[SENATE.

Let the people be put in possession of the facts, and I have the most perfect confidence that they will make the true deduction. Holding, as I do, that the matters of fact disclosed in the report of the majority, and not denied by the paper of the minority-not denied in the speeches of the minority; holding that these matters of undisputed fact are not only important, but of the gravest moment to the whole people of the United States and to the character of our institutions, I, for one, am desirous that the people should be put in possession of that information.

As to the other point, Can this be efficiently accomplished by other means? It is said that the newspapers will distribute these reports throughout the whole country. If that were the fact, unfortunately it so happens, that the newspapers on the one side and the other on the political questions of the day, are so directly opposed in other statements of facts, as well as of arguments and inferences, that one class of persons disbelieve almost every thing contained in the papers supported by their opponents. And hence it often happens, that the documents contained in a paper will not be credited by those who do

Mr. EWING. As to the remarks of the honorable Senator from Kentucky, [Mr. BIBB,] they have, in my opinion, much justice in them. The Postmaster General cannot be holden guiltless of any wrong which has been done in that Department; nevertheless, I incline to the opinion that he has been the passive, rather than the active, in- not believe in its political sentiments. strument of the mischief. Ile has, of course, found In illustration of this, I would remark, that I have actuenough to solicit him, and he has yielded easily to solicit-ally been written to by some of my political friends, to ations; and I have no doubt he has had those about him ask me to send them the official paper, published at who have constantly imposed upon him, as to the true Washington, containing the President's protest, because condition of the Department. the friends of the administration could not be convinced that such a document had emanated from the Chief Magistrate, and they would not believe it. I tried to get them the Globe, but unfortunately the 40,000 copies which are said to have been printed, had disappeared, and I could not obtain it. If it had been proper to record that upon our Journal, I would gladly have voted for the printing of 30,000, in order to have convinced the people that it was an official paper, and sent to us by the President.

Mr. KNIGHT said: The remarks of the Senator from Ohio seemed to preclude all other remedies. This was one remedy proposed by the committee, but it did not preclude other remedies being offered. Should a better remedy be presented, I should feel myself at liberty to adopt it. I believe a better remedy may be provided. Mr. CLAYTON said, that on a future occasion, he should move an amendment to the bill reported by the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, so as to embrace his opinions as to this matter. There were many Now, I am afraid that some will disbelieve that the clauses which he thought ought to be inserted, and con- President ever arrogated such powers as are asserted in cerning which he should speak when the subject should the protest. I am anxious that the Post Office report be taken up, and he believed there would be no party di- should go in such a form, being an official document from vision on the subject. the Senate, as to convince the people, universally, that Mr. SPRAGUE said: At this late hour of the day, I do it is genuine, and that such a report has been made by a not intend to say a word, except as to the precise ques-committee of this body. I wish them also to be put in tion before the Senate, that is, the number of copies there possession of the evidence thereto annexed; and I know shall be printed. The number proposed is certainly of no better way than publishing a large number for dislarge, and opposition has been made to it on two grounds: tribution. But it will not be universally published by the First, that the matter is not of sufficient importance; and, newspapers; there would be much difficulty in getting it second, that the distribution will be effected by other into the newspapers generally. Many of those which are printed in the country could not contain it.

means.

I shall vote for the number proposed, believing it to be a useful, and, in fact, economical expenditure, as it will tend to the correction of most enormous and unprecedented squandering of the public treasure.

It is said by some, that it is not of sufficient moment to justify us in ordering so large a number to be printed, And one of the reasons assigned by the gentleman from Georgia, is that which tends to throw the whole matter into doubt, because there are two reports-a report and Mr. MÄNGUM said that, it being on his motion that the the counter-statement of the minority; and it is suggested printing of this extraordinary number of copies of the rein a manner which might carry the idea that every thing ports and documents had been proposed, he thought it contained in the report of the majority is denied by the necessary for him to make some few remarks on the subreport of the minority, and hence uncertainty may exist as ject. He was very much gratified that the friends of the to the whole. I do not so understand it. I learn from administration were not unwilling that this number should the reading of these reports, that the difference between the two, consists in matters of argument and inference, and very little as to matters of fact.

