Newspapers / The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, … / Feb. 5, 1835, edition 1 / Page 2
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I; ! "t 1 i ! ' rf-, i: 4 f i r f i - IT u '"A ti: i; i 'U r i f '" 'I t t ii i i pat ontthe jwwers'of the President.? Anti.tceorOiQg to til relea of eontre (tfoo, is not tite aanipg of one thing jrpa exclusion of erjr iW? Orwt JlUteJJABlLwwpiUj.JVM it swat 4hjf.g1;t. sir was It But fhlOlJ 01 ,the President t isuea 3ci. w " bring U .tt P"htKrB ? -Had l irht to prycH in uro'fcpf yi JVM he afraid tji rl judges and Ji ,h enBolr.f-r 1 may see a mati t'U another, . Ijae I any right, though fciiJe jfrf4 to the laws, because I deem the prices nf Jastire ': jjuo slow or uncertain. t ste o TH "aa an arbiter, and become the jude, witness and executioner? Bat. air, there ia a? the'r view fthU auhiect which, tie- stryti couaidrration. It ia the open .epntempt manifested by the Executive Jor the pe representatives. I net. Zio whoa the jsjrrt"wf wirtntiafivn tlc Sni7iirrnTiVtne cnrl "jninsgem ic money, nan 4?edar?l it was safe. Yet the hxecu- tire, $Mty day'pefure thf meeting of Uonjreaa, thrust niatiseii between me ennstifutiiioaa guarding uf the public treasure, seize if, end sets op claim o nvmatrou, that 1 can scarcely apeak jitith word? They are suSatantUlly that the custody of the public mnry be longs to the Executive Department; and that Congress air. Contrns hvt nri right to ileprive him of it with- immmm vmUtam -mt ta fsmi,iHtf prw riplea ofihe omiitnli-ju. Sir. it may " be said "thi fWmtfnn ha beenr abaml m " tdi-v- Vet the tact tfcat .. President hs dared to avow it.'showa how far 4heiew-of hi adviser have extended, andiaw.!1 calculated to awaken the igira riienei1sntrftrtrtiwre'im belief era JuXixaidMin.nfUiikiiiiJ. waa a feeler, to -e how far the grat i toile lf the nation w M c irrjr them. y hy Bolthe President await the I'lem triage of .Conwrea? Why did be not consult fhe Kepreaentative of the eo idef .Qirj, XheaBwerha been furaiahed. He Ami not Iruat them. He wa""a it,rid the bank would corrupt the mi'ta and'havint lately anaumed to bimtelf the yairdiaimhip of the public - morals, be wwhed to reinore all temp-. tSonilado iWToiB;rzzzz. Yea, he removed the money of" the country from the place where the law bad placed it, where it w as confessedly nd nntoriotulr m. ami ptaceu tt. '.where? Who Vnsjrhtre the fflbljc treasure Is? I Win any" Bank over ayb'tch Congress have any control? No -fee can tel I -wrhHher or not tt be si te. r, la all free Governments, the right ipvjr the public nioney has been retain d 4Uh jealous car to the immediate reDreteatatives of the people. Ia the eoantre Irora whence we apruBK.it has Wa retained with the grasp of death, 7 a . . t I L ajia nas oeea xne insirumenx oy wnicn the Commons of Great Brittain have from time to time wrung from the necea fities of the throne the great principles (rfEnglfh freedom. Our own Constitu fioa, equa)lf jealoai of Executive pow erri)M repod it in the only hands whera f perieqcf js sliowa it to be safe.-- The President baa lately aeixed upon it, and it was to protect this conttitu tiooaJ power, reposed in them, that the resolution of the Senate was pass ed. 1 am admonished, Mr. Speaker, br the Indisposition nnder which I la-1 tjof, and by the time I have occupied, tattu&Wt aa much as poaaibte what I have to say, and to leave unsaid much that I intended to aay. I therefore dismiss this branch of the subject, and Irave it to those who are to follow me, The gentleman from Halifax has a maaed, phps instrqcted the House, by furnUhing tests by which therFede ralism of certain Mien ia to be tested. Sir, those lests are, voting (or the Ta riff, fur Internal Improvements and the DfrlJ.- BankiAH-thew-arT grievous tint. I adtnii ina which I condemn in at uaftualtVd Urw i as the, lionqra- k . generoar"1.imselC M p atranga shjit whilst he was applying; these touchstones, it never tyrcu red to him to extend his ordeal a kittle further, and give na the reolt. Had he done ao, .he would have discovered that Andrew Jackson, yea, Mthe fac simile of the Rock of Ages. the mwtf't JackwKW1 oed.wkilaV ij th : BeMtev f Internal, I mproyer B)ata aM a Tariff of prutection, and, n on,e o( hj messages, most unequivo- Ut teem:eadd-a aAdthat evenu late as the celebrated Veto Mesaarv stated that if Congress had applied to mm, he could have tram (d i bill free from all Constitu . . tional, objections. Sir, he would hava further found that Mr. Van Bu rea voted for the Tariff of '28, the bill of abominations, aad fur tha. erection ( WiU. gates ia ana af the sovereign &tawa. this Confederacy. lis would have found that Mr. Crawford not on ly voted for the present Bank of tha ' United States, but waa its ablest and most tloqaeat defender ia tha United 8tatV Senate, t Nought extenuate. .:.. ael. A$m aught-ia aIicvU4f Max Calhoua ia a Federalist for vot ing rr, tba Tartft- bU of M6, and for taa Bank, aad for Internal Imorove- saaaov la what respect ia ha woise off tha the distinguished. tndividJs wbasa I have menbonedf But 1 for. bear aa thi ooiat. I have Ooaoklnd feelinga (or General Jacksoat-t mpect " his character, and feel grateful for his public service. And,; sir, should any " aua kava told me-waye,. should one have ariKB from the dead, aad foretold tLat he waa bad waned the- dcodU af C danger at apparatiat saesabera ef z CongraH ta atse1 would yet appoint all tonstittt-4" more than all preceding President; that he wJio came into office the advocate of a cheap and economical Government, woatd vet swell t)e expenditures from If to 24 millions per anna mt that he whuTvad iTecTaretT that the patronage of the Government ahail not be brought iBto conflict with (he frreilom of elec tiasr weald ret wield that7 patronage, nt only to influence election, but to control the LegUlatnrra of the State; that he whp professed to be friend to tiie rights or the Btatea, wouM jet nave promulged doctrine at which the most high -toned FederK'iit liar.gaTiia' "head t.T Terr ahame, I could not, I would nut hae Believed hiin. Sir, I Mr it wkh pain and with deep humiliation. fr I waa one of t he mo't ardent of the U!)!Krier of the President, no man e ir ao b -trayeil liin principles, falsified K-il,dffri-.and.tramDled n hi Fit has no n-'ceHary connexion with the I sujeci.- .aiMi- the-tt jn.' "wothers moot be mr apology. Some . rentlemen, in this debate. I have rxpreid an utter l-spair of be- intr auieio cuanze uu- aeuicu ueiernii- i . l l l . : nation of the majority. I am not of that opinion. True. air. the signs are iMMFiaW.rH.ci9BJ9 ...l.lld. drk ffft 14e in the perspective. Still I will tt despair. And why? Bfrause 1 adilress Southern Ireemen; because 1 addressthe representatives ofouthern In-ein.-n a piviple lii(rli-spir U-d. and lic men. I will pot believe that such men --4ia ve-surHMniwd - ih if . reason. thir i;intWnce, aad their judgmen ts.! either to the uictaivn of the ah ingttHi Globe or that vf a few arrogant preteiidfr here, or that thev will fend rnrrrwxn nt-ne-iMHracY, t-: i . i i i- ! cituluHit-e t-vijtfiice of the fact. Ant! who, permit me to ask, are thse indi- itlutttii at whose k -ck you are tu-cuim. and wlMise bidding are t do? Wlirre arc the eviiUsnce of iheir ge nini? Where are Ihe monument of tlirif patrtotisrr - windjurt - ut public services? Have ihey given you any as surance that they are. or will be afe counsellors and guide? For, sir, it is my solemn conv ictioti that this thi n had itLwigtp,-not- 4vh 4b- people, not wth th great body of the Jackson party in this AsseinWv, but with few ambitious nspiraiitsi and I appeal to the member of the party themneives It I am not cwtrrcU. .... ; I call upon tin itoue to pause in their career. I warn thrm that, w hilst fhey areabotit "to denottnee'the" sup pose I usurputiuna- ol other, tltey themselves are guilty r flagrant usur pation of the right of their constitu ent. What gMd i to result" froia .1 I .1.1 . a mese resolutions,' i hat principle is to be advanced? JS'one, Sir; none. True, we may gratify the vanity of the Executive true, we may minister to his vindictive passions; and, by our adulation, intoxicate still more a brain already weir nigh turned by clourfs of incense, nut wnai tftt-nr Hetloo tt th expense of another department of ihe governihent, tha one which, in many particulars, is the principal, if not the only check to .Executive su- firemacy, M e convert our Senators rom bejng maqlr and independent guardians of the rights of the Stales and the liberties of the people, into the mere supple instruments ol power. Sir, I will not longer detain the House. have discharged with what ever ability I tHMseaaed the duly 1 owed my country. As I seek none of the laurel or honors uf this measure, I so neither shall I be responsible fur its consequences. 'fym the Nat. tot. of Jan. 27. Report iipwn the Post Office. 4-4ltS Mr. E-.. r . ,i.. f -ii .i wing .fn.in he CoiiHintt.-e on the General Post Odice. (which, the er wilt ' re-fwueer. 