The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-17
Fl oBJEC OF TIL OPPOSITION IN DEFEATING
II POST OFFICE BILL.

In defeating the bill providing means for the usual
mail facilities with its amendments, the opponents Of
the administration had two leading objects in view,
neither Of which was avowed, because neither
could stand the test of public scrutiny But, mas
much as some reason must be assigned, they put forth
one, though not applicable to the case. This was
suddenly sprung upont the house, and was acted upon
without anything like a discussion or full considera-
ton, and for the moment even deceived and misled
some honest democrats. The willy black-republican
managers had their men trained to follow their lead
ers " without why or wherefore, !" and hence they fol-
lowed Mr.. Grow, who really leads them. 1t was al
legged that the Senate had, by adding an amendment
increasing postage on letters from three to FIVE cents,
violated the constitution, which requires " bills for
raising revenue" to originate in the House. This was
mere pretence, because every sound constitutional
lawyer knows that the provision in the constitution,
in the words of Judge Story, is confined to bills to
levy taxes in the strict sense, of the words, and has
not been understood to extend 10 bills for other pur-
poses, whichma incidentally create revenue. 4" These
words are synonymous with money bills, or bills
for raising money for the support of the army, navy,
and civil list, and were 80 explained by Mr., Madison
when he urged their adoption in the convention, q
EIliots Debates, 283, 1884, and so they have been
uniformly understood and acted upon by Congress.
The history of numerous laws will show that legal
provisions for collecting fees and compensation for
services rendered by the government have often
originated in the Senate, and have become laws with
ton could not have believed in its truth or validity.
I A. IL II lI.--1 =. a,
objection, a very speedy and simple remedy was at
hand, which would not have endangered or occa-
stoned the loss of the bill. The House, by the same
vote by which the whole bill was insultingly returned
To the Senate, conld have refused concurrence in
the amendment, or amended it by striking out the
proposed increase of the rates of letter postage, and
assigned the reason, if it believed it, that it was a
violation of the constitution for it to originate in the
Senate. This course was not resorted to by the
wire-workers, because it would not be likely to end
i'll defeat of the bill, which they 80 ardently wished
at all hazards to accomplish. Their first and great
object in SO doing was to occasion a necessity for an
extra session at an early day, WREN they anticipated
the organization of the House before the election of
members in a large number of democratic States.
L hiS "ohla SlapiO w d bDCdhcI anu OInef
officers, including a printer, and to constitute the
committees, standing and special, so as to make
them the vehicles of sectionalism and the engines
with which to assault and batter down the democ.
racy. They wished to organize and open the cam
paign for 1860, and rush into immediate agitation.
Demagogue measures we're to be started in the House
to operate upon certain sections of the country. A
acora of comrnittpea IUera 10 no anno;n4aJ' a. "a -
the recess, under pretence of searching out abuses,
but really to worry democratic officials and to fill
the country with suspicion of abuse and to keep the
democracy so on the defensive as TO leave them no
tine to expose black republican principles and
the enormities perpetrated by that party wherever
in power, or an opportunity presented. 1t was
deemed important by them to divert the pub
lie mind from a close scrutiny of their own prin-
ciplcs and conduct which might, aud probably
would, prove fatal to their purposes. lf an extra
session shall not be convened at an early day the
advantages which they expected to derive from
these promising schemes viii endin disappointment.
The democracy, instead of being called upon to de-
fend themselves against the vaccinations of their
adversaries, will have ample time and opportunity
to demonstrate the fatal consequences Of sectional
ism, and to show up to scorn the indefensible mis-
deeds Of blackreppblicans wherever intrusted with
power.
But the opposition were, in fact, specially hostile
to the Senate amendment, not because il raised
the postage on letters simply two cents, for
they are always in faYor of high taxation, but for
the reason that it cut off the ranking privilege
which members now enjoy, and which they expect
to use with crushing effect in the next presi-
Dental canvass. They wished to avoid a direct
vote upon the question of retaining the ranking
privilege. They anticipated that the extra session
would both fatten their printer and enable them,
through their Franks, to food the country with in
cendiary and accusatory dorRments. The former
were to excite the South to madness, and it vas
hoped would ~oGc2siOn indefensible rashnoss and
violence, and that the latter would excite and agitate
the public mind elsewhere, greatly to the injury of
the democracy. tbsy wished to continue the priv
Iage of daily tracking tons Of electo7eeFjng matter
from this shy, and more from other cities, with the
vain hope Of prostrati9g t9e present administration,
aud crushing ont the democratic party. They pre-,
posed a tariff discussion, with the confident hope Of
inducing the manufacturers and ardent politicians TO