be printed, because of having the slightest apprehensions of injury to their cause. He was also gratified to find that the only objection to have them printed, was, because Sir, as to most of the matters of fact, I am sure that the it would involve an extravagant waste of public money. intelligent gentlemen composing the committee, of the Though glad to harmonize with gentlemen in any thing majority and minority, could not differ, because they are that will tend to save the public money from waste, yet matters of record; and any man who can read, can, by he regarded the circulation of these documents as so imthe inspection of those records, determine what the con-portant, that he would be willing to print 50,000 copies tents are. I say, upon listening to those two papers, I of them. What had this administration chiefly rested on? do not understand, that, as to the leading, prominent facts, It was on economy, reform-and, above all, on their puriwith a few exceptions, there is any material difference ty. Sir, said he, we have had, for six months, an incesbetween them. The difference in the views which they sant war waged against the Monster at Philadelphia-the take of the argument, and the inferences which they de- Bank. Was this because the friends of the administration duce from it, is comparatively of little importance. believed that such an institution was not necessary for the

VOL. X-125

SENATE.]

Reports on the Post Office.

[JUNE 11, 1834.

purposes of the Government? On the contrary, the ad- Perhaps the head of the Post Office Department is less ministration and its friends believed that some such insti- censurable than the President, and yet may be made the tution was necessary. The war, therefore, was waged scape-goat. But let the documents go out to the people— because of its alleged corruptions and impurities. He they are intelligent-have been accustomed to serve on should be glad to find that they were as ready to stop juries, and will render a true verdict according to the evithese corruptions elsewhere as in the bank. As to any dence. The honorable gentleman from Georgia had been corruptions existing in that institution, he would be will-voting all the winter for extra printing, and the question ing, at any time, to join in ferreting them out. As he with him now is, not as to the propriety of the printing, would not join in unfounded invectives against the bank, but as to the number of copies. He, Mr. M., should vote he would always be ready to give to the charges against for the printing of the largest number, because he was it the fullest investigation. He believed in his heart that convinced of the importance of disseminating the informathere was more abuse and more corruption in this admin- tion as widely as possible. Let the people be informed istration than there ever has existed in any other period that the whole force of the administration was employed of the Government, and he was anxious, therefore, to give in electioneering. His State (North Carolina) was conthe evidence to his constituents on which his mind had sidered debatable ground, and the administration had been brought to this conclusion. Sir, what was the sit-set the whole of their engines at work to gain it. He did nation of this Post Office Department previous to the not know what would be the result of the contest, but he present administration? It was in a prosperous condition, believed the safest plan would be to let the information with increasing routes and increasing facilities of commu- go abroad, and to let the people decide for themselves. nication between different parts of the country; it was sus- Mr. SHEPLEY said that he only rose to notice one of taining itself from its own resources, and was flourishing, the reasons which had been given for printing so large a up to December last, in the highest degree. What was number. It had been stated that none of the administraits condition now? Insolvent to the amount of $800,000, tion papers in the State of Maine would publish matters and the evidence was conclusive, that corruption had pen- which were opposed to their own views. He could give etrated through all its recesses. In the administration of abundant proof that this statement was not deserving of the former Postmaster General, when mail facilities were credit. It was altogether an error to say that the protest afforded to an unexampled degree, far beyond what they of the President was not believed, in the State of Maine, are now, yet the Department was remarkable for its to have really emanated from the President, because it punctuality and the strength of its resources; now it was was only published in the newspapers of the opposition, wholly bankrupt. His great object, therefore, was to and not in the administration papers. He had read all make these facts known to those most interested. When the administration papers, and had seen the protest puban objection was made to the expense of printing this lished there; and if there was any one of the administraextra number of the reports, and he compared that ob- tion papers in the State which had not published it, he jection with the defences he heard of those extra allow-would like to be informed as to the name of that paper. ances of the Department, he turned a dull ear to such The papers in Maine had always published the official objections. We have fallen, said Mr. M., on strange documents of the Government, on both sides, with a sintimes, when we hear gentlemen on this floor defending gle exception, and that was, when some of the newspapers such extravagant and unlawful waste of the public money opposed to the administration never could be persuaded as those extra allowances amount to. To hear an honor or driven into the publication of the message which conable gentleman, who has heretofore been regarded as an tained the veto of the United States Bank bill. They advocate for strict economy, defending these abuses, was had been requested to do so, and pressed and talked to, one of the most alarming signs of the times, and showed and jeered at, to compel them to publish that document, the startling fact, that the hero not only conquers his ene-but it was all without effect. On all other occasions, he mies, but conquers his friends. was willing to give credit to the papers for a general He had understood that 40,000 copies of the President's publication of matters of this kind. protest had been printed and distributed. Was it not as Mr. BROWN said, that, far advanced as the session was, important for the people to know of these great abuses in and precious as was their time, yet nevertheless he could the Post Office Department, as it was to know that the not let the present opportunity pass without noticing some President had been insulted by the Senate for placing his of the remarks which had fallen from his honorable colhands on the public treasury? Was it to be expected, as league, in regard to the question now before the Senate. contended by the gentleman from Georgia, that all these The honorable Senator had observed that North Carolina documents will be read in the public newspapers? They would not publish the documents. They would publish only the reports, and those in detached parts. He, for his part, did not wish this important information to be given to the people in broken doses. He wished it to be given to them in volumes, for the purpose of reference. They will then be able to estimate the amount of the abuses practised under a corrupt administration-they will then be able to estimate the gigantic influences which have been at work for electioneering purposes. He was willing to send all the documents to the people-to send the bane with the antidote-to send the document of the able chairman of the committee, [Mr. GRUNDY,] with the report of the majority.

