Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-09
Southern Mall Contractors.

In the House of Representatives. yesterday,
10 committee of the whole on tho bill 10 pay
Southern mail contractors for services rendered
prior to the war,
MIR. Couger reiterated the assertion be made
the other day that the Confederate government
directed all postmaslers 10 retain the postal
nroperty of the United States for The benefit OF
the Confederate States. and 10 subStantlatlon
ot that assertion, read extracts from proca.
nation issued by J. Il. Reagan, Postmaster
General, dated ut Montgomery, Ala. May 20,
1861. 10 which postmasters were directed to re-
tain ell United States postofticc property. such
as bags, looks. &C.
Mr.. Rsagan said that the proclamation dl.
rected the postmasters to settle with the United
States for postage stamps and revenues.
MIR. Copger said it was notorious that the
Confederate States retained all the property OF
The United States.
MIR. Willetts read elaborate extracts from
Confederate State papers to chow that proper
ty of the United States was taken aud held by
the Confederate States, and also to show that
railroad companies aud individuals had been
paid By the Confederate States for the very
service for which they now asked pay.
Mr.. Reagan said that if any persons had
been paid by tho Confederaoy they should not
be paid again. He confessed that some OF The
extracts read showed, such payments. and be
was not aware of them or they had escaped
bis memory.
Mr.. BIount said the information read to. day
was new to him, ard, speaking for his section,
he would say that if any Of these men or oorpo.
rations had been paid by the Confederate gov.
eminent it would be contrary to good morals 10
pay them over again. The South did not ask
that.
The information read by Mr. Willetts from
the Confederate archives was new to him and
others, aud he would never consent to the pas
sage of this bill unless it was 80 guarded that
no payment should ever DO made to any one
who had heretofore been paid by the Confede
! rate government.
Mr.. Cox (Obio) said it Was just to say fol
himself and others around him that the state
ments read to day could not affect the character
| for candor of the gentleman from Texas (Dlr.
Reagan who asserted the other day that the
Confederaoy had never paid these claims. The
gentleman had by his conduct too much won
the esteem of all on this floor.
Mr.. Tucker said the evidence just read was
from tho Confederate archives. which the
Southern men bad not seen for thirteen years.
lQoY uRu Ueeu SuuCeieus luooo uoo
passed out of recollection and be was not will
log, therefore, that q vote should be taken 90
this bill untiI farther examination Of the
whole subject could be made, and he believed
it would result in clear and explicit vindcation
of the Confederate government and of all COO:
uected with it. 10 relation to tho use of United
States property and the payment OF these
claims, be thought he had the key to The whole
| matter, but this was not the proper place OF
time to explain. But when the explanation
was made, gentlemen who thought that dishon'
or would attach to the Confederate government
would End themselves in error. He would
move that the committee rise for the purpose
of recommitting the bill.
The republicans, IS a rule, resisted The mo
ton, but the committee decided to rise.
Mr.. Waddell moved that the Committee oil
tho Whole be discharged from the further COO
sideratiou of the bill. and that it be recommit
ted to the Committee on Postofioes. lo view
of the developments made here TO- day that
course should be pursued, 10 order that there
might be fuller examination.
The hill went over till next private bill day