Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-02
From the National Journal.

From the National Journal.
On the subject Of he abuse Of the ranking
privilege, the Western paper, which have re-
Gently come 10 hand, are fall OF facts and com
plants. The abuse has been carried on to an
extent beyond all precedent, by the Jackson
members, Tor the purpose Of Circulating
slanderous publications against he Admi"is-
tralion, not only in their own districts, bu'
wherever there is no chance of these documents
circulating from any other source. me vru,
lent poison has been transmitted through all
the er!iess ramihcations OF our posi- routes,
for the purpose Of deceiving the people, and
promoting private or parry views.
The abuse, however, is not confined 10 The
circulation Of political poison The following
extract from the lille Banner exhibits a
different view Off:
The mail coacnrs Intended for the transmits
sion OF letters. papers and pamphlets, Tor the
benefit and information of The people, are con-
vertcd into baggage wagons for the convey
ance Of dry goods, groceries, &c. Tor the &C
commodation of members OF Congress, their
families and friends Of course the space oc-
cupied by these bundles, falsely marked pub
lie documents" is so much taken away from
'he legitimate object Of transmitting teal doc
uments, & the mail bags so burdened with
articles never intended 10 be transmitted IN
that way at the public cxpensr, as 10 preclude
the possibility of conveying regularly and
promptly the ordinary means OF intelligence
Thus the ranking privilege, by Ibis outrage
Gus abuse, is made to impede and almost de-
feat the very object which alone it was intend-
ed IL promote. We copy the following arti :
Gle ref ring 10 an an alleged instance of this
abuse from the Farmers Chronicle, published
at Richmond. KY.
"a black negro fellow, slave to some Of the
Johnsons, resides 1t the Blue Spring. He Is
called Ddniei Chin The said negro has, du'
ring the las, winter, received by mail from
Washington City, many large b"ndles; envel
oped in paper. sealed, addressed to Daniel
SGbipn .pslkea Ste envelope OF one of the
rolls was rubbed or torn IN passing, and the
dry goods displayed tbemselves-,h,y were OF
cotton fabric, called Bingham, and seen by re-
spectacle sitizens in Georgetown.
We have been surprising all along, that the
bundles contained public documents; and how
could we do otherwise? They were MAJ keG
"public documents We have no right TO
say that any gentleman Of Congress in favor of
Jackson and reform would SO far forget hn-
self as 10 mark bundles as containing pubic
WV w HSn 'lIS ulu hOl. 1. H'SUl nave
be done by mistake, but the mistake has
happened RICH, often, and The regular postage
would have amounted TO several hundred dol
lars, if The calculation oc gentleman of
Georgetown be correct: The dry goods though
-ah! there is the rub--they were seen, felt and
known. 1t is mater of much convenience
ror member Of Congress TO be able to fur
nish his acje and daughters with the earliest
fashions from tie cities. 1t feeds their Lutte
vanlties TO be able 10 show out at the sun
day meetings in new calico gowns Of the latest
'shlon, just from he city, month or two be-
tore any OF the common rustirs get any Of
he Same sort from the stores. L; increases
ne patriotism 1t the families Of members Of
onsrcss 10 be thus disringni shetland il is
ut trihng expense. But Colonel Johnson
has no wife or daughters-a!l the members Of
his family cxcrpi himself, being negroes, mu-
laro's and Indians There are some peope
known to the law as .fGus nuiius, but We koow
nothing OF them and of Course The ginghams
must have been pubic documents.