Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-23

spring OF ill-humOur, of ffetful impotence, OF
imaginary wrongs And, WIS it aimed Mt this
Post-OHice, or was il not ? Let an impartial pub
lie answer the question
The Post-Master, in the next place, still cling
ing to vague, indefinite, unneaning defamation,
impeaehes he motives ofhis assa.lants Here he
forgets the old maxim that d" to prove too much
IS to prove nothng" The motives of an indvi-
dual who accuses another, NAV have pure or an
impure source. They may originate in patriot
ism or in selfish objects, or in both Of this, He
alone is The proper judge who reads i'm the IN.
most recesses of the human heart tits not IN the
motives of the accuser, but in the truth of the
accusation, that society is concerned. 1t is de-
slrable for deinluents to avert the public eye
from real detormites in their own conduct to ina
glnaiy turpltude in their opponents. But the
straagem is stale--it is too obvious to be sue
cessful-the people viii naturally attend to reali-
ties, and laugh At suppostions. They well know
that every offender, great or small, is permitted
to plead Not Gniiiv.
Tie Post N2ster then says /" that the charges
(ailudhg we presume to ours) are conceived in
spirit OF asperty and urged with cOarseness of
expression, neither warranted BY the occasion or
b. facts" We appe to the public whether our
Charges were not lad before them IN a calm dis
passionate manner, and whether they were not
cnuched IN decorous language The Post. Mas
ter has answered them-but how II he dem
ed them' No-he csnnot-He well knows that
our Charges rest upon a firmer bas" than upon
euher rumour, opinion or inference" But this
VIII, be touched upon in our next paper.
The Postmaster is angry with us for calling
ms ONCE a Sf'iecue On this subject tits unne-
cessary TO eXpatate-we are ready TO prove that
Tor early seven months he was not present at
the opening or closing Of single maij--rhis is
an important part of his duty, and the S 400 per
quar- ems no little proof of the fact
Ihe Posi-Master asks whether " there is not
some marshall or collector, or clerk, or commas
sioner OF he land-oIice in the United Sta es who
performs has duties to the public by deputy"-
Weanswer hat proper distinction must be made
between offices; some are div sible and certain
duties thereof may be delegated still, there are
functions TO be performed by the incumbent HIM
self, which can be done only by him We con-
tess that too many abuses ex st IN that respect
and we hope that the hand of politcaI reform
Will ere long prune every fungus, every noxious
eAcrescence, which If not checked in time will
undermine the foundation of our political as well
| as moral ns buttons
Tie FoSt-Mas'er asks, in tone of triumph,
whether It is material to the public, by whom
the Post-Oiice is conducte provided IT'S dut es
De Wei executed &c q THIS last part is hedr-
| ed in, TO prevent the people from etecting the
sophstry which pervades, not only thus part, but.
| III fact, the whole of his appeal. The far que :
ton rs, whether man shall enjoy a yearly STU
J pend from the Government, who does nothing.
tor IT Cat least did not for nearly seven months
| previous to the Is n December 1857 EXCEPT
| signing his name 10 the ccounts and perhaps, be
at the ONCE at shearing time : as 10 his respon-
slbility, what IS it he has gwen bond and sccl-
rlty to Inc government for the faithful perfor.
nance OF has duty rs Post MISTER, and therefore
II malteasance IN office be detected, his bond IS
| put in SUIT. But the Post-Maste has required
| OF Mr.. Lundy, TO whom in act the Office has
been tarmed, a bond with two good suretes, in
| Tie sum OF SIX Thousand dollars; % that If an
| lmpfop ETY. be Committed in the office whist MIR
L'u'dy farms II, tie Post-M ster's bond is sued.
VINO sues ON MIR Lundy's bond, and thus the su Is
proceed P'nT PasSu Taus, 1t appears, the Post.
Masters responsibility IS merely nominal Be.
sides, the Post Masters doctrine is monstrous
! and absurd-lt tends to infect our youthful and
wig Pous body polite with the gangrene that per-
vades the old European governments, where Ger.
tam individuals toll, whilst drones reap the bene-
II, OF their labor. Offices here, must be efficient
They must be gwen 10 meritorIous and active
lndYiduals-In SNORT, they are created for the
convenience ofthe people at large, and such due.
| trlne as tnat he'd forth by The Post Mister is
totally Incompatible with the public good
| We pass to subject Of vitd mpo lance The
| Pos,-AIts er M .Intans anOpimon VIII .ch we deem
PoiIt cal heresy ofthe most pernc Gus tendency.
! He Considers Offices of honor trust and DR. ia
! merely or at least chiefly as rewards reserved
TOR grey headed Patriots and affirm veterans.
Ila' those esIlmiOle and praseworthy charac
! ters ace en- led 90 the wrmes, gratitude OF tner
/ fellow citizens, we have .Iways felt proud 10
acknowledge. 10 them the hberal,ty of The 90
/ vernment ought to be extended, bus ony IA such
! manner as not TO interfere with the public CON
venence. Government implies ac,lon-it is an
active and Complex machine, whose parts mus
| ali possess elasticity, strength and symmetry.
! Admit the idea Of tie POST Master and the whole
| becomes a piece ofcrazy machinery whose move.
ments VIII be irregular and destitute of efficacy.
, Lei hO c vino have devoted the prime OF their
lives TO the service OF their country receive n
/ they require 1t, IN direct manner from Their po.
Vernment, those rewards to win ch they are lust
| ly entitied-but let not this wre(ched system OF
| remuneration be pursued, which, whilst It expo.
seS TIE people TO ndmberless inconvenience Will
| eventually draW upon hose worthy characters
| bitter reproach for the want Of those physical
| energies winch their years deny them Ii IS a
/ general primo pie that the means must be adopted
| to tie cad, aud therefore, especially ~ a Repub.
| lean government, the individual must be nj, ed
for the Office aud not the office for the md " d a
! The Post-Mast er may consider this A. an " old
saw"-but experience every day .eacnes us that
"Oid Saws" constitute nine tentns Ut the code
of human reason.
But it places are thus to become the reward Of
! merllorous ParO :, and OF infirm veterans from
i whence are rvedour POst-rnassa. lie, whence
/ are his bOasted CLAIMS ln what batLe ba, lac
| fought d bed what Legislative or executive
! services OF importance has I've rendered I'D b,s
| country we confess our tOtai ignorance ,r ana.