Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-02
FoR THE RrcHMoNp WnIG.

1t is melancholy fact in the hist, y Of fallen man.
that whilst so many men have employed their ut
most abilities TO invcat systems by which the art ftl
and cunning part OF mankind, may he cnuled to
impose the rest of the world; few or none should
have stood up the champions OF the innocent and
undesgning." In all governments, in every age OF
the world whether limited absolute, there is and
ever has been, i'll the 'ing power, strong bias to
tavour;sm The Interchangeable maxms OF richt
and wrong seem scarcely iegble' on their page Of
morals. The party dominant confcrs its favours
upon the instruments most efficient in sustaining IT,
whilst the counter party, mo matter how honest,)
Is turned upon, and erDririHted IN the land of
its fathers. In other times, favouritcism was as in
secure to both life and liberty as in own To
question: at all the motives, or policy of the
ruling power, subjected the cnrioJs subject 10 pro-
scrPtIon:-that prescription either depr walton
OF life or property, and sometimes both. Under 10
government, does It appear, that favourtism and
prescription have been decidedly the tests, by
which the public favours conferred the disal-
probation OF government, manifested, than in our
since March Ith, of the present year. From that
period, till no'o, government had been content, with
evictng from Office such as had no pover
to resist eviction but a era in eforrn is
commenced In the department of contradiction
tracts INTERCHANGEABLE made cancelled at scrawl.
During the year 49, 10 contract made between
Return J. Mcgs who then Post Master General.
under Mr. MadisOns Administration, and Mr.. John
Oden of Charlotte, (Va) for the transr. ration of
the mail from Prince Edward county, Wal to Chill
tons tavern, III Campbell county, (Va.C-John Oden
continued the contractor of this route till the iucum-
bent Meigs rctIrCd.t.Cm o.tcc:--Cpon he induction
Of his successor, John McLanc, Mr. Odcns con-
tract was renewed: upon the transfer of thc late
Postmaster General to the bench OF the Federal
Court, the present incumbent came into Office. This
route was No 97:--AIr. Odcn has bcen the contrec-
tor Of this route 10 years. In the wear 1926 John
Oden contracted with the late Postmaster General
Mclean, to carry the nail on route No 1O4-he
then became contractor for the two routes No. o.
and No. i0i, for terms OF years, which contracts
would expire on the LIST day Of January, 1881.
In the nf m thC 10 ;.l
usually marks the correspondence OF Official men,
MIR. Oden is officially informed, that the Postmaster
General has "supcrcedcd him and vacated his con.
tracts" yet commands" him to continue to carry
the mail OH routes OF and 104 till the LIST of October
ensuing. And, says the "Ofical,"-"If you CONT
nue. faithful, your accounts shall be settled" Now
let it be remembered that il is the better of the coIn
try that John OdCH always has been fnithfll and
discharged the duties incumbent upon HIM by his con
tract with the Department. Let II further be re-
mcmbered that il Is believed that the Postmaster
General has not the right vacate and rescind con-
tract INTERCHANGEABLE made for causes which the
contractor covid MOI cyntToul, nor specified in the
cUntr0ct itself Charges have been preferred against
former carriers OF lohn Olcn-not one shade of n
charge Is pretended or surmiscd against him. Now
n iucump stCn or uuiLtlful what is the
remedy The law is explicit; a contractor "slall be
auswerablc for the persons 20 whom nc shall commit
the and transportation Of the mail, and account
abc for any damages which may he sustained through
their uniaithfuness want Of care "
IL is not even pretended that the public interest
has suataincd damages, and none arc demanded OF
John Odcn- by reason of his responsibility for bis car
r"rs. Again, the law declares: Upon reasonable
complaint made by the Department Of Tho General
Post Office against airy carrier Of the said mall for
negligence nishehaviour, such carrier shall be
forthwith discharged" Complaint had been made
against two Carriers of John OIcn both Of whom ,e
been Withdrawn from the nr1i routes before complaint
from The Postmaster General had reached Mr. Oden.
The Postmaster General was appriscd that they iocre
Withdrawn New carriers were recommended, and
were upon the routes, whose characters aud fitness
were certified 10 Ivy seven out Of the twelve acting
Pos'mosers of the two routes, besides by many late
Posimastcrs and assistant Postmasters. II is very
mtDfest that the Postmaster General could not re-
scipd the contract of Mr. Odcn, agrceably to law for
accusations urged against his carriers, when Mr..
Odcn has been strenuous at all time 90 comply with
the law IN relation 10 carriers in its strictest sense.
There Is no reservation IN the Department, by
which il may lad libitum," revoke end rescind
contract with contractor, except III ono in
stance, and that is the following: The Postmas-
ter General docs reserve to the department tho
power to alter contracts yct.only for the specific
purpose "to expedite the uIi!'--in this c' M # tho