'Mt pr order nf the ' Senate d ufing the late recess of Con gress) made a Report. - I he reading ut this Keport occupied the Henate until the usual hour of adjournment, and was not cour.lsded when the senate adjourned. Aa it is tloubtfut whether it will ever be possible fur. us t ambfih the whule of lhta Report however desire. tie it '&M&M&rm&K,"'iir avaiketl ourselves of a casual opiior- abatracf of the vt'pori m una ami ma lotiowingro- amn.s.aatHaf allows, without liuiitinz oa reel veattw that part only of it w!3jch ocen reati in me ornate. tl. a .t an Ihe lb-port, notwithstaitdinr; its large volume,, and the evidence which it carries on its, fare, ami in its bulk, of great labor and perseverance, is not definitive, but rather a report of the progress of the committee, so far as thev have gone. ITwi report, after statin the meet ing nf the cnminjttee in this citv on the 1 9th of September last, antf the accommodation uf a room in the Post Office aflbrded t them, fur their - ait tings, commence. with a description of the confused stafe o the. Books of the Post QSBca,. which rendered it im- Eracticable ta,vwer.tin with any thing keaccanw tha. tnae state, of the finances off the Pose UfCce. or of the accounts ol indtvidasJh with it la nany cases,, the stater af an account, m important ' paracuian, was only to baUtered from pencil-marks in the margin of the books.. . Of the inacca racy c-Ttfces accounts, aeveral instsn eet ajaUtevtoTwhidl aa our analy sis af the Rejpart mast neceWrily be Ttr7., 'e instance, qaoted from theJlfbort,aa follow s, must serve as aa example: '-''? Your ComreiUee called for the account of Jaa, Itaeaide, aaf it waa ahowa ta them 6a t tetleer. when thara appeared a baK nce airainct bios on the It April, 1834, of fiiXjoy IT, - 111 aecountmf omoera, however, ta formed your Cemaiiltee that the ledrer did not ' prearnt all the . credits to which Mr. Ii rattle waa aatitted. and they ha'e uie eiuin(ed an accoont containmj many additional credit, by which there appear to b a balahce in hia favar on tha J.t of Jula, J834. of g7.529 53, makina; a difference af about Xl,000. Soma of tha credit, bear da'e be'weeo the lt of April aad it ofJJjv -a JaKr pari, of the. amouni ia made up ofentnra which, if coti tied at all to a place in the account, belonged In date prior t the let of April, 1834 The eorreetneea of thoae aevrral credit will be considered in- another part of tht- port." In consequence of the difficulty ex perienced by the committee from these cause, in -.ajrivin.rAt..Uue.reUa.J.ta.riaMn from tlie Ixvik, the committee employ- ed two ceowalnt oaaiimoolr ap prove1, to examine and audit the books, in which business these persons have been and re still diligently en gaged, the result of whose labors the committee will report wuen arrived at anil examined. Meanwhile, with the materials in their-poesin, the-, committee enter into an elaborate comparison of the reports of the present and late Post master General, and of the reports of the present Postmaster General with acts dilpsed . br tlic books, &c. to which nothing bu t a Kte at transcript which we have now ho opportanity trf-roafcing rf the whole of thi part of the report can- "ttr -justice- There is one tiarnzrapn ot it, however, which o forcihly attracted our attention. that wa have thought . it proper, by i as follow: 'I'hfre i one other item introduced into 'he .tatrment of the 26h December, 1834, of which your Gommiltee knew nothing tin til since llirir former report, and did not crn iiiiprrt i's existence. It is a "balance ataiiml cunt ractora for payments made Ihem rriortoth !' April, 1814, for the current aericr of the quarter which ended that day, and for prior arrvicra, which bad riot yet been placed to their credit, 284,897 38 Your Committee did not suppose a fund of this character and amount existed to the credit of tha Department, because they k new. by former (latement, thai .there were very large sum actually due to contraa,. tors, for service fully and faithfully per formed, in previous quarters, which the l)e parlmrnt was bound, in good faith and in justice, to psv. Those sums actually due were not paitf tor want ot lunile. Large- sums were 'also oorroweit trom liana, on interest, and it aeemed inconceivable that, under these circumstances, ao large a sum of mnnry should have been advanced to a few contractor', before they were entitled lo receive it by the terms of their contracts. P.ul the present investigation has sat. lied your Commiltre that very Urge sum were, and 'till are, due from contractor for illegal paymen'ttnd advances of money, snd that this sum at lrat, and probably a much forger sum, oiiKht to be recla med from them, and placed lo Ihe credit of the Department." The next topic embraced in the re port is that of the removal of Postmas ters without cause, to make Way for mere partisans, in mnny'case wholly unworthy of credit or confidence, &c. In the prosecution of