Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-10-02

- 80 icmar new di>ccant. Ue /
nanHtiatc'y accommodated with 5000
: ~ 5000. But the n.inor capitals. |!
,h $50 ar $4,000 and Il scouat Of $ or
900 nnds no .nercy. tie has no sreati
~ estate. He has overtra,,ed himself. |
= sat M BUSINESS tn sell to the ccuat,y. |
lie Keeps no balance. Ont with his note.
IN, Is the course pursued. defy tie
ark t. dcay it. They are. rs Mr.. Carey
isily observed, I" daily making the rich
ECKER, AID the poor rooser.n They arc
!cSir'ving that hsnpy equality Of wealth.
'siich has i,i!used SD much comfort and
"anpiprss aver thls city, aud ,.uded more
INA" ANY other cause IL promote cure mo-
raiity. CARO-.
Ff'0a ne CanandaiSua (s. ~ Messenger.
the eiitornf die Messenger has per
celved IN the public pa;iers notice from
he department. vi State, requesting those
hc.ding appointments under it 10 iriarm
tue Secretary of State whore they we're
bern, ~ order t., enable him to comply with
q resolution Gi congress. rs printer of
the iirws Of thc United States, the e,i;,sr
''!,'fo IS ne is,incIr,ied in the notice. lie
has Determined net to comriy With, and
nc d"es not knew that he can Better ex-
press His reasons fer. the efusal. than b,
publishing the answer % J. G.. Spencer,
Eslr. Post Master at this pla-c, 10 81
'n,I&r enqiiry; which answer has been CD
tanned at the request ui tie editor, isr the
purpose of laying before the people of this
quarter. 1t is understood that a similar
refusal has been made by number Of per-
sons holding Offices under the u. Staics
G"rrrrment. Mr. Spencer is IA native OF
New York.
(corY)
Hon. z J. N:EIss
iost -.9aster- General
Sir Your letter of the 10Th of ynly
last, IN which you request me tn iuforn,
lou IN what state or cuu!try was bnrn.
and la what country tie clerks cniloyeJ
IN this post olfce were born. has iee,, b,it
recently received; and have Delayed a.
repiyto IT, iii order to re!lsct uG3n fhe pro-
pretty OF answering the questions il cen,
'a'As; l am far irGm wishing to exliihit
any dis"espeCt TO you. Sir, Is Mi ;uaieidas,
or rs the head of The Post 0'licc Depart-
ment, ami it the inquiries made BY YOU
were merely COR your own personal graft
EcatIon, should answer them with nlea-
sue.
Fat, upon mature reflection, l am satis-
lied, that Congress had 40 right 10 require
;he ininrmatlon sought 10y yar ques,ions:
a d that If their resolution be- COMPLIED
WIN Ia this respect, principle viii be
tahcit"ned which Is Gb!lorrent to the spirit
OF our government, which would combine
y one body the distinct powers Of the le-
tis'auve ani executive departments, which
wra!d authorize inquisitor,al visits into all
lhe details OF private life, and which would
astahiish distinctions between native ard
aaturaiized citizens, ami between the citi-
4ens Of different states. nnfoundcd ia leaI-
'ty. ahd productive ouiy of dissentiuu aad
mischief.
While ! cheesfulIy admit the legitimate
power Of Congress 10 ;,npeach am, nv ev-
cry officer of the government, | get depy
the'r right to exercise The executive func-
tons in deciding o, expressing any opinion
UPON The qualifications Of persons to hold
executive appointments. If the resolu-
tlon in question be not intended as ioun
datum FOR sach decision, it is worse than
useless.
Ii it should inform Congress through
ynu: Sir where and my clerks were born.
! 10 moi perceive why may not with e.
quaI propriety be required to state the a.
mount OF my property, the number Of my
children, my political sentiments, OF any
9tHer object Of inquiry III which the wis
dom or the curiosity of Congress NAV
wish to be gratiied. Bat the mnst i'm
h0rtant objection in my mind to tie resoln-
lnii oil Congress. is, that il is fire brand
Z" DISC Td between the native a8d the ma
tu'a'ized citizen. Que constitution recog-
alzes 10 difference between them, exccDt
70 me solitary case Of the ufice OF Psesi-
tieut. And yet d. resolution of Congress
wnaid make that Gistihction, AID w.u,t
preseut it to tie public in the worst and
most un'2irpoIntof view that of foreigners
enjoying the emuu0ents of our Offices Hi
i,e not Intended as reflection upon naturs-
.Ied citizens, it certainly betrays iea-
ians y Of ti'eir Importance unworthy of a.
nerIcanS, and disrepuabic to our repre-
senatiye3.
l begyour Indulgence for the length of
this letter, which cnntaiUs only the outlines
OF my. reasons for declining to ans yer your
questions.
Very respectfully your ebedient SER
want,
JOHN c. SPENCER.
Posi- @ins'er, taRaniagaa.
September 7, 1916.
NAsFiNGrON, Sept. 98.
CoNNzcTIcuT.--Timothy Pi;kin, jena
thao @. Moseicv, Lewis g. S,uges, Epa-
phroditus Champion, Lyman Law. Sylva-
;us Backus and Samuel Y. Shetwo,i all