Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-17
[From the u. s. Tslegraph.l
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.

II
We now proceed 10 redeem our pledge rela-
tive 10 the charge Of dedication made against
the present Post Master General.
On the death Of Mr.. Jordan, Post Master at
Lexington, (Ky.) John Fowler, by the recon
mendalion of Henry Clay, was appointed to fill
The vacancy. His appointment was dated De-
cember IL, 1918, and his bond January /, 1914
James Morrison was one Of his SuretIes; he
names Of the others are not recollected.
On The 5th Of August, 1913. letter was ad
dressed by 2. ]. Meigs, the Post Master Gene
raj, to James Morrison, one OF the surrlies
af john Fowler, advising him that Fowler was
nearly $4,000 IN arrears; that he had jusr fail>
ed to pay draft for $4,000; and thai unless he
should Immediately pay the balance due from
him; or the principal part of il, into the United
S, a,es Branch Bank a, Lexington, he would be
superseded by the appointment Of another Post
master, and his bond put in suit. He however
paid nothing after this, before the close Of that
year, except one draft for s so drawn IN Oc>
tobrr.
There appears TO have been strong reluc-
lance to the removal Of Mr. Fowler from Office,
both on the part Of the Post Master General,
and of Mr.. Fowler's friends in kentucky aud
the matter was, therefore, permitted to res, for
more than three moths longer; when il was f.
\
bond, and so remain in offi-e. Accordingly he
gave an additional bond dated November IS,
1918, with six suretes, viz: Cornelius Coyl-.
Thomas Fletcher, john 7: Msson, William I.
Berry, John Patrick, and b. amin Johnson,
The balance due from him TO the department. al
the close Of he quarter then running viz :. ON
the SIS, Of December, 1873, was Ss,s73 SO.
Mr. Fowler continued TO hold the Office
without iquidaing this balance. or even pay
ing the whole amount of his current receipts;
Jill on the tento Of December, 1921. ler'er was
written by the Postmaster Gent raj 10 William
L. Barry, Esq Of Lexington. enclosing blank
commission, and requesting him o sr'ect a
suitable person for successor 10 Mr.. Fowler
The sending blank appointment 20 person
| having the confidence Of he depar meDt, au
thurising him 10 make a sui'able selection, had
been done in hundreds 1T ms ances; and on this
occasion there was special reason for II The
Post Master Gene, al had been Informed that
Mr. towler's mislortunes were he s"l. Cause
Of his delrque ,cy; and bring insol,ent VT
without fault, il desirable TO put he "fh,e
in,o other hands with little del y Us possible,
and yet without an, measures calculated to as
censure on Mr.. Fowler. NJ, Barry the mus
,ual friend of Nh. Fowler and he department,
was intrused with this drlIcae TASK Nor
did he, in any degree, disappoint the confidence
reposed in him; FOR he selected the present in
cumbent, and better appointment Was ne' r
made in any place. Mr.. FIJI in the successor
Of Mr. Fowler gave bond win So isfactory Ne
curity in January 1922. Mr.. Fowler hen ow-
ed the department, Slo 363 90, icing $3.50 So
more than wha; lie owed wnen the last bond
was given.
The FIRST bond having James Morrison for
| r he t,,t
the whole amour, due. Il had not been can
celled, nor lis validity impaired, by he addi
,ional bond subsequently given. Bat when, IN
February, 1923, a suit was ordered for the
covery of the money, the original bond could
not be found. II is beieved TO have bern, BY
some means, Withdrawn from he rfh e; but
acc cunt Of i, could ever be given The sum
sc S75 SO of the amour, due, had no Other sc
curly for its payments; and it was also the b. 81
security for the remaining sum Of S3,49o Sc,
which had accrued subsequen, to III, dae Of
the last bond An account was made out at
the department, in which S6,s73 SO OF the no.
MES paid by Mr. Fowe', ail,r giving OF the ad.
ditional bond, and Subsequent TO III first OF
January, 1919, were applied to the liquidation
of the balance which had aCc'ued before the
date Of the new bond. To this application
Mr.. Fowler himself objected; and in le,'er
10 he Post Masrec General dated sep. %,
1922, while the suit was pending, he thus ex
presses his views and intentions.
al have always intended ,ha, The payments
made 10 the United 5 a'es, since the execution
of my last bond as Postmaster, should be APP
piled to the discharge Ut arrearsgrs accrued
since the execution of tia, boad: and il no. 50
done, have to desire it I" be done Il never
! could have been my intention 10 make my Sc
curi,ies in the last bond, responsible Tor he ba-
lance which may have existed against me pre-
yious 10 its execution, which W uld We the case
il The payments viii, save mad from the
receipts Of the off since the new bond was
executed were applied 10 The balance due on The
| FIRST bond. II a'y other course has been pur-
sued 10 the Set lemrn. Of my account diffe, emit
from the on her. pointed ou'. il has been con-
tray TO my wishes and knowledge; and | have
20 direc' thu all mon Us received from me since
he execution Of my last bond, now in su'i, BE-