The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-08-12
Mr., Creswell and His Traducers.

1t was not to be expected that the blind
and bitter partisanship that has character
lied the investigating committees of the
House could spare any gentleman ever
identified with Gen. Grants adminstra-
ton, or that any opportunity to traduce
and Witty his friends would be allowed to
pass. 1t is, there, no surprise that the
majority report of the committee on Post
offices and Post roads propose to the House
to censure Elk POSTMASTER General Cres-
we'll for the manner of his administration
of the business of his department. 1t is
almost unnecessary to say that the evidence
taken by the committee was that of men
who had, in most instances, been dis
charged from the post-otfice Department
for incompetency, fraud, venaity, or i'm
proper practices. That the facts and evil
dence afforded by the records of the de-
partment itself, were totally ignored in the
attempt to turn to political account the
existence of abuses towards the correc-
tions of which, as shown by the minority
report of the committee, Mr.. Creswell had
directed his utmost energy and ability,
and whose faithful and laborious discharge
of the duties of his office, three previous
Investigations of his departing Mt had estab-
lished to the satisfaction of the ountry at
large. The belief heretofore entertained
respect as to the character of Mr.. Cres-
wells administration of his office, will not
be changed by any such majority reports,
even were they thrice as unjust and unjusti-
fable as this one. The conclusion thus
stated by the minority report of the COM
mittee, we believe, reflect the general senti-
ment of impartial and reasonable men of
all parties:
The minority say they dissent most decidedly from
the conclusion of the majority that Postmaster Gen
era Crcswell either violated the law eNtrayagant
i'll his expenditure negligent i'll his supervision of
the affairs of the Department, failed to expose
prosecute violations of the law during his amnstr-
ton On the contrary they satisfied that his adj
ministration marked by laborious and faithful
discharge of his dutic' by due economy in cXpcndi-
lures, and by notable vigilance in the exposure and
prosecution of volators of the law Mr.. Creswell in
anSurated the opposition to straw bids, which, after
-N years has just eliminated in their final overthrow.
The victory has not been gained 10y single effort. but
by repeated attempts resulting in from time
time, less signal. That his administration
extrvagant is cnncusively established by the
that during his entire administration he always kept
within the limit of his appropriation. and when he
retired from the Department he left hand balance
after the settlement of all liabilities to June 30 1874
of 06 and this after covering into the Treasury
nnrNpcnded balances for the years 1870, ISL l>72
amounting to S4376,556. In our opinion the censure
proposed by the naoriIy upon the administration of
Mr. Creswcll is wholly without justification by any
Thing appearing in the testimony on the records
files of the Department Nothing short of the
embittered craftsmanship totally blind to all sense of
Justice toward political opponent prompt such Il
suggestion The Committee Post Offices and Post
Roads have abandoned themselves to the accomplish
ment of political ends under of this investig;,-
ton that they have neglected their legitimate business
of preparing and presenting to the House appropriate
and necessary legislation touching the postal service.