Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-10-24

it goes to the Sixth Auditor, the
regular accounting officer OF the
Post Office Department, send for that
officer and his chief clerk. and, after
telling them Of the magnitude and
character of the claim, caution them
to make q thorough examination in
to the whole subject before taking
any steps for its payment. More
over, object to its payment ont Of
the regular appropriations for the
postal service, and insist, if paid at
all, it should be paid oct of the gen.
eral Treasury, which was equivalent
TO saying that it should not only
pass all the accounting officers of
the Sixth Auditor. but all the ac-
counting officers of the Treasury De-
partment who settle and adjust claims
against moneys not otherwise spec
tally appropriated.
Now, Austin Blair, who appears
to be as ready with his epithets as
any fishwoman in Bil;ingsgate, has
never yet said that 1 am fool. what
ever else he may have said of me !;
and l contend that any man who de-
sired to conceal fraud, or hasten
the payment of claim, or avoid
scrutiny into the merits of 4 case.
would be premium fool to take the
steps L did. The truth Is, / have
made no concealments, and attempt
ed none; / have avoided no in
vestigations, but have continually
invited them. When the case was
efore the Senate committee l sent
TO its chairman the following note ::
Post Office Department.
| Washing gtoD. ID. c., February g. 1870.
MY Dear Sir: have the honor.to request
that you Will have summoned before your COM
miuee Ine non. Jeremiah ). Black. George
Earle, George Chorpenning, the Hon. John
mn. and the Hon. John Cess na to testify as to
sne,r snGn snowlsdge E 2fmy eoneuet throughout in
ming ag sinst the United states, and especially
as to knowledge af any collusion, or improper
und eIst anding or interc.' urse b.twcen me and
said Chorpenning or either OF his counsel.
very respectfully n yS1r obedient @ , sery,gt
And now and here 1 extend that
summons und challenge testimony
to that and from all men everywhere
who love and adhere to the truth.
After full hearing the committee
gave its opinion upon my conduct
in these words.
The Hon: Alexsndcr Ramsey, Chairman OF
the Post Office Committee of the Senate.
Your com mmittee therefore unanimously CON-
cur In the opinion that the Postmaster General
dill not deviate from the discharge OF his official
ed the law of Congress, and that Congress alon c
shonld assume the responsibility, if any in
| enjoinins upon him the rulfilmcni of a duty
which has led to such surprising results.
And on that committee were to be
found two Democrats. Mr.. Kelley, of
of Oregon, and Frank P. Blair, of
Missouri, the last gentleman beng,
however, of different family from
Michigan Blairs; for whatever
faults the Senator from Missouri ma +,
have, no one can say that he ever
stabbed any man, friend or foe, in
the back, while with your Michigan
der, who is 40 Senator, and never
will be. that operation appears to De
q favorite amusement, when at n safe
distance.
Thus / have answered Austin
Blair, not with slang and invective
equal to his own, but with fair argu-
ment based on incontrovertible facts
| have not replied to his declaration
that / am a scoundrel by hurling
back like language at him. / have
taken higher and more complete
revenge. l have proved him to be
LIAR and sLANDERER.
Now rs to economy. Notwith-
standing the very large increase in
almost every branch ofthe service,
the deficiencies have been steadily
diminishing. This result has been
obtained by increasing receipts and
decreasing expenditures. The de-
ficiency for 1871 was s2,OS4.93 10
less than the deficiency for 1868
Blair says that congress stands over
me with club to prevent me from
paying Chorpenning's claim. Is 1t
so?
In four years there were placed at
my disposal, in addition to the Ie-
ceipts of the department, S1S,156
9l5. of which expended only 80.
S31 ,665, leaving in the Treasury IS,
325. 665, portion of this sum hay
ing been saved in each of the three
last years, thus showinga systematic
persistent, and well enforced effort a
al md S,,xl
hibit has never been made befor,
since the Post Office Department wa,
organized. Where is the club tha
prevented this expenditure Agai
Congress at its last session placed
my disposal. bv the General Posi-
office ap ropriation bill, abou
S27 900, 900, and not 8
word said about Chor-
penning, nor was any restraint O.
any kind imposed upon me by tha
act. The ordinasy provisions
law controlling such appropriation,
were deemed entirely sufficient. In
deed, Congress Mt its last session
| gave me more power than ever b.
The passage OF the bill known as th'
postal code. L am willing to be he'll
To The most rigid accountability foi
the manner in which that power shat
be executed.
| THE BEST AND CHEAHERr SERVICE.
Shortly after being called to pre-
side over the Post Office Depart
ment, gave my views as to th.
people and the duties of Governmen
in relation to postal affairs in thes
! words:
Tue people should be content wit: