Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-02-24

James N QuArlte on The Senate amendment to tl,e
Post OiEee appropriation, blu, tonbolislthc franhng
Privilege. Nc haze long deprecated lie immcnse
amount Of ina that Gas grownout Of tlils privilege
and had serious doubts Of the propriety of longer
containing it. Those doubts are not yet entirely
removed, and we can not but feel reluctant 10 see
a privilege abolished which has done much good to
commend IL, merely because rascals abuse IL But
whenever, In the progress Of our government the
fact is developed that corruption enn not be stayed
by tho band Of wholesome reform, and that
measure, however wise and saIutary in the begin
ming is perverted into crying abuse, it is better
to repeal and thus endeavor 10 circumscribe corrup
ton by diminishing pretexts for It, We shall be
sorry to see the franking privilege abolished; but
If It not be placed above the reach Of corrupt
officials let Il go:
Mr. QUARLES.-Mr Chairman, do not propose
to enter into discussion Of this matter for FIVE min
utes is too small a time for any such purpose.
concur in the amendments of the Senate and think
that the objections 20 them come now too late. J
appeal TO gentlemen who have been loud in denun-
citation Of the extravaganza and corruption of this
Government to come up and support these amend
ments The gentleman from Virginia Mr. Nilsson
objects that the amendments are put here in the
wrong place and at the wrong time. Now never
knew wrong time or wrong place 10 do right.
A wrong thing ought not to be done at any time
while right thing ought to be done whenever It
can be DONE
hold, sir, that one of the greatest abuses in this
county is this franking privilege. It was granted
/ when we bad no newspapers to spread information
before the people and when printing was mostly
done at tile seat of the General Government. Then,
nrchnhfts n diecarniun
TO our people; now however, II is not necessary.
/ gather, all of us gather what we know from the
public press of the land. This privilege here, and
this Public printing. are heating furnace to keep
up this sectional strife between the North and the
South Let us meet the Senate in these amend
mems and adopt them. It will not prevent the
contractors for carrying the mails from getting
their money. It is right and let us do this thing
now. eaUttA
I am prepared; sir, to vote for the first amend
ment; because ! am assured by the distinguished
gentleman from Missouri lMr. Phelpsl, and by every
gentleman who has spoken, that 1t will save thous-
ands of dollars to the Government. That is suffic-
lent for me. have been sent here against eXtrava
gance / came here pledged TO support the right
wherever ! find it. and to denounce the wrong
whereverit shows itself care not whetherit comes
] from the Senate, or from this side or the other
anu opposed 10 this fpnking privilege; and
am 10 favor Of its abolition believe that that
privilege is great abuse. am told that two mil
lion pounds Of franked matter are carried through
the mails every year.
A Member-Two million TONS
Mr.. QUARLES.--So much the worse. That is
the matter that has been loading the mails of the
country and breaking the axes Of our stngecoaches
The half of it is not worth reading. Let US, then
vote to abolish this fronking privilege.
Here the hammer fell.
Mr.. Florences amendment was disagreed to.
| NJ. g NJ. I asp. lyo'O
all after the first word of the amendment of the
Senate. fs.
! Mr.. Chairman, during the four years that have
been here, have made up my mind to one thing
positively. There have been a great many matters
discussed here by wiser men than am which have
puzzled my understanding and upon which my
Judgment has not decidedly reached conclusion.
However sir, there is one proposition on which |
have come to a very definite conclusion; and do
not believe there is member who has been here
for four years who has not honestly reached the
same point. and il is this: that the curse Of this
country is the hasty legislation of Congress; that
nine ont Of ten of the evils which brought upon
the shoulders of the people of the United States
brought uron them nv the inconsderate and hasty
action of those they have sent here represent their
interests. And it is because the amendments now
before the ootnmttee involve that very point, that
l feel an interest in the committees decision.
| Why sir what is the question involved here
Gentlemen have talked about various matters which
it seems to me are not legitmately within the scope
of this discussion The simple question is whether
this House hastily without sufficient consideration,
is going to yield great principle, because of diff
ference Of opinion between the two coordinate
branches of the national Legislature ont Of which
arises the whole Of this proposed legislation. What
have we done in this matter? We have passed a
b.required by the present necessities of the mail
contractors of this Government intended TO relieve
them by paying the honestly incurred debts of the
Government. We put it TIN ough with as little con-
sideraton rs circumstances would allow us 10 give
IT, because we realized the necessity of putting it
through promptly. Well, sir when il went to the
coordinate branch of this Congress what did they
do? II is not us who have delayed action, but the
Senate: and ] say that we have right TO question
the good Judgment Of the other House for putting
upon this bill amendments for general legislation
which they must have known would create pro-
tractcd discussion All The hasty legislation Of Con-
gress has resulted from the fact that we have allow
, ed the Senate TO put amendments upon our appro-
priGtion bills, not geTmane in their character
When we have sent them clean bills they have re-
nrned them TO us loaded down with amendments
for millions, and upon entirely extrinsic matters.
Now sir this is the time and this is the place tc
strike at what conceive to be an abuse. This Is
not Toe closing hour Of the session. We are at the
: beginning of the session. and now is the time tC
5 look the evil in the face and 10 strike down thI
practice. And if we strike it down now, we shall
have plenty Of time hereafter to consider all the ap
preparations we shall make. ".
= Here the hammer fell.
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