was now debatable ground, and that the administration was doing every thing to carry its purposes into effect. Now, the inference to be drawn from this was, that it was making use of its official patronage to carry its point. It might be that efforts of the kind were making by the administration, but if so, they were entirely unknown to him, (Mr. B.) and, indeed, he could not believe that any such efforts were making for any purpose of the kind. If they really were making these efforts, then he emphatically called for the proof, and unless it was shown, he should consider the charge unfounded. But, on the contrary, however, the most industrious efforts were making on the part of the opposition party, with a view to prostrate the friends of the administration, and to carry Mr. M. said he knew not how the censure of the pub-in triumph the cause of the opposition. He did not make lic was to be distributed among the different officers of the assertion lightly and without facts. He had been inthe Department, or whether the President, who claims formed that the speeches of members in favor of the all responsibility for himself, is to take the whole blame. bank, and which were printed, as was believed, by order He knew not whether, if his popularity was as unbroken of that institution, had been sent to the State of North as it was when the proclamation overshadowed the land, Carolina in such quantities as literally tó inundate it. it would bear him out in sanctioning these abuses. Per-He had received information, to that effect, from most haps his popularity was not as great now as it was then. indubitable sources. And he was authorized to say in

JUNE 11, 1834.]

Reports on the Post Office.

[SENATE.

his place here, by a member of the other House, who in all its troubles-then what, he (Mr. B.) would ask, represents the State of North Carolina, that he was offer- would be the inference? Let honorable Senators opposed ed a very large quantity by a certain press in this city, to the bank, adopt the rule which those favorable to it without being charged one cent for them. Now this acted upon-then how would it operate in that case? practice had been resorted to with a view to operate on That he would leave honorable gentlemen to determine. public opinion, and to break down the administration by He would not make the application himself. calumnies and falsehoods.