their inquiry into the canse of these removals the com mittee were, as the reader already knows, met by a refusal of the Post master General to furnish the com mittee wiih the information demanded, in a letter which the Postmaster Gen eral, with a disrespect towards the committee that is merely alluded to in the report, caused to be published in me ojaciai journal nere within a few days after the date of the transac tion. This branch ef the Report concludes as follows: lour Commi'tee did not think it incum bent on ihem to enter into a diacussion with the l'i!mitsirr 'General on the sabjwet of their respective right and duties, nor do they now think ii proper in Hi is paper lo examine thrm, or to blend an argument on coi.sntiiiioi.al Uw with Hie fact, which they rciT'TT'qtirmi to ramiwe ana renorr to trie Se(1,,e. nu rtfuta, of ,Iie Pt.ortm,.''L rMtt-Uwril topern.i the Post matter the inspection of lhaae ptper m allegnl cunstntotnnal tRmumta. which "afiillied fclitce to th3Whntigaf ea aboe referred lo, which rest on the me piinriple, of course put an end to thi branch "f tha -OHrtraligation. Kmding the doors cUnrd upon tliein here ' they turned their attention ta other subjects of inquiry, touching Hi condition of tha department and the management of it concern " The Keport then proceeds to the cx antbiatio&of the practice if tha Deparl- roinisi cpnJrwy u uw.aoil etyially unaotho rix by a. retard, ta aquityaBe! ta' the public intereat. The account of the JmpnoJ Jiidt, which have had such an unfortunate agency ia the prest insolvency of the Pt Ottke, will be new to many of oar. readers. We therrfore copy it: " A praciisa Las uf late preraitetl rxtennivefy ia this IWpartmawt of advertising pro-maala for earrjrHiK tb mail oa Iha prneiMl mmiI root, at a dinareat manner b-ont.lhat ia whiah- a k ia faat ta brrat-rieil tif reaiting bids tow earrvaig it ia. ilia' real manner from that- m- which h is Mlaeiiiaed, which are called imf)rmJ kiU" of accrpling tha bid aa made hU Ufrthrr, and entering their aeeeptanaa a applalis to tliat part of the bid which, conform to 'lie advert iteme nt, and immediately changing them te Iha raf Mt, and' ao executing the contrscu thus in effect letting or making the ontract ; wit bout- advertiaemantv ia a vWlaiion of law, and baa gien rise tt, and i made the apology for, other violations of law aad official duty ' v The Report then goes on tn ahew that, in regard to all this clasy of Im proved bills," which have been made the ground an Extra allowances, there are importaat discrepancies between th Reports of tire Postmaster Generalk -tha Blue Book fthe printed list of con tract and alUwances and between tha Blue Book and Ihe actual contracts and that none of them are ta be relied upon. The practice ol allowing; these 4nmprvvcd idn. and making these "extra allowances the Committee say, throws the door wide open to un fairness, favoritism, . and collusion. And the Report, on the same subject, cootinuea iboa: ThepwWie kwm wotfcwf of ha- porpa ae or the wiihe (if the Department aa to tb time and manner of transporting tha miil, except through Ihe nvediom of the pabUe d eertiaement. And the honeat btitinea mn, who would wiih toek a contract, through fair competition. Would naturally auppoae that a bid, purattan' to the . adrertiaeinent. would be the one, and the only one, by which ha could procure atich contract, i And he would further aoppoaa that ha would be bound Watlctl trid -rfh tha TOibfiet4arre, thi probably haa been the eaae: it appear to bare been ao with the small ttntracttrt reneraltir. Hut it ha been far otherwise with a claat of larg e cutracUrtt who appear lo be on term of mtimacy and confidence with some of the officer of the General Post Office, and whose affairs are intimately blended with the fiscal concern of that De bidi of die Fall f 18 I. it will be foond ihtT upon the great mail rou'es,. or a great num ber of the small roulrs united, included in their bids, not only a proposition to carry the mail according to the advertisement, but with stipulation, that the bidder would bind himself to carry the mail in a mlffertnt man ner, at a tnjjertiH pnee. ui tna lavoreci con tractors, the bids to carry the mail, pursuant lo Ihe advertisement, are gonerally very lt. so as to enab le 4.1ms - lie part meut la ward them ihe contract, while their improved bid. in pursuance ol wliicn t contract ia at last executed, is very A ih, so as to ensure lo the contractor an enormous profit. The accep tance is marked on the Proposal liook, op posite the um which was bid lor carrying tb mail i pursuant t lb. advwrtiaeaaenti. and the rival bidders will see' at