The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-07
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY. JULY Z. 1880.
BEAUTIEs OF REFORM.


In his inaugural address, Gen. Jackson in
formed US that &c the task Of Tsform" required
of him, f" particularly, the correction Of those
abuses that have brought the patronage OF the
Federal Government into conflict with the iIee-
dom of elections" In this, as in almost every
other case, his practice has been diametrically
opposed to his profession in almost all his ap-
pointments, and his removals, the latter OF
which are unprecedented in number, his object
seems, almost uniformly TO have been to bring
the patronage of the Federal Government in
conflict with the freedom of elections to over
awe those who disbelieve in the perfectibty
of his administration, and to patronise those
who are willing to become the supple instru-
ments of his ambition land to defend all his acts,
" right or wrong y in word, to "reward his
friends and punish his enemies" The recent
reform in the Post Office at Winchendon,
though in itself of no great Importance any far
Their than principle is concerned, affords fair
specimen of the corrupt and corruptng char
acter of our national administration, and Ofthe
low means to which they will descend to sus-
tain their ill-gotten power.
We have been favored by Daniel Henshaw,
ESQ, late Pos: Master at Winchendon, with q
COPY of letter addressed by him to the Post
Master General, from which we have made the
copious extracts which appear below. From
this letter, two important facts are made to APP
pear First, that so long as the present Post
Master made no professions of Jacksonism, he
could not obtain the appointment, and the Of
fee was suffered to remain where the public
: good and the PuLlie poice required; but as soon
, as he sent in his adhesion and confirmed it by
his activity in State election, he became
marvellously proper man" and received his
+, reward"-not Of 81 thirty pieces of silver" but
|. of the appointment of Post Master, and the in
r cumbent was punished" for his obstinacy, by
i removal Was here no bringing of the patron
q age of the Federal Government in conflict with
j the freedom of elections? No purchase of sup
y port by foul and corrupt means3
The other fact ELECTED by this letter, which
strikes us as Of peculiar importance to the pub.
d lie, is, that the Boston Post Office is the medi
'e um through which Jackson handbills are circu-
y lated through the community at the public ex-
- pense, in violation Of the law Of the land We
in were aware of this fact before, but forbore pub
st fishing it, because we were not prepared with
~ strictly legal proof to sustain assertion; al
though we had evidence of such character as
10 would satisfy every unprejudiced mind of the
tie fact Such are some Of the modes by which
Of the country is to be Jacksonized and Van Blu
y renized, and the whole system of government
! made one great machine, SO to operate as to ef'
feet one object, and that tho promotion and ag.
he grandizement of few individuals; matter
he at what cost to the public that the object is
lie effected. But the subject is too disgusting to
ng dwell upon, and we hasten to present the letter
a To the Honorable William T. Barry, Post
mo- Master General
II Shiny recent removal from an inconsider-
ho able Post Office Is no otherwise important, than
az it serves to develope the principles and rules
" Of the present administration and especially of
c- the Department over which you preside, in
lie their removals and appointments--for this pur.
lie pese it 10 well adapted. And as ! can express
in my mind plainly to you, and in the same COM
ne munication, mako known the case to the public,
to have chosen this convenient mode of doing
hv both.
~ " The liberty of the hand in This reign oil
- tyranny, was no il-timed sentiment at the adj
:: mnslraticn dinner. 1t is sweet relic of that
70 more enlarged liberty of thought and action,
81 which, under former administrations, was con-
so sidered secure to all and | embrace it the
We moro readily now, lest even this should be Ia
il ken away, and soon, peradventure, the whole
corps ex Post Official be ordered, by the Great
Ia est and Best" TO suffer penalty "under the
bit second section" But dear as this liberty is
he this right hand should be cast off as an oe nd.
=. ing member, sooner than become subservient
- to a spirit, which would veer with every chang
u" ing gale, and cringe, and fawn round the min
ions of government, for any Office, small OF
great. ] thank God mot rreverently( that
or have hitherto been preserved from this detes.
!, table meannegs.
~ Notwithstanding all that has been said and
h;s written, never could bring my mind fully to
ns believe, that in our free government, il was
ns possible for man to be removed from post
IN Office, the whole pecuniary emouments of
ng which to tho incumbent, do not exceed thirty
nd dollars a year, merely on account Of his politi-
W cal sentiments till the inqnisitiop, or search
,e- ing operations, of the present dynasty taught
ID mo to kHOao this fact. The object is too small
,ct for personal complaint, but amply large enough
=, to encompass the length, and breadth, and
~ height, Of the magnanimity Of the present adj
e,i ministTation.
rus The conduct of our rulers is dark and por-
IN tentous-the whole administration disgraceful
lth But the grossest abuse has been in the Post
&c. Office Department. This is an alarming evil
nts Next to the press the post Office may be con-
he sidered the most powerful mean of upholding,
Dol or overthrowiDg, our present form Of govern
md ment. Intelligence is the life of a republic
nd The press excites and promotes this vitality,
~, life-bood, and the post Office with its innumera-
BILE mail routes, are the veins, through which
it is conveyed to all parts of the body polite;
If these veins become poisoned or obstructeds
ed the irreguarity is felt throughout If general
on, ly, the whole body will decay and fall. The
On, people ought, therefore, TO watch the post Of
70. fee, they do their liberties, with jealous
We eye. 1t is liable to be corrupted than tho
~ press the latter derives its patronage imme-
he dately from tho people, while the former is
TX under the controi OF lew. The post Office
DO. system, whether considered with regard to it's
", curious and complicated organization, or it's inn
- menae operations and their affacta on the wnL.