New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-15

terest as the Post-Ofice. and none IN which the
need at once Of honest administration and thorough
reform i, 80 generally felt. On this subject the
opinions and official acts of the Hon. James bu-
chanan. Tor many years United States Senator. and
noy the .aye.driyer. candidate for the Presidency,
are easy to he ascertaned from the official records,
snd We proceed to make partial exposure OF them.
In I-36. Mr.. Calhoun had special committee ap-
painted in the senate 10 take into consideration the
circulation Of 'incendisry or snti-Slavery-
documents through the mails, and report bill for
their suppression. Though the Committee was
composed OF Southern men, with single eXcep-
ton-Calhoun a. Chairman, MsnGum OfN0rth Caro-
lima Linn Of Missouri and John Davis Of Mass
though this was the composition of the Committee
the report presented vas only assented TO by a
minority, Sir. Calhoun aud one other member
The fr-t bill reported was for imposing hne' OF
not less than five hundred nor over one thousand
dollars. and imprisonment-one or both-on any
postmaster or mail carrier who should receive put
in The mail, transport, deliver any publication
"reiating to S0rtry." 1t wa found after little
discussion that this would stop a large proportion
Of every description of printed matter, for there Is
scarcely historical work, Grafton, essay, speech.
magazine or public Journal that does not hsve
something relating to Slayery." The measure of
COURSE anticipated also complete system
of espionage over the entire contents of the
mail. and post-oiices; but it was defended and sup
ported in elaborate arguments by james Bu-
clanan. who, next to Mr. Calhoun himself was its
strongest advocate. In pamphlet now be-
f,re Us, that was got up privately some two
months since for secret circulation At the South to
prove that Mr. buchanan is all right IN the slavery
question, his vote and advocacy Of this bill are
alluded To in these words, which we copy verbatim,
italics and all:
"Hr buchanan ro-cs 10 prol - He eirly'Ei0n Or
.Ho1Ii0r raptrs hr0vgh tie m1H-lSif: Ca the ID
dsv Of March 1876 MI. buchanan made el1borate
speech. Discussing the whole question, aud
while no thought that the South entitled 10 the
strongest vote upon the strongest propos on which
gentlemen could give without violating their principles,
he believed that continued discussion would prove ln-
jurous and dangerous.
Cf course Mr. Buchanan believed that the Slavery
question could not bear the light of public discus
zion. And who opposed thu Post-O espionage
measure of Calhoun and Buchanan Why Mr..
Clsv. Mr.. BENTON, Mr. Crittc1l,n, Senator'S from
Slave States, together with Mr. Webster,
John Davis. Thomas Morris OF Ohio. and nearly
every Northern Senator And this after the bill
was So altered as to make the punishment only
3 dismissal from Office, instead Of fine or imPrl'on-
ment or both, and modifying il 90 as to include
only TIE delivery knowingly OF "sny pamphlet,
.nenspaper handful, other printed paper or
pictorial representation touching the subject Of
slavery, where, by the law Of the state, District
.cr Territory where the transaction took place.
''tfsir circulation was prohibited Mr.. Buchanan
went for the original measure, and argued and voted
all through with Mr.. Calhoun Col. Benton, in bis
Thirty Years View thus speaks Of Mr.. Cal
houns rcport-the only one made on The subject:
1T insidiOusress Of this report Was in the assu1l
ton OF actual impending danger of the abortion Of
Slavery in oil tie slave Sstos-tie destruction OF n!Ae
hundred ard fifty millions OF prOpertythe war OF eX-
termination between two races and the necessity for
extraordinary means TO prevent these dirc calames
wien the tact that there was not one particle of
any such danger. TIE assumption was contrary %
TACT the report was DhammaOry and disorganiLng.'
Mr.. Buchanan, however, supported the report
snd the bill, contendiug that the bond in Shy
lock phrase he called the Constitution. gave ampll
authority for such measure. As We lclrn from
The Congressional Globe, be said that there was
mo limitation restriction whatever upon onr
authority contained III the bond. We have the
power TO decide what shall and what shall
not be carried in the mail Powerful
replies were made by John Davis, Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster and Senator Nlorii.
Of Ohio. The last-nsIncd gentleman Justly
characterized Mr. BucLanans measure in language
which is perfectly applicable to the policy of the
Border Rufian party If the present day "In
.
" trine, eSclaims Mr. Morris. "we-tLe Free
States, mean-sre called on to put the gag Into
the mouths of our citizens 10 declare tia. they
have 10 right 10 talk to preach or 10 pray on
the subject Of Sls'ery; that We must put down
societies That meet for such purposes; that we
shall not be PERMITTED TO senl abroad our
thoughts or our opinions upon the abstract ques-
.ton Of slavery; that the very liberty Of thought
OF speech. and of the Press shall be so eu,bar
raised ne to lie in many instances denied US, aud
If no; entirely prohibited, rendereliu . great de-
gree useless
Ii is b. 10 means surprising that man. who
twenty Years seo lent hi- Jealous support to meas
ure for the suppression Of Freedom OF Speech aud
of the Press. should now BE- found approving the
assault If the ruffsn Br,ok, upon Mr.. Sumner,
AID standing before the American peop,e as the
champion OF Slavery Extension by means of mur-
der. robbery, sud srson. and the carrying nj cleo
lions BY armed force. Ii is not surprising taAt
such man should now take The lead Of party
ple,ged 10 sustsin and enforce in Kansa. i system
II law. even more strocous than that b. then al
tempted to impose upon the whole Union. This Is
MI .urpri sing: but il would b., more than srpr.-