Не

With respect to the Post Office Department, he would His colleague had said that war had been made on the say that he was not the advocate of abuse there, or in "monster" for the last five or six months by the friends any other department of the Government. Now, honof the administration. If that had been the case, the orable gentlemen on the other side, pursuing the course monster, with its gigantic powers, had resisted the war, of conduct which they did, and when they talked about backed and sustained as it was by a coalesced party here. economy, did not speak in their vernacular tongue. What had been done? The committee which was sent would appeal to the Journals of the Senate, to its records, to Philadelphia to make investigation into the unexam- to show the contrary. There it would be seen who had pled corruption, which there was every reason to believe occasioned the extravagant expenditures that had been existed, had been driven back by it; while the Post Office made. Who had been the means of increasing the exconcerns, as they always should be, were thrown open to penses of the Government? Why, the opposition-those public view, and all its transactions were bared to the pub- who had upheld the tariff system, contributed_to_pass lic eye. We were informed, one or two weeks before the the pension law, which has been the cause of adding return of the committee from Philadelphia, by a press greatly to the expenses of the Government. Who had devoted to the cause of the bank, published in this city, contributed to pass every bill in relation to internal imthat members of Congress need have no apprehension provements, and making the most extravagant approthat their correspondence would be exposed-that he priations? He well recollected, when the President, in (the editor) had no doubt that the institution would take 1830, thought it his constitutional duty to step forward care to keep in secrecy that which ought not to be ex-and interpose his veto to the extravagant and corrupt hibited. Now, the friends of the administration were system going on, and put his veto on the bill making an desirous that the doors of every department of the Gov-appropriation for the Maysville road, the denunciations ernment should be thrown open, and that the strictest that came from the opposition party. It was called the scrutiny should be made into their affairs; but he (Mr. New York policy; and it was said that the Executive had B.) had been astonished, surprised, and felt the greatest adopted the Virginia rule of construction. And now honindignation, that members should get up here and vindi- orable Senators reproached him for his extravagance. cate the bank, while they, at the same time, talked about The Journals of the Senate, however, would show several corruption in regard to the Post Office Department, about bills granting large sums of the public money away, but an investigation, and of disseminating information. If which were either vetoed or retained by the President, they were enemies and the adversaries of corruption-if and thus were prevented from passing. And yet those they wished to give light to the public as to the affairs of honorable gentlemen were now denouncing him for his that institution-why should they not set an example in extravagant administration! He (Mr. B.) believed that the case of the bank, by having its doors thrown open to there was not a bill passed granting money, but what the an investigation? Why were they not for disseminating opposition party had the most material agency in passing light on that subject? Instead of doing that, honorable it. The Executive branch of the Government was not to gentlemen were ready to defend its course, and all its blame; he did not deserve the censure which had been sinuosities, no matter what they might be. And yet they cast upon him. When he had used the veto power to talked about corruption, and of disseminating light among the people, when they were advocating a course which was sustaining corruption, and calculated to shun inquiry and investigation.

Mr. B. had heard the honorable Senator from Ohio say, on that floor, that the very fact of the Postmaster General having negotiated a loan for $1,000, or some small amount of that kind, was, to his [Mr. EwING's] mind, conclusive evidence of corruption.

Mr. EWING. I made no remark of the kind: I merely said that such a negotiation had taken place.

Mr. BROWN resumed. He understood the honorable Senator to use the expression he (Mr. B.) had just named. If he did not intend`any imputation on the character of the Postmaster General

arrest extravagance, he was abused; and when an extravagant law had been passed, he was likewise abused.

The Senate had not evinced much economy by ordering so many books, &c. for their use. Honorable gentlemen ought, therefore, to show a little charity to others; and a regard for truth required that they should take some responsibility upon themselves.

He

As regarded the Post Office establishment, he did not defend it. He belonged to that old school of politicians who were denounced some years since as radicals. well recollected that gentlemen of a certain political school in 1823-4, denounced as radicals those who were for bringing the constitution within strict limits and retrenching the expenses of the Government.

Mr. CALHOUN. I wish to know to what party the gentleman refers.

Mr. CALHOUN. The honorable Senator is entirely wrong.

Mr. EWING. I shall not say what I meant; so that the gentleman may make what he pleases of my intention. Mr. BROWN. I believe it is that party to which the Mr. BROWN proceeded. He should certainly not in-honorable gentleman from South Carolina belongs. sist on placing the gentleman on the confessional as to what he meant. But the fact had been stated by the honorable gentleman yesterday, and had since been reiterated Mr. BROWN continued. I did not make any direct by him, that there had been a little pecuniary transaction reference, until called upon to do so. He (Mr. B.) well of $1,000 between the Postmaster General and a con- remembered that the term “radical” was applied, by the tractor. He (Mr. B.) had no doubt of the expression, political friends of the honorable Senator, as an epithet and, as he understood the honorable Senator, he seemed of reproach, to those who were at that time endeavoring to cast a reflection on the moral character of the Post- to reduce the patronage of the Government. He (Mr. master General. Now, let the rule be applied elsewhere. B.) had a distinct recollection, that, when the extravaSupposing an individual, or individuals, having large pe- gant system of fortifications was upheld, the party opcuniary transactions with the bank, and being members posed to it were designated "radicals," and it was a of either House of Congress, having advocated the bank system which absorbed, uselessly, millions of the public through good and bad report, and having sustained it money. The system of internal improvement, too, was

SENATE.]

