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Editorial
January 15, 1834
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes Postmaster General Barry for borrowing $400,000 without congressional authorization, questioning its constitutionality, calling for impeachment, congressional inquiry, and scrutiny of the President and Post Office Department finances.
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MR. BARRY AND HIS LOANS.
The 2nd clause of the 8th section of the 1st article of the Constitution gives to Congress the power "to borrow money on the credit of the United States;" but as they have passed no law authorizing the Post Master General, as their agent, to borrow the $400,000, which he states he has obtained on loan—has he not violated the Constitution, and is he not, therefore, liable to impeachment?
As there is no mention made in his annual report of the receipt or disbursement of these $400,000, and as that report should contain all the operations of his department, and show all his receipts and disbursements, from whatever source derivable, is not such suppression of fact and truth, sufficient cause to institute an inquiry by Congress?
Is it not the duty of the President to recommend to Congress an immediate and rigid scrutiny into all the affairs of the Post Office Department?
If the Post Master General borrowed this enormous sum without the knowledge and approbation of the President, has he not, in so doing, worked a constitutional forfeiture of office?
If he borrowed it with the approbation and consent of the President, has not that high officer, by such connivance at a violation of law and duty by a subordinate, subjected himself to impeachment?
The Post Master General is bound by the act of March 2nd, 1799, to "once in three months render to the Secretary of the Treasury a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said department, to be adjusted and settled as other public accounts." Has he done so? If he has so settled, has he included the before mentioned loans; and, if so, why conceal them from Congress until they were extorted from him by the "searching operation" of the Senate's resolution?—Balt. Chron.
The 2nd clause of the 8th section of the 1st article of the Constitution gives to Congress the power "to borrow money on the credit of the United States;" but as they have passed no law authorizing the Post Master General, as their agent, to borrow the $400,000, which he states he has obtained on loan—has he not violated the Constitution, and is he not, therefore, liable to impeachment?
As there is no mention made in his annual report of the receipt or disbursement of these $400,000, and as that report should contain all the operations of his department, and show all his receipts and disbursements, from whatever source derivable, is not such suppression of fact and truth, sufficient cause to institute an inquiry by Congress?
Is it not the duty of the President to recommend to Congress an immediate and rigid scrutiny into all the affairs of the Post Office Department?
If the Post Master General borrowed this enormous sum without the knowledge and approbation of the President, has he not, in so doing, worked a constitutional forfeiture of office?
If he borrowed it with the approbation and consent of the President, has not that high officer, by such connivance at a violation of law and duty by a subordinate, subjected himself to impeachment?
The Post Master General is bound by the act of March 2nd, 1799, to "once in three months render to the Secretary of the Treasury a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said department, to be adjusted and settled as other public accounts." Has he done so? If he has so settled, has he included the before mentioned loans; and, if so, why conceal them from Congress until they were extorted from him by the "searching operation" of the Senate's resolution?—Balt. Chron.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Postmaster General
Barry Loans
Constitution Violation
Impeachment
Post Office Department
Congressional Inquiry
Presidential Duty
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Barry
Post Master General
President
Congress
Senate
Secretary Of The Treasury
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Postmaster General Barry's Unauthorized Loans
Stance / Tone
Critical And Questioning, Advocating For Impeachment And Inquiry
Key Figures
Mr. Barry
Post Master General
President
Congress
Senate
Secretary Of The Treasury
Key Arguments
Congress Has Sole Power To Borrow Money, No Law Authorizes Post Master General To Borrow $400,000
Borrowing Without Authorization Violates Constitution, Liable To Impeachment
Annual Report Suppresses Mention Of $400,000, Warrants Congressional Inquiry
President Should Recommend Scrutiny Of Post Office Department
Borrowing Without President's Knowledge Causes Forfeiture Of Office
Borrowing With President's Consent Subjects President To Impeachment
Post Master General Failed To Include Loans In Quarterly Accounts To Treasury
Loans Concealed From Congress Until Senate Resolution