Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-08-21
From ;he .NutiOaal JoIr;
To Ike Hon. WIN Il BARRY,
Post .Nnsiey Gener.f.

took nasty survey of The past ana present condi
ton OF the Post Office Department.
thereafter II may perhaps be convenient 10 resume
the subject. may then examine the truth of the
allegations which have been made, under the sane
ton OF your against the honor and probity of
the officers Of your Departments; and review With
mnHtencss the lrre,,rcs which appear toy have
been adopted To- the purpose of conccaiinn the eff
iects OF official blunders At present. tits inquiry
n'ist be deferred regard FOX those who depend
on my eXcrtions. CompelS postpone the con-
sdcraton of subjects which affect INV interests only
N common with those of the whole communtv-
Nhcn private engagements shall permit, YOU perlaps
may hea' from NE: nil then, permit TO invite
Your attention 10 subject OF less Importance to the
Ilblic, but not less Interesting, To myself.
t.ioying through vour I,istrmcutalitv The riohts
neiong TO to private station, have appeared besre
tee pubic, not much to arrdign your conduct as
to Justify my own In thus endeavouring to defend
Character WAS bound to protect w;s not una
ware OF the hazards encountered the one hand
heheld the possession OF power, tie influence of
Office, and the conroul of press devoted to the Gov
ernment. On the other, an humble individual with
out power. without influence liable to inputaticrs
from those whose word was law; AL relying for his
only support ON conscious integrity and the power
OF truth rcntuling question tie correctness OF
those who eXulted in the prosi ration of all who mad
daredto oppose them, knew that could not escape
t!e effects OF reSertnenthat the veal: muht sheer
--iiG n;'llcous asSaiiaud that errors OF Judgment
Wouid he tortured into crime.
In this anticipation have not been disan2ointe,;
oit, l confess have been disappointed buih in tbr
sailed 10 V2u, Sir, | had addressed my remarks:
trons goa, ii noticed at all, expected the homo,
al retaliation; at LEAFS, expected that tie champion
who would attempt either to attack or defend would
have shown some nanness OF cha racter by uppear
ing before the public under his individual siglanre-
instead OF tins, 1t would that the Editor
"a me ciegTaph has been compelled 10 forward
% iuia the Office for which he is employed: anu by
ooid perverSon % truth, assume responsibility which
10 o."@f person not bankrupt i'll property and rep
ut1tion, would have been willing to incur
N r,-,D IT.
ehc Telegraph thus obrudcs his reply to letter ,i-
retted to y0 he appears to be intimately acquainted
WIN The detail ofyour Department: refers 10 t1-i1k
statements which are i'll your posscssion nav Sir he
las venturcd the assertion that act witt. which
an charged has been committed '',gitsou: Tn, haoty
icdge ofthe Post Master General"
How, Sir, has the Editor Of the Tclenraph become
acquainted with these official details? Has he too
been advanced TO the station OF an official conf
liant: Is he charged with te well bcinr Of the Ma
tIoual Government? Does he direct vour move
Tor your official acts?
These points, pcrint to assure yor arc orsome
Importance to tie pablo. They desire TO Know who
III reai'ty is the person upon whom the powers of the
NatIoA4! Government have Gevolyed This inforrna-
ION, more especially, concerns myselE for if Won
have Caused to act the Post Master GenaraI-if !
When remarks are addressed to You, the Editor of
the Telegraph feels himself bound to furnish ran,
shall, perhaps. be induced to change the style Of nv
address But, ii, the contrary YOU should prefer
70 act under the mantle of the Tc!egraph and desire
t. incur the responsibility which may properly cnsuc
shat fact, if disclosed NAV not be wholly min
tcresiing TO the public
Notwithstanding Tie uncertainty which surrounds
ths subject, allow 10 cali your attention to recent
publications IN the telegraph, CONCERNING the De-
pIrtneut which you preside.
In that paper OF the 9th inst. the Editor speaking
with the authority o. official" organ las so far
d'sregar42d the obligations of truth, require
iic TO refer his remarks to impartial jury of his
country. Respect for that tribunal comoes me to
postpone to future day the exposure OF the artf
ithrlcaton with winch he has attempted TO dessror
my character io.bcar from even ref.r,ina. to cir
cunIstanccs within your knowledge which would ais
prove that statement; no! need | remind you that
your own declarations preclude the possibility of its
truth But while restrained by these considerations
from making az immediate exposure OF lalschoods al
most Unc:;HHped III the annals of crime it is at Thu,
same time my duty to exhibit for Your consideration
an additional caiumny which appeared in tie Telc-
graph OF the 9Th instant.
In that plper am represented as having abused |
my oIfcia! trust Ivy making IAN entry in the day
book ofthc Office, of SO o." to close The accoii.,
oi Aif; james S. Scott when claim whatever
existed 10 furnish pvctc.;t for such all entry"
IL Is not pretended, either that re ceved the mo-
icy Tor which this entry made, or derived any
benefit whatever oni the transaction. And yet, the
Impression attempted to be produced, is this:-rhat
nc public have been dnfrauGed through my instru-
mentality; and that to affect this fraud, have know
lngly committed breach of trust with the certain
y or exposure before ms, and without being nDcIl-
Ell even by the sord!d desire to benefit myself.
\ plain statement OF this transaction viii exhibit to
YOU, and vrtnous community, the extent OF that
spirit OF cXlggeratIoa and in Is:cc which threatens
TO destroy all the mounds which have been raised for
the protection Of lie, Il5crtg, property and reputa-
Lon.
The facts are these:
On the deceasc Of Mr.. Scott one of the Clerks of
the Post Office DEPARTMENT. it was found that he had
left his family in state uf extreme restitution.
This circumstance represented to you. With
{, H1ealitv, which then considered a distinguish
ing trait in your character, you directed that one
months pay should be granted to his faI0ily, aud
that the saiary OF Mr. SCotts successor should
commence until the month had expired for which
hir. 5cotts family allowed. On examining
however, the payments which had previously been
made to Mr.. Scott, but viii which had had moth
ing to DO, it perceived that he was in advance
at lie time Of hL: leCanse something 1nnrc linn the