once, on an in apection of this book, that they are under-bid. Out the contract art executed according to- the impmtd b'nt, - which- i often twiee or three lime the sum at which it i entered on the Proposal Uook laid open lo the in spection of the public." Of the general effect of this mode of uistriDuting, at pleasure, the puiiTTc rnoney tft famed ttntractore," the Re port speaks thus: " It were tedious to enumerate the case in wh:ch thi difference exist between the bid made pursuant to advertisement and or cepted, and the contract executed. Your committee lis e caused to be prepared by their Secretary, and they exhibit herewith, a table compiled f rom book and - papers in the Department, from the Illue Uook, from the letter of the Postmaster General of the Id of March, 18J4. in reply to a call of t lie Senate, and from hi report of the 18th of April, 1832, which allows, in each individual caae Tin jihe cotilracl of jlSt, the difference between the tirf, si entered on the bid book, and the contract executed.' It allows, also, the casea in which no difference exists The ante paper .hows in another column, oppo site the name of each.cautraclot,. what extra allowance have been made him over and a bove hi contract at executed, from which il will he seen.- " "lt. Thar the wtiole tmount of the bids accepted, pursuant to the advertisements in October, 1831, waa $$140,626 54 Amouni of contracts at executed for me division (by the Blue '' Book) 488 2.9 40 Making a difference of g 147,6 52 86 "And it will br teen that thi whole dif ference, amounting to the enormous sum a bove shown, is made in favor of not more than contractors, or companiea of con. tractor, moat of whom your committee wilt Hod it iheir duty to notice hereafter in I. is report, the recipient of other pecuniary favors from the Department." A single case out of many is nu t -l to shew the anomalous character of the contracts and the unjustifiable waste of the public money in the practice of accepting these improved bids. I se, tiw example, the mute from fhilanel iht to Pittsburg, whkh wa first accepted daily at &7,000, and which, by the mollified eimtracl pursuant lo the imtn tveil bid, is carried, at is alleged, twiee daily to Pitlsburgr. at iSS.UM), and extended to heeling, at $.27,000 one of 1 1 ne ones irom riiilsilelpliat lo I'lltiburg runiimg at an increased speed. Now it ean hardly be es tablished as a mathenaalieal proposition, tint rf daily mail costs $7,0(M), il.at a mail twice dailv ihoutcf, by exact wcim-faim, eoal 25,IU utaUi-s, nnr da bni think that any one who understand, die nature and value of die service will be pre pared to say (Imrilie one bears any Uii-or jnl proportion lo I he other. It were vain lo uige as an apnliigr fur aiuh exeeisire increased alloa ancr, thai I here is no means of arrit ing at the true preportion which ihe nricinal bid. and ibe iaereaved alfowaace. bear to Ilia aarv rendtsr- stf i4tulcr,.aait-ir Hir e vch utlmrr "tf1 -tnW 'pra' portion caannr be' arrived at, lite law forbids the wrcascil -altoaaaca Jku. in. li-ulli no Jaw aii- iilirt lo-this siMCMrs nf soutniel. It seeois lo be ofeahyaraa wtcv .' neuwur an ocicjinat aonliiact. waSaaaawiaala luwance lor increased aervicrs. Ii is about eipii tlntant between Ihem, and Sustain.-! br ni ther." In a few words the Report shews how this whole, practice, and the al lowances growing out of it. have been officially screened from the view of Congress and ,the. People,.. uutU the. Senate forcvd.a revelation, of the whole "Icwr (yomioHtee have shown that the Post, msitcr General did ant rr port the inareased l loaaacra, Hiale ut coiiserjiHincc ol ilicae imprwej butt, as any part of Iha original contracts in whwb they' were einbodiedncithttr did ho report Ihem a ejrraj ntfownncei when called upon by resn I in ion. of tha, Senate tn report the amount of tboac allowance made for extra aervice ainr taa 6th o April, IS29. Tboy paw wholly wkcjoch aninoiwa in any pi hi reports lo l.oii. gresa. awd seem h hi jailgiaeut to be refera ble te wa alass of cases whatever, ladeed. aa noe caul a am wet iiim tney were vitally wiihnul legM warrant, ami inai incy coulil, tbcretora, tall antler ka -w a lea-al head. N evert heleaa, faaaveMsa sums al money have, lhroah I hair meaaa, ttara transferred Iroia the Ikniartmcot I r tha hoefcet af mtlivitlaal; and the American Ctmgrca aad tha American peo ple aavr, wwh mts mvccugatioa aummeacen Urea w4vully icimraaf af Ihecsiatenaa ot anv such moth, of apuruprialing or ditiiownr ol Iha uubli l'...l. - The Itrpprt next proceetUi to a further examination, of the manner, of inakinz 'these 'contarct and extra allowances,. with