Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-03-13


legislature. The marshais have acted
in coincidence with the general current
or extraneous influence, and in their Sc
lections of deputies to take the census,
they have, as far as can learn, studious-
ly excluded all those applicants that
were friendly to the state administration.
The conduct of Mr. Robert Tillotson,
of the president of the United States, is
glanced at in the paper marked X-and
that of Mr.. Jacob Sutherland, the other
district attorney, and nephew of the
secretary OF the navy, is mentioned in
the paper marked Y. Ii will give me
pleasure TO find that there is error in
some of these imputations; but Of their
officious and improper interference,
generally speaking, there can be no
doubt. There are three newspapers
employed by the government for pub
fishing the laws of the union, in this
state, and these consisted of the Argus,
National Advocate, and Ontario Mes
senger, until within few weeks, when
the business was taken from the last pa
per, and committed to the Times, in
Batavia, a Gazette Of recent date, of
comparatively limited circulation, and
hostile to the state administration.
There are, believe, GA post-masters
in this state, and should estimate the
aggregate patronage of the department
in the state at large, at 100000 dollars
annually. During the able and impair
tial administration OF the predecessor of
the present postmaster general, these
Offices were conferred without any re-
ference to state politics. Attempts have
been made, at different times, 10 cause
the removal Of post-masters friendly to
the state administration, and | am sorry
TO say that, in several instances they have
succeeded. The papers marked Il will
exhibit the case Of Mr.. Hezeklah l..
Granger, who, in the spring of 1919, was
removed from the office of postmaster
at Manllus. The papers marked "A,
are an expose OF the removal OF Alphens
Doty from the post-office at Sandy Hill
This removal, it appears, was effected
through the fundamentally of Mr. Ro-
ger Skinner, who resided in the same
village. Mr.. Doty, who has since died,
had incurred the resentment of Mr..
Skinner for his support OF the state adj
ministration, and he was accordingly
marked out for a victim, and in Deem
Der, 1918, his removal was solicited by
Mr.. Skinner in the city OF Washington.
To effect this purpose, it would appear,
that the good Offices of Mr.. Henry
Meigs, were employed to operate on his
uncle, the postmaster general 1t APP
pears that the postmaster general had
determined TO make the removal on Mr..
SINNERS representation alone. The
petition was signed by violent partizans,
and the reasons assigned in ii were only
ostensible. And there is this singular
circumstance attending this transaction
the papers directing the displacement,
were enclosed to Mr.. Skinner; and it
was not, it appears, in his estimation, a
sufficient punishment to effect the re-
moval of ia good citizen and faithful OIL
Ger, under false pretences; but his hu-
initiation must be Witnessed by his po-
liical adversaries, who were apprised OF
the event, and were called in to exult
over his fall. The papers marked BIB
will shew the removal of the postmaster
at Caldwell. This was also principally
accomplished through the agency OF
Mr.. Skinner, and upon the same grounds
Of party excitement. His letter to the
postmaster general, on this subject,
could not be found. The paper mark
ed &C, refers to the removal Of Mr..
Brown, the postmaster at Hartford, IN
Washington county, which was also the
result of the same spirit. In March,
1919, Mr.. Jacob Van Ness was remov-
ed from the Office of clerk of the coun-
ty Of Duchess; and Mr.. Peter r. Liv-
| ingston, senator from the southern
district, publicly declared, as am credi-
| bly, informed, that the then postmaster
at Poughkeepsie should be removed
from office, and Mr.. Van Ness appoint
ed in his place. This event actually
took place, and indicates an understand
ing and cooperation between depart
ment, at least, at Washington and po-
litical party in this state.
Although these measures were un-
equivocal in demonstration, and repre-
hensible in character, yet they were not
deemed sufficiently energetic for the
crisis. And, accordingly, on the 4th oil
April, 1920, twenty-one days before the
general election, Mr.. Martin Van Blu.
rem, chairman of the meeting which
nominated Mr.. Tompkins for governor
addressed the following letter to Mr.
Henry Meigs, the nephew, before al