The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-27
THE BLACK REPUBLIcAN CAVALIERS N THEIR
TWADDLE.

We would like very much TO be understood by
the hte2igencer. 1t shall not be our fault if we are
not understood because we shall say a few words
about the defeat Of the postal appropriation bill and
the extra session in a plain, direct sort of way. The
hdHIeencer acts with the republicans. The republi-
cans managed to defeat the bill. They intended TO
force the President TO call an extra session before the
spring elections, to organize the House in their own
way, and open the campaign for 1860. This was the
programme and it is not three days since the In
r~eRigeneer argued that the President should wholly
disregard the fact that many of the States would not
be represented in the new Congress. 1t was not in
tended that they should be represented. Itwas sup
posed that an imperious necessity had been imposed
ON the President TO call Congress- necessity which
would not admit Of delay-a necessity so urgent in
substance and time as 10 force the Executive to call
together the members already elected TO the next
Congress. We cannot speak intelligibly of the de-
alterations of the cabinet on the subject, of the views
of tho President and Postmaster General and others
but we have a right to infer that the condition
Of the department was fully investigated that the
laws regulating the service were closely studied
and the duties and powers of the Postmaster Gen
cral thoroughly examined. After such examination,
the President determined not to call Congress to-
gether. He disappointed the factionists by his de-
cision. The LnteVigencer was in great distress about
it. The schemes of Mr.. Grow had failed his per-
sonal aspirations were sadly obscured his political
capital was at a discount. 1t may be a great pity to
spoil such nice arrangements. The President can we'll
afford, however, to bear the whole burden ofthe CEN
sure.
~ ~, - -
lie consulted the cabinet, and in this the MteHi-
geacer argues he violated the spirit of the constitu-
ton and the New York Times is greatly Disguised
also at conduct 80 fragrant and revolutionary. Our
~neighbors who know all about the past, ii d-had
much to do with Gen. Taylor's administration, are
most ungenerous to that hero-statesman in this ref
erence to the Presidents cabinet consultations. We
forbear to make the application. These criticisms
of the Laaigeaeer and Times are of course mere
twaddle. They arc silly and foolish. They make a
bad cause ridiculous; and it is made no better by
charging upon us unfricndly comments upon the past
management of the department. Let lis state a fact
Up to about ten years ago Congress, in establishing
new mail routes, always consulted the head of the
Post Office. Since that time they have gone on or
daining new routes and increasing the service with
out the least regard to the department. Having
failed to make appropriations, we trust it is now in
the power of Mr.. Holt to apply the pruning knife
to sft the whole matter and reform the service. We
do not speak authoritatively on this subject. We
know nothing of the purposes of the Postmaster
General. He is an honest, able, and discreet man.
A vast amount Of work is being done, which accom-.
modates nobody except contractors. We say tits to
be hoped that sufficient discretionary authority is
lodged with him to cut off decayed branches and ir-
rigate the soil a little. If he shall thus act it will be
no reflection upon his lamented predecessor that
distinguished man, who a few weeks ago was the OBJ
ject of malicious attack by the entire opposition
whose department was crippled and paralyzed while
he was on his death-bed. Congress had imposed
upon him an almost Iimitless service, and then DELHI
erately set to work to cut off the means for its
maintenance. Mr.. Holt entered the department un.
der these embarrassing circumstances and every
sense Of propriety viii justify him in trimming down
the concern TO the lowest possible point consistent
with the public interests. In this way it may turn
out to be a blessing that the appropriations failed.
1t is the part of craftsmanship to take advantage of
misfortunes and turn them to benefits. The effort to
drive the administration into an extra session may in
this way be of service to the country. There is a wide
gulf between the plans of a rogue and the execu-
ton of his projects. The moral guilt may be the
same but the timely discovery and Illustration of
his schemes is apt to put the community upon
guard and secure their protection. The republi-
cans had laid their plans to compel the President to
call Congress together. They imagined that they
had created a necessity for the extra session, which
they counted on as an adroit means Of DISTINGUISHING
all those States whose elections are to come off late
in the summer. 1t is idle to attempt to throw the
responsibility of the failure of the appropriation
bill on the Senate. That body had considered the
House bill, had appended to it certain amendments,
and sent it back. The latter body at once ignored
it, insisting that the amendments invaded their CON
stitutional privileges. They did not strike out the
Objectionable matter, but got up a new bill in man
uscript, appropriating twenty millions of dollars, and
put it in possession of the Senate just forty minutes
before the close of the session, Were the Senate
called upon 10 swallow this bill whole ? Could they
consent to pass a bill without knowing its contents ?
Is it the right of the House not only to originate
measures, but to claim their endorsement by the
Senate without investigations 1t is true that the APP
preparations for the Post Office failed in the Senate
they failed under the circumstances we have mar
rated. They failed because the House placed them