especisl reference to the Keport of the Posmastcr General of the 18th April, 1832. which the Committee argue, from the faca disclosed by this-investigation, to have been wholly delusive and calculated to deceive, Thev s-n so far as to.ay that it is evident,. from the facta, that that report must have been drawn- up and presented to Con gress, deceptive as It is, purposely M and not - by accident. Upon which they make" the.; following severe ani madversions: l )ttrr nruxwr lit owlter raf h hem wmwOciI ky the PtmHtrOeiienl, and htW mv hbil hit reo for th prejientatiiMi mt a report hi teoJecy ao eer Iwa to miltearfi her afiaima or im mm- knova t jtmr -Caaiiii aeloated himj lh fartr ta hl report, aMordhif t their delibral juilgwiawt.- -jtMtiiwL. Jl.iviMJ,t; WMectw; uantcr Mtl ditqaitkion apoa Ihr aalje k u JM.Uun refermbl ts lh l ru(f ot ptaiaaamima aeaaa aad boat ty. " Ij, it limply whether Ik oblirMioai ot troth vi'eml r do ao( etlead le the tBaial paper of Jiigh publie faaeliowu-ie. If they do aot, ltii pnaer may be jai6ed H they io breach of official doty. " 'I harc it aaathar atraamitanea macaiaa; nm bnT naned report vbiah euylit aot to be ea lireW arerlonked. It V aiade out and pre- wrnied a Cre jnet efa !-' men! of the Frewdential mnu in l3i: aad k a paper, I he leaoVney ef which wat la bear upoo that election. It held oat to the A mari na Peanle a delutiee view nl the urotnerity ot a haoartant Deaarlmeal af the IJofernment. nl naturallr iailuce-t a belirl that it ea wiaely and eeotiom'ically ainiioiered while, ia truth, iha nublie moneTi were ennaaileretl withotit .tint ...(I ihir IWnartment waajranidle ainkiiic After con pretw-at with former Administrations of the FostUfftce.the Committee revert to the Postmaster-General's Address to the People of the United States at the close of the last Session of Con gress, and rebuke some of -its state ments. Sic. The committee then proceed to re examine imletail and at .very great length some of the canes of extra -allowance contracts which were more brief ly noticed in their report to Congress at the last session; and especially the cases nt J. F. Robinson, J. and B. BBeftiUa tracts from Hagerstown to M'Con nellsbarz, from Bed ford-to Washing tony frcAn Cumberland ;t Blatr'a Gapv trom Ualti'nore to Uhambersburg, from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, Hee side & Slay maker's extra 10,000 dol- Llora. pK y earrileesuiA'A-cAalM XSeyy,.)( orkiii, xh.uaticiphiavjKc.,l.h.c. allowancis to Mr. Rceside are most dwelt on by the committee, apparently because they are the largest, aad he is the most extensive contractor. To this gentleman, in one form or other, of contract or allowance, the commit tee say there has been paid, within two years and a half ffrom 1st January, 1832. to 1st July, l8.14Jfor carrying the Mails between Philadelphia and New York, 884,372ror SS,f48 8Gper vear. The. com mit tee eon elude this laborious examination of contracts with the following summary, shewing the qggrtgatt of payments which they aver to have been unlawfully and un justifiably msde to a single contractor: "'Pasiing over those cases in which a contract on an allowance a as made contrary to law, but W which. aa eqnfraleiTt service liai i been render ed, and taking only those in which the law did not warrant the allowance, and in which also no srrviee whatever waa rendered, or in which thr allowance was hiirah above the fair and jn,r va lue of Ihe services, and th-n taking therjreen 'y ol die allowance over and above thru valae, your commit lee find ihe following sum, paid lo Jamrs Iteetidc, since Ihe 1st April, wilhuut any war rant of law nr justice to wit: On the contract lo carry the mail from Hagerstown lo M 'Councils- burg ... f 9 9.12 00 From Bedford to Waahinetoa 7.733 66 t-Vem Cumhettsnd to Ulair'r flap ( u," iioiiars anil Die eenla, leas ,500 dollars year lor two tear -v-- M'i ... . . trom Pbiladclphia to Piltsborg, excess of allowance over service S.OOO dollar lor two years aad six months - 20,030 00 Same -route- carry iag newspapers in most ispid line, half - 8 750 00 From Baltimore tn Chamherthurg 3,987 50 From New Ynrk to Philadelphia. Allowance for expediting from January I. 1839, to Ueeemher 31, I8JI, 6,000 dollars set vice paid tor, nol performed - 18,000 00 Oeientlnn, waiting for distribution of foreign mail, an unprecedrfii- ed allowance, and without audi- cicnl evidence ... 4,330 00 Carrj ing msii barv from Philad. phia to New York a etiarge wfinlly unprecedented . . 