New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-07
THE pOsT-OFFiCE FAILURE.

We have looked through several jodrnals in the
interest of the Slave Democracy, to see il one Of
them-just One-wOud give an honest and correct
account Of the failure Of the Post Office Appropfa
ton BILL whereby the most extensive and peryadins
department of the Federal service is threatened
with temporary bankruptcy if not absolute inter
ruption, and which may possibly impel an Extra
Session Of Congress, though Che necessities oil the
Treasury have been satisfied by the passage of the
Treasury Note bill, under the pressure of Mr.
Secretary Cobbs personal solicitations the floor
of the House. Should the public service suffer
detriment or az Extra Session become necessary,
the cause will be the failure of the Post-Ofce APP
preparation bill How came that bill to ial
dozen times We have met the assertion that this
failure was caused by ioaat u tune. There is no
truth in this. There was time enough; but Sena-
tors Toombs and Mason objected, and their objec-
ton was fatal Hear another story, put forth
through the Washington correspondence OF the
Presidents mere especial organ here, The Herald:
"The misery which contractors will be subjected 10
by the failure on the part of the Government to meet
its engagements, is incslculsbe, ana the damages
which they viii be entitled to will amount 10 millions.
All this can be charged TO MIR. Grows movement IN
the House on Friday night, in sending an insulting
message to the Senate ana, doubtless, with view 20
forcing an extra session. Grow prominent kepuo'
licsn candidate for Speaker
Let us make the truth in opposition to this state
meut so plain that no one, hereafter can honestly
repeat the above, or any other story which imphes
that the fault was with the House, with the Repub-
leans. or with Mr.. Grow. The following sre the
material facts, in the order of their occurrence:
I. The Senate, Feb both, passed the Post ofice
Appropriation bill
3 The Senate, at nearly the same time passed
what is called the Post Route bill, providing for
new Mail Routes. On this bill the Pro-Slavery
majority, outvotipg the Republicans, engratted 8
provision raising the Rates OF Postage some seventy
per cent on letters and TO far greater extent on
newspapers.
s. The House also passed the Post Office APpro-
pristion bill, with certain unobjectonabe amend.
mepts. which sent the bill back TO the Senate for
concurrence.
4. The Pro-Slavery majority OF the Senate, in
tent on coercng the House into agreeing to raise
the Rates of Postage--notoriously bitter pill to 8
majority of the more popular bfanch-now pro
ceeded to epgraft tae postage-rsisng provision on
the Appropriation as well as the Post-Route bill,
calculating that. though the House might be willing
TO let the Post Route bill fail it wOud not venture
to defeat the Appropriation bill. The vote OF the
Senate BY which this screw was applied was barely
90 to 2S-every Republican among the Nays oil
| course.
3 The biz WAS now returned to the House with
this new rider, which was in effect notice IRON
the barest msjority of the Senate, " Raise the
Z" Rates Of Postage or We will defeat the Post
Office Appropriation bill." The House, thus
challenged, met the issue with becoming spirit.
| The Federal Constitution art. |, y says;
"Au bills for raising shall originate an ne
Hos,e Of RepreS. dfipes but the Sen ate propose
| or concur with amendments as in other bills
On the reapPearance Of this BILL Nc. Gro" oil
Pa. at once ra.ed the point that the Senate hsd
exceeded it, Constitutional prerogatve BY thus
transforming Into Bill to raise Revenue one Which