The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-24
I.o.s Of the Post Office Appropriation
B,ii--Mr. C,i"gsnan's Account Of IL.

] n
statement which is intended to show that
the responsibility for the loss Of the Post
Office Appropriation bill rests, not with the
Senate, but with the majority Of the House,
/ IA larger part Black Republican, which
/ followed in the lead OF Mr.. Gaow.
Mr. CLIsGxAS says that this bill, when 1t
came from the House, was considered by
the Senate for several days, and amended.
Among the amendments, was one abolishing
/ the Thanking privilege Of members, and an.
other raising the rates OF postage. Thus
amended, il was returned TO the House. In
the House several attempts we're made to
take it up, but without success, until the
/ ilst night Of the SESSION. Then, having been
taken up, Mr.. Chow introduced the resolu-
ton which declared the Senate amendment,
| raising the rates. a. 10 derogation Of the
constitutional rights Of the House, and re-
| quiring il to he sent back to the Senate with
/ that resolution Mr.. CLNGMAS declares
such course 10 be "a violation Of all par
liamentary usages, Of all legislative proprie-
ties, and insulting to coordinate branch Of
| the Congress" Nevertheless. the Senate,
anxious TO save the bill from final failure,
overlooking the insult, sent to the House
respectful message, requesting conference
Of the two Houses on the disagreement be.
tween them.
This proposition was acceded to by the
| House, and the conference committee ap-
! pointed But when the committee met the
! House branch Of il refused to consider this
bill in any way Had it not refused, ",he
Senate, | feel confident says Mr.. CLiSG-
NAN "would have receded from all its amend.
ments voiher than let the bill fall" 10 lieu
OF this bill the House branch presented ian
entire new BILL" which was represented to
BE- in most respects similar to the other.
The Senate branch finding the House
branch Of the committee unyieIding, agreed
to report the new bill to the Senate.
But some time had now elapsed, and it
was impossible to get this new bill into the
Senate sooner than just forty minutes before
the hour at which by the Constitution the
session must terminate. Says Mr.. CLIyG.
| NAN:
Ia D. ,,,lx -. ia
! only tor the first time. A call was then made
! for the reading OF il through but 1t was said
that there would not be time to read 1t over
before the period of the adjournment. 1t was
now bill 10 tho Senate, had never been print.
ed but suppose that the Secretary could
! probably have read IL ever once before II
| O'Clock, though there was certainly no time to
| consider its provisions.
IL was said that we must either pass II with.
| out reading II even once or not AT all. A de
bate sprung up, which exhausted the remain
ing minutes, aud tho bill was then Enacted on"
Mr.. CLlYGAAS. then reminding the public
OF the fact that this bill appropriated twenty
millions OF dollars. insisted that such bill
could not have safely passed without being
read
Mr.. CLiNGNAN denies that there was any
constitutional objection TO the amendment
to the old bill which was carried in the Sen.
ate. II did hot propose to raise revenue by
taxation, but simply prescribed what the
Senate thought il but fair to charge for the
services of Government in carrying letters
Tor those who make use OF the mails.
Bat, II this view BE- incorrect, why should
not the House, instead OF making a constitu.
tional issue at such an hour. have simply re-
fused TO concur in the amendments and asked
the Senate to recede ? Why adop. course
50 likely TO insure the less OF the bill This
is Mr. CLINGNAN's answer
The Black Republicans expect to be strong
In the next Congress. There are few Demo.
Gratis and Know Nothipgs who have been labor.
ing to get an increase OF the tarin. All these
classes seem 10 have been acting IN concert TO
defeat the Appropriation bills and render an
extra session necessary.
The Post Office bill contained an Appropria.
ton OF nearly four millions to supply dehcien.
cics which are needed before the trst Of July
next. Il was supposed that An extra session
must be called Immediately. To enable the
southern states 10 be represented at all, their
elections mus, he hurried up; while California
and Oregon, II was supposed, could not proba
bly, bo represented At all. Roth these states
are Democratic, and, a. the Black Republicans
had made gains 10 the northern elections, they
doubtless Supposed that the, nigh, in this way,
with the aid Of their allies, get control Of the
House, force thIoushA high tarin, aud make
arrangements 10 help their party In the Presi.
dental election 80 come "a next year
Mr.. Grow having been their candidate for
speaker at the commencement OF the last Con.
gress doubtless felt more interest IN the mat.
ter than any Que else. Another consideration,
I probably, operated likewise.
The senate, as now organized, stand ready
30 resist their movements. They are evidently
desrous, therefore, Of dimlnishaS Iis influence,
Of lowering ii IN the public estimation, and
forcing Il TO pass, without amendment, What
ever bills they NAV send 10 IT, The issue,
therefore. isone Of the utaO,t moment 70 the
south especially, and AZ such ought 10 be un-
dsrstoed BY our people ! have felt il my
iaiy, ihcrei ~. 60 present short statement IN
relation TO H. The result of the vhols mo.