Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-22

Mr.. CLAYTON addressed the Senate in support
of the bill. lie denied the doctrine which had
been asserted in debate, that the President had
the same right and power to pass upon all bills
submitted to him for his approval, as had the
members of the Senate. He commended that the
intention of the constitution was to vest in the
President the power to check the unconstitu-
tional encroaclments Of the legislative branch
of the Government lie denied that it was ever
contemplated that the President should consider
the expediency of any measure, and veto it on
that ground The veto was clearly intended to
be exercised only in cases of unconstitu tihnal
legislation.
He then claborately argued the constitution
ality of the bill, and controycrted the arguments
of the President.
HousE-The Speaker announced the first bus
mess in order to be the consideration of the bill
further to amend and modify the Post Office
Regulations, &C.
Mr.. Odds said if no gentleman wished to i'd
dress the House, he would move the previous
question.
Mr.. Gerritt Smith arose and said that there
were two bills before the House, and be would
propose an amendment to whichever was before
the lIouso for immediate action. lie was op-
posed to both bills us they stood, because they
DOsH i'bChI'iCu VIZ fASo~ii' ""e. Aii' "''i~'iN-
ment provided for the abolition Of the Post Office
Department after two years.
His first objection to these bills was to the
retention Of the franking privilege. Members
Of Congress were obliged to attend to more cor
respondencc than they would if there were no
such privileges. lie did not think the diffusion
Of speeches, as Mt present practlced, essential to
the prosperity of the country, though he would
not object to the granting OF u certain quantity
Of STAMPS to each member, for the purpose Of
disseminating reasonable quantity OF such
mailable matter.
Another Objection was that several rates of
postage were contemp plated by the bills, based on
distance, rather than upon tho difficulties of
transportation.
The bill also provides that the General Gov
eminent should continue to be our null carrier.
lie would have the rool pie as free to carry their
letters as anything else. The people are not
compelled to send their money by the mails, and
they do not They regard the expresses as far
more sale and reliable
, Mr.. Smith said, in conclusion, that he reioic-
cd to s.e the Post Office Department becominea
; wreck. lie would mend it up for two years
cruise, and then let it perish, and SO confne the
, Government a little cos.r to its legitimate line
of duty
Mr.. Haven said the original bill before the
House proposed to increase the rates Of postage;
and that the alstitntc proposed only to require
) prepayment. lie preferred the substitute, but
) hoped neither would pass. The substitute also
proposes to pay ranked matter out of the con-
} tingent fund of Congress.
The revenues Of the Department are deficient
to the amount OF two million dollars. That
deficiency arises in States south Of Pennsylya-
!, nit, all being deficient except Louisiana. The
excess Of income in New York he stated was i'm
mensc.
t Mr.. Cobb demanded the previous question,
which WAS ordered; when, motion Of Mr..
Houston the House went into Committee Of the
Whole, (Mr. Orr in the chair,) and took up
the Civil Diplomatic Appropriation bill, the de-
bate on which had been limited to the hour of
: noon to-day.
June 16.
SENATE.-Mr. lIamlin called for the orders of
the day, and the Senate proceeded to take up the
, bills on the private calendar.
The first bill was to renew the patent of HI
ram Moore and John lluscall, for harvesting
: machine.
MIR. Walker addressed the Senate in earnest
opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Start briefly replied, and Mr. Douglas
t opposed the bill 1t Was then rejected
| The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill
to authorize the coinage of gold pieces of the val
ne, resi- cctiyely, o ten eng l,s and five eagles and
Tor other purposes and the same was considered
J. and passed. .e.-....,---.------.-.------
HoUsE.-Thc bill TO increase the rates of post
: age was taken up. Mr.. Haven moved to strike
out So mach Of the substitute bill us directs the
0 increase Of postage.
q Mr.. Odds spoke in favor of the bill, and
argued the necessity Of the proposed increase
: He said the bill was Important and called for
by the wants Of the Department He replied
to the remarks of Mr.. Chandler made ycster-
}, day, in winch that gentleman spoke of the
| tinkering Of the Post Office affairs Mr.. 0.
: tho"gi tbs reduction Of postage, in which Mr.
Chandler had cuncurrtd, w;,s tinkeriur and it
had depleted The Department.
Mr.. Olds said lie would prefer the repeal of
! the frankng rri';ege; for it would greatly re-
u lieve members of Congress Of much OF the cor
S Responsiveness with which they are hardened. lie
y said two and hall millions OF dollars of frank
n cd matter passed through the mails annually
MIR. ODDS selected the New York Tribune to
- illustrate his point, and showed that the post
/, age paid Tor 1t now WAS moro than $4,000 n
l. year, and regarded the loss to the Department
6 as equal to that sum; and SO with ncwspancrs
generally, which claim that every kind of nail
D able matter should pay its own way.
G, MIR. Odds opposed the project of Mr.. Gerrtt
v Smith, oil carrying the mail Ivy means of pri-
= " vate enterprise, and said that u Government
!! monopoly was less Objectionable than private
v monopoly. lie also said that 5000 900 could
j. be saved to the Government hy BRINGING the
lie railroad companies to reasonable terms.
:" The vote on the amendment OF Mr.. Gerrit Smith
1t abolishing the Department at the end of two
!. years. was taken, and the amendment WAS re-
i, I.pctcd.
! The amendment proposed by Mr.. Haven, no.
= stricting the iranking privilege, and changing
J. the postrge on documents to the Treasury, and
10 to the contingent fund of the two Houses of
le Congress, was then taken up.
t. MIR. Benson proposed so to amend the amend.
ment as to repeal the ranking privilege. with
A out requiring the Government to nav the post
20 age on documents mailed by members.
y Objection was made.
g Mr.. Etheridge moved to lay the bill on the
u table; which was decided, by tellers, in the
e, negativc-yeas 80, nays not counted,
S. Mr.. Ravens amendment was then adopted-
e. yeas TO- nays "A. @---r-l.--..-.-s>s-'
h The substitute as thus amended, was then re-
y lected-yeas 81, nays not counted
MIR. Washburn, OF Maine, moved to lay the
bill upon the table, upon which the yeas and
nays were ordered, and the result was---yeas
"a, nays 81. .a. .4,.
The house then resolved itself into Commit
A. tee of the Whole on the Private Calendar.
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