1,560 00 Fur t. ii.mri(ny the mail from I'hilnrltlplibf lo New-Voi k ft-otn- Ihe lit January, ISJ, to tat Hr ly, 1 8:i4, S years and n mnmliv,. Iteeutle haa reerived S4.S7t thd'- ' 1 ftlY lnll.. - A til rrt I arc and 17 cents. Hi nriginnf S aontraet vas S:Ont-rlnltars a Vear' - "r.rir:r hi imitrovrd bid, which wa, af ... terwardr made the eonrrart, agreed f ir I9-O0O dblfai rb riln . iw daily mails, and a third mad Si-fne J,i( dollnra. making 30,51X1 dollars and lui-niah g-iril and carry all expresses. I is allnw. ance, though enormou, IxlU hurt of the am actually paid in two )ear and ait inoullis mi that route, by . . . . s, 19J ,- So llial the whole snra paid tn Pee shle, which is founded on no law, - m4 aw na aptwrent 'jwtaia-':'-lW94F;M''ii- -lf the pamefrf Mri Rr.KsrrBnakes 3 ihus 'pfInenT figiirl mtWIuoiiiia ry, it is because if iloes so in the Im port. anTjiTot from any preference o7i . private pecuniary trans .;... ,.r ,l ... .., .. : aaine- citizen wim the Postmaster Genera and w th I u Ch ef Cleric of th. P.rtv,l l J. mir uierk; ol the Oeneral Post Office are also brought into view in connection With the largeness of his extra allowan era. So also are hia loan to the Chief Clerk, rQ. B. Baqwjt,; and said Brown's alleged partneiship in the contracts of E. Portkh, upon which large extra-allowances have been made, &c. In relation, to these passages of the Report, as it is impracticable for ua to give the whole,. we forbear mak ing eitracts which might only give a partial! aud imperfect v4ew of theiri. Adverting again to tha grBerally confused manner in which the larges't antl most important accounts of""th Post Oflire are kept, ihQ, Report pre senta the folio nwing cunou instance. fur which, to make room f?m k v. -. " W a OV a smaller type: - .. "U examining Ihe aaenunt of J .. Recaide joar commUlee kigiid to his credit Ike following' :S3.K Apait-30. Caah drpoaied la lire Wei trn Hank of Philadelphia, 90,000 dollar. ' "Your committee, while in Phda lrlphia. . amine the books of the North Western Hank and obtained a statement ol it transact Inns ahb Ilia Poet Office De)artmenl. hv which it apiar that-thi sm wa. raised hy Uc,,i,U, Dn i'tn drawa by itunaau hvrMor of H, C. Stpciuoo, and aacerdeil by O. 0. Prawn. HkU-f r: tha 89th day nf April, 1134, aad momns atwr. vans orart waa paid l, ,7 Department at raatarhyi aa that, a m tZJr tioa stood at tha tkaa the aaeaumaf lltttUk maile owl aad presented la Ida contatiiw? wa entitled ta ao credit arising iroaa thisoLr action. If a tredit were entrrvd aaa rK.a? Iha I toe" the draft wa negot iated. taaaTj! 1 ine '" i "j iw iJepanmeat. iU should havav baas a charge af war awtssj ,? ' gainst Keasitle, to balas.ee H. Thi waa aot aLl aad thi rum stood as a seed a a KewBidT!i ,' ' it helped to redaca a balaaa of Rijoi ' . which, aotwMhstandiag hia mriL!!' Inwaneea. Mood agaioat aim aa Iha aeokt af. Uepanmcal oa lb 1st of April, 144. eon, m it lee called apoa Obediab B. Rmw eiplaio this traataaiKm, and ha Mated lira UaS dralt J9S which Kecide raisgd. lhisaaocabte become due until some lima ia the month ot N.t f ember, cod that tiace that time tl)er ad tee, no ael lie meat with the Bank, so that ih aU,: s ttered. eouw in ma mrinarj trarH ot lMp t ; . tered. A member of "j our Com nut tea tba. I the hearing ol the witness, aiked for lb aui. I mentof tha fishier of tha Western huh J: Philadelphia, and tha paper aot being l Committee room it wa sent for, and Ut wJurat" wTvmWlarire teen Itma taa arnww rattiraadi Itiat he hail beea nsialakeai that ik -1 1 gamat Mrv-Uaeaitla waaowiued aius, ae4 wal alw rv miataka roiereil agamat R. CSak v ton, Ant thai he had prtmptlg corrected tha a,! I try oti ihe book, and that it wa now all rithU Your Committee directed tha witness tg brial ' in Ihe book lo a hub be had mailc ike orrt ' tion; he did so, and showed nu.4riha: , 1. 1; eratnm nnd chimin a enhy which be aa1 caused lo be made la the books ia th abort law I ' that your Coininitlee had reapitetl bin fronbi amirwtion. " he credit whkh is due to bock, . thus kept and thus altered to suit th emcryr. i cie of the oeraaion, can be readily ai.orccuinl !' byiheSeiiat." After reciting the testimony of C.i K. Gaudxeh, one of he Assistant Postmasters Oeneral, in regard to thud f sum up the case as'foUowsT .."Tltw when these, acceptance arc mat, a, area editeu.to.llt snntraitnr a ia ainsli aajaj) paid by him to the ase of Ihe Department, thaaji ha, in fact, pa nothing, but merely lenai k name as a di-iwrr or endorser: ihe same ma i charged to Ihe Bank a to much deposned ten creiiu 01 tiic urpanmeiil, ana ihe di-all U at laa transportation by Ihe rAreV offlrer who, 1 "trig to the improvt'il vv.tem of clieck"cirir.t bui-aeraent, adopted by Mr. Barry, are rciB4 I to ee.nify every check which issues ,lrra lb Ik. I partment. Hut, hy examining these debits, ad I cretins, aad certificate fur trantpertatun, I accountant, however skilful, could asccrttia tkil j neb eapcdieat had beeh resorted lo, or lacar raiseil in that manaer. 