Reports on the Post Office.

[JUNE 11, 1834.

advocated at that period by those in power, but the party ber of the reports to be printed, he did not believe opposed to it were denounced as radicals. it would at all conduce to the public interests, and He was strongly disposed to correct any abuses which should therefore vote against printing more than the might have crept into the Post Office Department, and usual number. to introduce a system of economy and retrenchment. He Mr. SPRAGUE observed, that he had to return his doubted not that there had been mismanagement, but it thanks to the honorable Senator from North Carolina, ought to be remembered that it was in part caused by [Mr. BROWN,] for defending his (Mr. S.'s) constituents Congress itself, by having established, from time to time, against a supposed attack made by him on their intellia number of new routes. Where, then, was that spirit of gence. He had no doubt they would return the honoreconomy of which the opposition party boasted? Let able gentleman their thanks, for interposing his ample honorable Senators recollect the importunity the Post-shield between them and their representative. The master General had undergone, on all sides, to extend honorable gentleman, however, would do well to underthe facilities of the Post Office Department. He had stand the facts before he volunteers in their cause. He been importuned, not only by the people, but by members (Mr. S.) did not say that the people of Maine did not of Congress, who, after having obtained what they re- know whether the protest of the President, as publishquested, now came forward and denounced him for ma-ed in the papers, was genuine or not. He said he had king extra allowances! Yes, it had been said that he had been written to by one or two individuals, requesting granted extra allowances to favorites; but how had it him to send a copy of the official paper, that they turned out? Why, that some of them had been made to might convince some of the incredulous that such a opposition men. Well, then, he could not have given document did emanate from the President of the Unithem for political purposes. ted States.

[Mr. Brows explained.]

In regard to the loaus of money, which it was said the Postmaster General had obtained, the practice was cer Mr. SPRAGUE Continued. The language of the honortainly indefensible. It was contrary to law and the prin- able gentleman was, that the people of Maine had been ciples of economy which the administration ought to charged with want of intelligence to understand that the carry out. He (Mr. B.) pledged himself to go as far as protest was an official paper. Did the honorable gentlehis honorable colleague, or any other honorable member, man, if this was not his meaning, think it necessary for in the correction of any abuses that may exist in the De-him to come all the way from North Carolina, to defend partment, but he could not sit still and hear such sweep-some two individuals in Maine against the imputation ing denunciations made, without making some reply, for of not knowing that the President's document was genthe purpose of reminding the opposition party what had uine?

