The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-26
WHAT ARE THE FACTS?


A few weeks ago we published article calling
on the people to bear in mind that j. A. Gilmer
and z. b. Vance, the opposition members Of Con-
gress from this State, at the late session CO.
operated with the Black Republicans in defeating
the Post Office appropriation bill, by which defeat
the people now being deprived of some Of their
accustomed mail facilities. Since then We see that
the opposition papers are endeavoring to prove
the charge untrue by showing that on the 10Th of
February the Post Office appropriation bill passed
the House and that Mr. Gilmer voted for it. But
such showing does not meet the charge. No DEM
ocratic paper has charged that Gilmer and Vance
roted directly against the bill, but that they
operated 1cih the black republicans an defeating it.
Now how was this done? Why the bill passed the
House and was sent to the Senate for concurrence.
The Senate had right to amend the bill, and it
did amend it by abolishing the franking privilege
of members of Congress Ia most excellent amend
ment it was too, and raising letter postage to five
cents The bill was sent back to the House for
concurrence in these amendments. For some time
afterwards the House refused to consider the bill,
though repeated attempts made by the friends
of the Administration to have it taken up. This
effort was resisted by the black republicans, GER
tain know -nothings wings Vance and Gilmer
among the number) and by some few antiadmin-
istration democrats. The bill was thus kept on the
table in the House until the last night of the ses
sion, when the matter was taken up for disposal.
But instead of passing the bill as amended refus-
ing to agree to the amendments, and then allowing
it to be sent back to the Senate the republicans and
know-nothings (Gilmer and Vance cooperating
headed by Mr. Grow, Pennsylvania aboltionist,
passed resolution declaring that the Senate had
violated the Constitution in amending the bill, and
refusing to considerit again. and insisted on substi-
tuting a ne,c bill in the place ofthe old one. This
movement was an insult to the Senate, and was
originated for the purpose of defeating the appro-
priaton and embarrassing democratic Admins
tration The new bill was offered to the Senate
about 40 minute: before the time fixed by law fol
the final adjournment of both Houses-the Senate
did not have time to consider the bill to have it
read as the law required; consequently the bill
failed by the hour of adjournment arriving before
action could be had. Now if Gilmer and Vance
were unwilling to deprive the people of their usua
mail facilities, why did they vote to sustain Grow
and his BLACK republican llehuS Ill Iheir Ad0'io'>
course? The fact is, they did so with the hope
of embarrassing Mr. Buchanans administration, and
expecting to pack the blame on the democratic
party.
We have not a copy of the Congressional Globe
containing the proceedings of the last session from
which to publish the votes, but the above are thu
facts in the case therefore We repeat that John
Gilmer and T. B. Vance did cooperate with the
Black Republicans in defeating the Post Office ap
preparation bill And we believe they so acted 70
the purpose of embarrassing the Administration an'
njuring the democratic party. They and thel
friends are now trying to hold the democratic part
responsible for the failure of bill which they as
sisted to defeat