, and made the Pfes
dent automaton-wh is the law for IL The Senate
wan, to know hat-do they, want to ask nothing Of
Il The charge be true, and moi Of inquiry With siIdue
Difference 70 the vastly better judgment and longer etpe
rience OF the honorable senator from New York, MIX
think il is due 10 the country and 10 the
Senate that the facts should be laid before the Senate and
the House and be brings such agrant act as that
before the Senate, il should be in It's judicial capacity
For this reason am unwilling 10 pass the resolution IN
its present shape and entirely unwilling 10 sit still and
to the Senaes putting itself in such position
as that proposed. am ready 10 ask Tor all the nforma
lion that possible for the Postmaster General 10 give
think information will no, hurt the Senate. They are
in need Of il, not only this but upon great many
other subjects and, sir opposed TO putting into the
shape OF inquiry Of subordinate gross attack upon
the officers OF ths government er7s'e !.
ask pardon Of those gentlemen who are more mme-
diaely connected with this administration for volunteer.
ing my services in the defence OF the administration or OF
The President in the presence OF champions that viii not
faer before the gigantic powers OF the senator who
has made this move uron them only want 70 put this
in for myself by way Of protest, so that, and by
when different counses preva--when different men
are in powerthere shall be no precedents TO justify
them in pursuing what TO my unsophisucated Judgment
appears to be highly indecofous course. tsg'
Mr.. DICKINSON. Mr.. President, it is a little awk.
ward 10 have TO compete with the combined powers o.
this administration, and OF the next, too, al tne sane
timeoae esse, and the other IN expectancy lLangn-
teri But, sir notwithstanding all this, have yet 70
learn that my resolution is either ndecorous or improp
er; and, without intending to make very great deal oi
boast upon the subject shall probably know who will
vote for it. and who against 1t, before the matter Is
Now sir with regard TO the ndecorum OF the resolution
II il n resolution which asks the Postmaster General
whether he himself, by his assistants, has made GER
tain appointments certain removals. That is the
lufon indecorouso indecOrous Whv. the hOnora.