Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-10
From ne .W.iio,iai laiei,gesesy, Oct 4


regard of the public interest, to psoptate a cruel
party spirit that corrodcs and blasts every thing it i
Jocks upon. We do not, as the writer of Letter 10
Tie New York Courier inJimates, ''distrust the abIl
{" aud integrity &C the Postmaster General. We
have ITO doubt that he is an able man. We take no
part il the impeachment of his personal integrity.
We look only at his public conduct. re k1o,o,
moreover, that he cannot be held responsible as u
moral agent, for the spirit which pervadcs his De
partmen'. We believe the same OF the Presidents
that 's that he came here with design to act i'll the
spirit Of his own celebrated Letter to Dir. Monroe
hut there is has been powerful influence at WORK,
visible only i'll the 1nischics has wrought which
las controlled the legitimate power and influence Of
lie Executive officers.
The fidelity and ability of the late Postmaster
General, iii every thing rciatin, the duties of his
ONCE, are proverbia The whole world aclinow-
tiSes them Even his political adversarcs awarded
Nlin TINS merit We now exhibit to our readers tos
tinony from him, Of tho most unimpeacllablc clarac-
Ter, to Prore beyond doubt what we have heretofore
said, and which the Correspondent OF the Courier
Irprovcs for saying, that there Is good reason
ai'yfp.sonl that the Post Office Depai tnent
stand tine nroads which have been made upon ITS eff
cheney ans, Integrity Wo had the follow
l'.r Aheu we uttered this apprehension. hut we
knew, alninst as well as Mr. M.Lnan what WAS
Inc value OF the public serv:ccs of the two Mcsscs
bradley; felt the anxiety as he for the cha
FACTOR OF The Department; and we appear to have
cdncnrred with him remarkably III our fears of the
consequence of removing these gentlemen We
hope the reader will not lose word Of the following
il|tfuct Qf iefter from tie iuie 10 TIC present
iostm,a.ter General.
w ASdISGNUS, March 81, 1929.
Before left Washington expected to hlve the
pleasure OF taking you by the hand, aud introducing
you TO the gentlemen Of the Post Office Depart
inent. Bat, Us ! am deprived Of this pleasure |
cannot, III justice to yourself and the public service
reirain from recommending the continuance oi INC
Assistant Postmastcrs General. who have been Ion r
Identified with the Department, ANA have been
taithtnI to the trusts rePosed name these nentlc
men to you, because have understood that efforts
are making to remove one or both of them. should
fN're'eiy regret such a step, as wei! your
conn N t,.' .i,f,-N
with the operations OF the Department am
wei acquainted. aiXious ;il.t its r,pl uliun
SHAH be sustained and convinced this cannot
she done ii the above named gentlemen be removed
Tins remark is made with perfect knov.Ielre Of
all the facts. After you shall have acquired fun
knowledge OF the Office, their services may not be
$50 important though, confess, with NV experience
and knowledge of the business, should not were
1 10 remain in the Department, think of ,,!anginc
''t!ie assistants.
with sincere regard; X. you5 n,r ~,
Can language be stronger than tl.iso Can cvi-
dence be more conclusive;
Having heard that Mr.. P. Bradiey's removal was
placed upon the ground of letter addressed By him
10 the Postmaster General have in the absence
OF Alr. Bradley on short excursion Tor the benefi;
OF his health, obtained from his fn,y copy of that
letter which we hereuuto subjon. Whilst Tie flcis
which it discloses material TO a proner under.
standing Of the progress of Reform in the posi-
Oihce department, the vein Of fraterna feeling which
runs through the letter is in tie highest DECREE hon,
orable to the writer, who disdaned to retain ms
session Of his office at the expense of lis brothers
character.
GsSEnAL Posr OrrIcr.
10Th Sept, 1890
Sir: | was surprised Yesterday bv Visit from {,
*. Gardner, which was not ut all diminished when
laurned the object of that visit and that he had bnn
commissioned by you to assure me that nv contin
ance IN office was safe as long as wished to remain
After the unexpected and to me incxpIica bic re-
raovai from Office ofiy brother, whose fitness cspaci-
W and fidelity, so well knew, and so highly aIprc-
clatcd, could not expect that I would be spared
kitcr the positive, unsolicited and unc0,ivoc1J as,
rances you had personally given him that he sIo,Id
remain IN office, which had been repeated as he was
informed and believed, by his and by your friends M
der Jour authority and by your Observation-Disclosures
o! the same character, and almost i'll the same Ian
gla9e as those with which had been favoredJ could
not trust to my continuance here for an hour
When he had been expelled after longer and as do
Voted services as my own, without any os.ensible
prcteXt, or previous ntilnation, in manner SO nm
courteous; when knew that he had riven the nron
and yigor of his life, and now offering the nnre
united exercise of an unbroken mind, to tho pubc
service: and that you aware that with oIl hi
frugality and the rigid economy of his domestic ar
rongemcuts, he had been unable to make provision far
tins contingency, and was destitute of tbc
uean5 of support than yien he first in the fIsbnnsc
of lite, entered into his counrys scrvice-I could
not hope or desire TO escape Yet under all tho ev
elements of these reflections, sense of what ,,,.s
duo to myselfas public officer, and TO that nuhic
whose servant am, taught me that private rriefs
should be made TO yield to what believed public drI
lies. NY reply was prompt and decisive and now,
repeat 1t: Vi VIII not resign; if am to be dismissed
J am prepared for it." But sir, although NAV h3
permitted to emain, it will be impossible to disclargr
the duties ofmy office with credit to myself advaI
t1gc to the public, or satisfaction to you unless some
thing is done 10 shield my brothers. reputation from
"vcry shade of reprouch which his enemies NAV de-
sire TO cast upon it. Wholly unprcpared for tIc
event which has overwhelmed bn, lis accounts I'm,
sotted, his quarterly returns not received he WI he
p@i zoo much exposed any Iact they may visy, f
produce Unwilling to submit all that is yet len to
,n' to the custody Of his successor and not being
advised by YOU the subject, as his best. most rt
don't and saiest course, he deposited the kew OF the
ticc Treasury in your hands, on the same dav in
winch nc was dismissed lie has learned to his ut
surprise, that if was delivered Immediate, f. i
1s'oiy ofhc very from whom nc designed most
-edoously 70 guard il. Now, although his poverty
IS too well known here, his probity and virtue hirhIy
appreciated abroad, and know every dollar Win