Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-27

them papers were very irregularIy received from
tins Post Office, that is part at night and part ir
me morning-but since the appearance of tia,
piece, we have, except in one solitary instance
received al orr northern papers at night And
the public VIII be induced 20 infer, that this flu
tile piece, has benefited other Editors besides our
selves (See Mr. Girardin's certificate, CO..
The Post Master says "we only meHtioned two
peccadshos IN Our paper of the 9th, and took en-
tire new ground on the 10Th" In the Argus OF
the 9th we complained that our papers were not
delivered to US as they ought to have been; this
was private Injury, because ,by the irregular.
delivery oil our northern papers, We were in seve-
rdinsances prevented from Vi wing the latest in.
formation to our subscrbers---ia the Argus oftle
10th we preferred against him FIVE specific char
ges, which, were public wrongs It would have
been entirely superfiuous for us to incorporate
the complaint Of the 9th with the charges pre-
ferred on the 10th. because, as we have SAID be-
fore, that complaint was remedied. And now we
will ask the Post Master, whether he did not
threaten us twice in the short space of an hour,
with prosecution for a libel, because we dared
to say that the Petersburg article was well writ
ten, and because we dared TO complain of the ir-
res uiar delivery Of our papers 7? Did the Posi-
Master suppose We we're TO be deferred, by his
threat OF prosecution, from examining his public
conduct as the Post Easter of Richmond After
he had stated TO US, that it was his positive or
ders that the papers and letters should be deli
yered out every night, we should not in all pro.
liability, have given our charges place in our
paper, though we would have sent them on TO
the Postmaster General; vet deelnine onfpfess
20 be free, and not being apprehensiye that its
liberty, at least whilst under our superintendance,
VIII degenerate into licentiousness; with the
threatened prosecution hanging over us, we not
only vent'ired TO transmit our charges through
friend. to b. Pnct.Nfactar l,,if
those charges place in orr paper. We trust we
have satisfactorily accounted to the Post-Master
for twice shifting our ground.
The Post Master does not recollect what our
propositions were, or whether we made any--IS
his memory be not treacherous orif lie were not
In too violent passion to listen, we viii again
state to him what we did ON The 9th.-When he
mentioned it was his positive orders that the pa
pers and letters should be delivered out regular
ly every night, we informed him that the propo-
sitlons we proposed making TO hun, were 1st
that the papers and letters should be GHdeliyer-
Ell ut night to all The printers, or 2nd. that they
should not be delivered TO any, it was inmaterial
to us which of the two was adopted, provided
that winch ever was adop ed should be rigidly ad-
hered to-.
AS to Mr.. Fulton's certificate against us--yVe
calculated upon seeing that gentleman in the
course of yesterday. We shall IN, a very short
11---N' " hiS PuDi4C Hiiab VIC trust, Will De
unsatisfactory explanation ofour conduct, & com
Pieteiy rebut the charge of Inconsistency.
We have now performed painful, but necessa-
ry task, and inperforining it, we have been actu
e'i by no personal spleen or enInity- we have
re-ecnoed the public voice we have complained
because society Offered, because we suffered
ourselves. The Post-M' er has introduced in
as appeal, principles which we deem sIt6yersiye
OF the spirit if not % the letter of our admir-. b
ia ftlcf fttfs, a n .
u IS immaterial for the people whether the d,I.
aes OF an Office established for their convenience
oe-dscharged by the incumbent himself or bv
Others IN MS steId- lie has ayaed himself Of
NE very natural and very Just respect of society
I9or grey-headed patriots and nfiI1n veterans and
nsinnated that offices oftrust and pcoft ought to
De teiP exclusive rsusarris--tircreby ,,e,vrt.
the original design and ends of such Offices Il,
gam, he has attempted to ensure delinquents
dangerous impunity by srraigning the motives of
every INDIVIDUAL, wilo possessing steady attach
ment to fundamental principles, has energy
enough TO standrup as their accuser. We know
We respect the rights of the people; and
SO tar as our Efforts viii CO. we are resolved
to maintain them nviolate. To Snecures to
neglect Of official duty, we are decidedly oppos-
ed In short, weare Republicans We behold
with regret, some ofthe wees which peryade, the
old, crazy AID decrepid European monarchies
msenslbly creeping INTO the yitals of our ST a
youthful and vigorous body poiitc-and threat
enng oproduce an lncurab!e,a deadly eangrene
P'ancipiis o5sta ms good old maxim we
would fam observe. We wish to preserve IN
their original slmPi city and purity the institute
ons Of our forefathers-these institutions which
made the general sood the primary object of go
vernment, and Of all the Offices eman4ting from
government Such are the motives by which We
are nflIenced-.fthese motive be wrong. let the
pubic voice pass upon Us a sentence ofreproba-
aon.