Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-02-18
THE JOURNAL.

THE PRESIDENT SYMPATHIzEs WITH THE MAIL
CoxTRAoroRs.-Twenty of the heaviest mail con-
tractors of the country met at Washington on
the 18th of January, aud resolved to petition Tor
audience with the National Executive, and there
70 lay before him their pecuniary suiferlngs'-
The President gracously condescended to see the
mailmen, and the interview is supposed to nave
been most affecting. The President was almost
moved to tears-was sorry the Republicans still
insisted on eecting Sherman, and ventured TO
suegest new man. The meeting is thus enron
icl.d among the Hcrald's special dispatches;
Accorlin civ, at the time appointed to day
about twenty of the contractors called upon the
President at the White House. The President
received them very cordially, and expressed MN
self as svmpathizing with them in their DISTRESS
and asked them what suggestions they had 10
make to him. The President said that it was, IN
his opinon, constitutional for the House 10 eject
temporary Speaker. He thought the piurail'y
rule would be equivalent to the elecuoh Vi u. re-
publican Speaker, to which the contractors US
sented, and argued the point at consideraoie
length Some of the contractors endeavored 10
nroye TO the President that the reductions in the
mail service made by Postmaster General Holt,
in cutting down contracts made by predecessor
are without sanction Of law. The Postmaster
xartment in all mail contracts. which says he
eball have the privilege of reducing the service
vbenever the public interests require such dis
oontinuance. To this among many arguments
he contractors answered that no Postmaster
General for twenty four years, since the law or
canizng the Post Office Department in 1886,
las ever construed that clause in the way it is
now construed by Mr.. Holt The President lis
fened throughout with great attention, asking
pertinent questions taking notes, and in every
way manifesting his deep interest The Presl-
dent said the House would have been organized
before this if the republican candidate for Spea-
fer had not endorsed the sentiments of the Hell
ner book. He suggested that Mr.. Corwin would
be safe, and that if he should be substituted for
Ar. Sherman there would be no objection to
allowing him to be elected.
The old gentleman of the Tribune does mt eX
actly understand the Presidents tactics. Refer
xing to the interview between Mr.. Buchanan and
Ne mail contractors, that paper says
M The President is reported to have had the
hail contractors in body to him, and to
Dave consoled them by long conversation, and
BY taking notes" Whether they We're the
4 notes. of the Post Office Department belong
jug to the contractors, we are not informed II
fhey were, the contractors must have enjoyed
This portion of the interview. Mr.. Buchanan
avaled himself of the occasion, it seems, to re
mark that if the Republicans would take up
fome such man as Mr. Corwn, they could elect
bim Speaker. By what authority does Mr.. Bu
ehanan say this? Does he mean tnat he would
Recommend his friends to support him? If he
Does not mean this, he is making very loose
bud suppruous observation for 1t is certain
That it could not be done without Democratic
votes. But if the President means that the Ad-
minisration Democrats will give Mr.. COrwn, or
some other Republican than Mr. Sherman. votes
Enough to turn the scale, we beg to have his sin
cerity tested. Bring on your votes, Mr. Buchan-
hn, for any Republican whom you are willing to
support for the Office of Speaker. If you can do
DO better, bring along ten of your party. If you
cannot raise this number, give us five, and we
will guarantee the election of the Speaker on
4he first ballot after your votes are forthcoming.
Let us on what foundation Mr. Buchanan s
remark is based, whether it has no foundation