Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-02
From the National IntelHgencer, April i.
THE POST OFFICE.


If there is any Department Of the Govern
men, which. in all It's branches. ought to De ao'
solu,elv exempt from the influence OF party
conBiet.. and Of the defea, or victory Of one par
~ over another, it is the Post Office. II there
be any one branch of the public service, the in'
4eerity of whose administration should be more
free from Suspicion than another, it is that
The ermine would not be more sullied by
Judges deciding legal controversies upon poll
,ical grounds, than would the character OF the
Pos, Office Department, should it ever under
take 10 regulate the concerns, OF which 1t has
charge, by considerations referring themselves
to the party questions or objects OF the passing
day.
The high character, which that Department
has acquired in the public estimation, has been
gained by the exclusive devotion OF the lae In
cumbeu, and his predecessor 10 The interests OIL
the Office and Of The country, and by course OF
inpar,iaity, federation and strict justice, in re-
ference to the appointments in It's gill. During
the whole Of the last Presidency, not an ind'vi-
dual was removed from Office for causes OF
political, nature. The late President disdained
TO inquire whe lher any OF the Postmasters IN
Office were friendly or otherwise to his Admin
is,ralion Even when vacancy In office oc-
CURED in the course OF natural events, or by
necessary removal, it was often filled by an
adversary as by friend 1t has thus happened
that the Post Office Department enjoys high
respect among the People, for its impartlality,
(integrity, in other words) and efficiency. That
respect, aud every thing like confidence In its
integrity, the establishment must lose, when
ever it is understood that Deputy Postmasters
hold their Offices under the rod, and are 10 be
subject 10 the absolute control of party dispen-
salion.
The new Postmaster. General has not yet ar
rived, that We have heard, and it is not known
what rule Of action is to be adopted by him in
regard to Post Office appointments. MIR BAR
RY, the gentleman who succeeds Mr.. MCLEAN,
whom, we regret to say, we are about 10 miss
In our society, as well as in his wonted place,
is known here, by his former service in Con
gress much TO his advantsge, as one oil the
most correct and amiable Of men, and as Tree
as possible from any thing like an intolerant
spirit. He must be very much changed from
what he was, il, 10 please the Interested and
mercenary parlisans, who are seeking to serve
their own ends, and not to advance the honor
and character Of the country or OF Gen. JACK
SON. he becomes the instrument vi vindlctive
prescription, or of dismissal from office for OPT
nion', sake. We hope better things from him.
He will have been but few days in Office before
his course will be laid. Ifthere were not hun
dreds, (thoussnds, perhaps, we might truly saw
Of Office -see kers, who wait with Impotence 10
he ar Of his arrival we personally know OF one
case which, of itself, would test his purpose, be
it for evil or for good, as fully as thousand.
We have ourselves received, from one Of the
most respectable towns 10 New England Me-
mortal demonstrating agairst the removal OF
D.. I, 49,
some individual, taking time by the foreIock,
has been here already for several weeks, soil
chung aud waiting for the aPpoin,m mt Of
Postmaster Of the town 10 which we refer. He
has, it is represented TO US. no possible claim
to il against the many claims OF the incumbent,
blu, his having been an opponent of the late
Administrator; whilst The inc umbent is a man
Of high chsrse Ter, no has discharged the du.
ties Of his Cfce 20 the rD ire satisfaction of his
fellow .citize MS and Of the Department TO which
he is amenable. - The NJ mortal IN favor Of MS
continuance 10 OFF,, which we shall present
to the Postmastrr-Geperal soon after he takes
possession Of his Office is signed by almost ev-
cry man in The town he lives in. who Can have
any possible inierrs in he Post Ofice-that is,
who AN read and write En- uno disco omnes
We shall see how this Gaze Is disposed Of
What can be imagined more horrible, or
more detrs able than Pos, Office Establish.
ment regulated and ruled BY party principles?
VIVA, a system Of espionage! What tyranny
over opinion! What cover tor malignity.-
WHAT all rx,nguisner Of confidence between
man and man! Already we see, in he conduc,
Of certain Pos'mas,rrs, what may be expected
of al! OF those who suffer politics 10 inAuence
their off ial conduct The receptacle Of Sc
cree d.Eunciarions, Of the reports of privileged
spies, Of he base informa,ions Of eavesdrop-
pers numbering regulations withou, res2ensi-
billy, the fable ear Of D,onysius was but the
type OF what, unGer such circumstances, the
Posi- Office would become. The Imagination
of inst lyrant himself were he recalled to earth,
could not have conceived Of more ingenious
instrument for the qualification of maligniiy,
and Of all the basesl and meaaest passions Of
the basest and meanest Of mankind, than a
Post Office, the funnel and conduit Of the COM
municaiion Of an army Of parasites, pimps,
aud panders TO the will and pleasure Of the ma
ny .headed monster yclep, KING CAUCUS.