The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-10

SENATOR CILNGMAN ON THE POST OFFICE
BnL-Mr Clingman publishes letter in the
Union upon the defeat of the Post Office Appro-
priation bill. The Senator's communication is
more remarkable for its length than its perspi-
cacity. 1t is after the manner of an apology to
his constituents, who are not over and above
complimented by being informed that they do
not write as many letters as the people of other
sections. The amount of increased postage to
the State of North Carolina would only be about
fifty thousand dollars, so that the constituents of
the Senator would not suffer as much as metro
politan merchants and others with extensive cor
respondence The responsibility of the failure of
the bill is put by Mr.. Clingman upon the opposi-
ton members of the House, with a few demo-
Gratis" The Senators, according to Clingman,
are as innocent as young lambs.
Without taking the trouble to discuss the ar
guments Of Mr.. Clingman in defence of the Senate
amendments. we may pronounce his letter as
rather lame apology for the conduct of Toombs,
Mason, and several other fire-eating Senators, in
persistently defeating the bill. They are equally
responsible with the opposition in the House
perhaps more So They are just beginning to find
out that the country will hold them accountable
for the failure of the bill, and so they are endea-
voring to shuttle out of it, and to put the whole
burden upon the republicans in the House. But
it will not answer. The country will see that
the defeat of this bill, in many respects the
most important before Congress, is owing
to the bitterness of factious politicians and that
it is the first step towards the Generalization
and the disintegration of the republic. FIVE go
on in this way we shall finally be overwhelmed
with sectional discussions, and share the fate of
Mexico and the South American republics. The
first step in such matters is everything, and that
step has been taken in blocking up the wheels of
the government and virtually suspending the
postal service. The importance of the question
will be apparent to all. We might get on for q
while without the army, and could possibly re-
cover from temporary deprivation of the navy;
but the Post Office is personal interest with
every man, woman and child that can read or
write in the land 1t will have to be an ampler
explanation than that of Mr.. Clingman to satisfy
the people that the Senate are clear of the re-
sponsibility of defeating the Post Office BILL
There is still another little matter with which
Mr.. Clingman is reputed to be connected, aud
about which he has not written a letter nor
offered an explanation. 1t has already been al
luded to in the press, and has long been current
topic in private circles 1t is the rumor, often
repeated, that certain foul scandals concerning
the wife of distinguished diplomat originated
with the Senator from North Carolina. We al
lude to the false and slanderous gossip in which
the names ofLady Gore Ouseley and Mr.. Bucha-
nan were used. Perhaps, as this matter is ante
rior to the failure Of the Post Office bill, Mr..
Clingman would do well to make his " constitu-
ents' and the country at large acquainted with
the facts, 20 far as he is connected with them
Then, perhaps, Messrs. Toombs, Mason 81 Co. can
clear themselves before the country in the matter
Of the Post Office bill lie. us hear from Mr.
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