been their course formerly. Doubtless, as he had said While up, Mr. S. said he would take notice of some before, there had been mismanagement in the adminis- of the remarks of the honorable gentleman, in return for tration of the Post Office Department, but, in his opinion, the kindness he had shown in volunteering for the deit was greatly exaggerated. Much had been said con- fence of the people of Maine. The honorable gentleman cerning the two reports on the subject. The report of gives his reasons why he will not vote for the printing, the majority was greatly relied upon, and he was incli- and he does it by assailing the report of the majority of ned to pay proper respect to it. It was certainly conceiv- the committee. He says that they first adjudged the ed in a very kind spirit; there was no sort of passion cause, and then gave the evidence. That is, the commitmanifested in it at all: none. They began by condemn- tee, after considering for four months, drew their concluing without bringing proofsions from the evidence before them, and then recapituMr. CLAYTON. Will the gentleman name the cases? lates that evidence, which is just as if a judge should say, Mr. BROWN. The report, he believed, abounded in "I think from the evidence that the plaintiff is entitled instances of that character. It commenced with a deci- to recover;" and then state the evidence at large, instead ded censure, and the proofs were afterwards given. It of stating the evidence first, and pronouncing his opinion was like beginning at the end, and ending at the begin-afterwards. But where was the gentleman's evidence, ning. The mild and moderate manner in which the gen- before he ventured on his condemnation of the committleman from Ohio spoke, he thought, must have stricken tee? May not this committee, from the evidence before the minds of almost every individual here. He (Mr. B.) them, and after a long examination, make up their opin should not vote for 30,000, because he did not see any ions, state them, and then give the evidence on which thing in the report, or the circumstances connected with they were founded, without being charged with having it, which entitled it to precedence over every other doc-prejudged the case? But we have in the gentleman's ument. What, he asked, was the practice of the Senate speech a topic which, at all times and under all circumin regard to the President's message? So far as he was stances, is to answer all charges against the administrainformed, there were never more than 6,000 copies print- tion, and to shield all its corruptions from investigation. ed. One of the most important reports which had been It is the monster the bank. The moment you attempt to made to the Senate, was presented by the gentleman from look into any irregularities in any department, the cry is, Massachusetts, and related to the removal of the depos-"The bank! the bank!" Mr. S. would like to know how ites, and of that there were but 6,000 copies printed. He any supposed corruption in the bank is to show that the was not aware of any report, no matter how important, Post Office Department has not violated the laws. He of which there had been ordered more than 6,000. Why, should like to see the logical deductions from such a posithen, was there such great solicitude in regard to this re-tion; he should like to see the links of the chain by which port? He had no doubt, if the motion to print 30,000 the gentleman would connect his conclusions with the ascopies should prevail, they would not be in the possession sumption. But the gentleman admits that the conduct of the members of Congress until next fall. There was of the Department is indefensible; that its borrowing of a fact within his own knowledge, and that was, that after money was without the authority of law, and in violation the rise of this body last year, some documents which of the constitution. Well, if this be so, how is it that the had been ordered to be printed before the adjournment, committee should be charged with having prejudged the were not received by himself until September or Octo-case?

ber, and probably such would be the case with respect to The gentleman says there have been great and lavish these reports. expenditures of the public money, and charges them on Mr. B. said, in conclusion, that, although the public the opposition to the administration. What, sir! The printer might be benefited by ordering so large a num-minority in the Government to be charged with the public

expenditures? Is the minority, the weaker party, to bear the blame of the acts of those who hold the power of the Government? Are those who have no power to do any thing, to be charged with doing every thing?

[SENATE.

ry section and corner of the country. He found, by a very simple calculation, that, in case this large number should be printed, he should be entitled to from 600 to 625 copies, and he felt sure that he could not send to his He did not intend to go so far into this debate, and he State a single one of those copies until they would be fahad said more than he intended when he first rose. He miliar to every person to whom he might send, by an earwould conclude, however, with making one more re- liar copy furnished through the newspapers. Instead, mark. His colleague [Mr. SHEPLEY] had said that the therefore, of communicating information to his constitu opposition papers in Maine did not quote the public doc-ents, he should communicate dead and useless mattter, uments truly, and that those papers in favor of the admin- except to those who might be in the habit of preserving istration did. Now, he did not understand how that could and binding up documents of this important character, be. For himself, he had been under a different impres- furnished to them in a form susceptible of that disposition. sion. He did not, however, refer to any unfairness on Entertaining these impressions, he was compelled to think the part of the papers on the other side. But he did say, that the expense would be a useless and injudicious exthat such was the difference in the politics of the two par-penditure of the public money, and therefore unjustifiaties in that State, that the one side did not believe the pa- ble. Mr. W. said he would most cheerfully vote for the pers of the other. printing of a number of these reports equal to the highest Mr. BROWN explained. The gentleman from Maine number of copies which it was the practice of the Senate considered my defence of his constituents inappropriate. to print of any document whatever. This number, he The gentleman had charged him with having introduced believed, was 6,000, and he could not believe that any the "monster" into the debate. Now, he (Mr. B.) had not thing in relation to these documents required that we the honor of introducing the monster. It was first intro- should tax the public treasury to print five times the highduced by the gentleman from New Jersey, and then by est number known to the Senate. his (Mr. B.'s) honorable colleague, [Mr. MANGUM.] The gentleman from Maine was correct in trying to escape from the monster to the Post Office, as he must be naturally anxious to get out of such bad company.