'I hese crtiS.lr. an whatever grountttthev may ba aupportcd,) oatrary lo tha plain Wt of the aaae." After adverting farther to ftie"enf sures in the bunks of the office, the! Cttiilticling testimony of witnesses, if. all of wrhich wa ire obliged by want sf lime to pass py . jor jrie prescnt. toe ! Report comtw thefoHowTng-toncg- sion, to winch we give insertion at i large, aa no less tlue to the imptftntt j of the subject, than to the indeiatigatikJ labors of thelntellrgen; CtBuittlea y whom it has been preparer!: - Jl.ti.. .m.nii, mtl. ma ai.l apa. which have grown up in this Department, that n form ha became absolutely aeceaaaryi butS measure by w hich it i to be fleeted are aya mean, free Irom embarraasment. They air lb more difficult aa many of Lli evils which rectus s rrmedr do not arise Irom defeats In the alia- i ing law, but from an habitual diaregard al aaa legal prnviaioos. They may, however, be pra cipally traced In Ihe absolute and uneheckrf power which a ,ingle individual hold over 1st . resource and tlishui-seinvnls, and all the rate machinery of ihisl.Vpsrlraeat. It The checks of various inferior of- r cers pponeach other are of. no valor, f1" when all are gu"!',"4l and controlled iif j their acts by one dominant wi... . ,: k .una Uie wutparsuvely shrt him I... iiiipi . rnual lo ih.t ol Ihe. tHuo, llfcrikwvaf! its organnaiionjand its calm.r. hh datrsaf ti oprrauo,,,, , lMtroutg,t hk. r t9 1 , power, must, by ihe mere force- a(liat-L iMcra, go on mcrraalwgt lae.iaerrj wim fhetf increase ol our cuunlry ia popuailiua, JarvfoaMa, I' nil weal.l . b "The annual' Kennriixriha Potiowster 0 eral ire of little value .'i,AM.kd titwm il.- lfea.1 of iha l)!pai lmeot, or as a mean of Wall-' "M public, attention lo bis official atieatuct-t 1 iir.,eltt?pon may h true, .jet'lh Mate rf aft'nira which they indicate awot ba uwlcratwit without ibat earrlul eaainittaihin, whiotl lew ar none will lerf willing 10 giva iliem, euiiiUl id other anluon, duties of k-gi.liiou: or If"' S'atemeats may ks" false, and yet n-w'rtr diitiosed 10 beaiow on thrai Ih labor, Mtif and menial, thlt:h would be aeeesaarv hie dire ienrrecimn and lo encniiater the bineinrwia' party ratienr; aad the reckless ti off dec ot pad) :ilimmy, whii-h- ihnae ana eneuunter j venture B IfjH.llftjoylaeiaV cfml - ...... ,s puwer, inu ui eiuoi Uawi - enornmie tn ihe public gaaa.. r . ; I ; , ",Kr,-.,?eeion PM thee and other aairfcl j lea-lmr m the anie uili n t e)ifta.tailtM-.Ai.llA....h..t...t...i.-.i...... . .... ,,.,, ,., Tnrre win ne lew a ......... n..c,K in,euj;Miion into tba anaaan and management ol Ihe Poat Office Iktiartram.. i IllLl llei inM Iki'iel.iw. il.U ..1. j ! ' , NIT1.HH,t. lo lifouiib uieli DiniHr.. ..I . :! ja- . t . 1 - iv. mm w, inllieiropitni.il, ihe most rflecttully; prcw Ihe recui-rt-nee, ia future, of abuse, simitar llmae which this biveatigaliiut has (KscloSHi I hia, llM-y eoHcrivr, aan.. be best effvclcd Iif change hi ih- oivanizaiion iif lt,, IVuartwcal. M aa ttr phKe-,be aotlestian aiail diaburscawie i .r:,. r. . 1 , a- . . . . I . "". !" "inerent nanus, aafl- wnuvr.nw coBlndf iTii lataaltttuawW other. . . - ----- "That Densrlmral. as at nrexral arraarrC le-w-ilaiigraiw. ,,m.y i v wen, (at! aa wbunisocver-Ms coi.ien.s arc trerrafter t br aonniictvo, 11 oruixalion ouKhl lo be haft. ... io cuniarn, more itrariv. ta luat-ol I" n ' nM l '"n oor Oov, 1 he acconniaUiluv of its rtfTicrrawiwI. h rrmierrd voVcihe. ad ihrT,i lm,Hl. far as is anniiuei.t with.ika foveranwa- .. axj4 imtrnr aMcasf pcrlormancc of ihe public sort ice.":; TWENTf THIRD CO.OnER. Sknatr. . ''-,:;-' Salu7tJihf,.tin. The Senate did not ait t d v.-. t, Afondov. J"' M Ewing, from the Committer oft the Piwt tl.Tiro an,l P.iat R(ial W48 railed Kir Thf-Tvading of f Report was commanrnl bv Mr. Eing and continued br Mr. Southsrd. H f tour oTcfock.Mr Clay ov,ed lh'?fi the Senate adjourn, stating that C was a ronsiderahle portion of this Hf V port w hich had not been rradHand tl" f a counter Report would be prsratrd. : He excused himaelf for not making ' his promiaed motion that the Senate inN ihe consideration of Executive bsy T sinesa. whirh he hail intemiril to Biak'a f but f.r the interruptiuir caused by ii' f resiling of this Ropqrt, which h.tt it out of hispo"erL The SesK tt"L atyourned J t J tt r U
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 5, 1835, edition 1
2
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