Mr. W. said he must notice another point which had been brought into the discussion by the honorable Senator from North Carolina, [Mr. MANGUM.] He alluded to the Bank of the United States, and to the effort of the Mr. WRIGHT said, it was upon his motion that the honorable gentleman to charge with inconsistency those yeas and nays were ordered upon the question of print- who supported the administration, in their conduct toing 30,000 copies of these reports. He would not still wards the bank and towards the Post Office Department. have troubled the Senate with any remarks upon the sub- How was the fact? It was not charged as a fact, either in ject, had not a private conversation of his been introdu- the reports, or in the debate, that the Post Office Departced into the debate, connected with other subjects and ment had expended money for political objects; but it with individuals, which compelled him to notice the ref- was said that suspicions were entertained that such expenerences made. But being thus called up, he felt bound ditures had been made. It was admitted by all, that the to say that he could not enter into the debate upon the bank bad, within the last four years, expended more than merits of the questions involved in the two reports, as he eighty thousand dollars, purely for political objects, and was not able, from the mere reading of documents of for the printing and distribution of speeches in Congress, the length of these reports at the Secretary's table, to and other political matter. Had the Senate taken any remember sufficiently their contents to debate them upon steps to investigate that expenditure? He was aware of their merits. He could not remember in what material none, other than the effort made upon the motion of the particulars those reports contradicted each other, and honorable Senator from Missouri, [Mr. BENTON,] at an wherein they corroborated each other. He could not early period of the session, and promptly rejected by the even say what were the material points in issue between vote of the body. Where, then, was the inconsistency the different members of the committee, and much less of the friends of the administration? The bank has made could he undertake to say, from his recollection of the political expenditures without investigation from the Senreading of those documents, what were the facts and ate, but an unsupported suspicion against the Post Office inferences of the two reports relative to those points. has called from this body a prompt investigation. Still, He had ever made it his practice to possess himself of the fact of political expenditures is not established, but the facts before he attempted to discuss the questions merely suspected, and the bank remains undisturbed with arising from those facts, because he had always believed the fact admitted. Again: the doors of the Post Office it was better parliamentary practice to understand the Department have not been shut against investigation; but facts, and then discuss the questions, than to discuss every call of our investigating committee has been the questions and then obtain an understanding of the promptly answered. All the facts called for have been facts. Thus much, Mr. W. said, he thought it his duty furnished, and no complaint is made of resistance to the to say in relation to the pending debate, which he un efforts of the committee. Can the honorable gentleman derstood to be upon the merits, or what gentlemen as- say this for the bank? Has it opened its doors to the comsumed to be the merits, of the questions involved in the mittees of Congress, and spread the truth before us? No, reports, while the reports were long, and had been sir, it has shut its doors and refused investigation. Shall merely read here and ordered to be printed. They we then be accused of inconsistency and partiality, bemust, therefore, have left the Senate chamber for the cause we oppose printing this extravagant number of printer's office two days ago, and must be now in the these reports. Mr. W. said, he must hope that the honhands of the printer. It ought to be expected that, in a orable Senator would abandon his charge of inconsistenday or two, we shall have copies of the reports printed cy and partiality, until he had gone as far in his efforts to and laid upon our tables, and when he could have time expose the abuses of the bank, as the friends of the adto examine them, he should be ready to enter into a ministration had gone in their willingness to expose and discussion of any questions which they might be found lay open to the public the whole affairs of the Post Office to involve. Department. He repeated, he would vote to print a

His objection to the printing of this unusual and ex-number of these reports equal to the highest number travagant number of copies of these reports, arose from known to the practice of the Senate; but he would not the fact that he was fully satisfied that before these extra vote to print five times that number, when he was satiscopies could be furnished by the printer to the Senate, fied the extra documents would be so late as to convey no the reports would go, through the public papers, to eve-valuable information to the public, which would not have