Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-07
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Tuesday EUefsisas, March 6.
APPOINTMENT OF POST MAsrERs

APPOINTMENT OF POST MASTERS.
Wo observe with pleasure, tho fact contained
in an extract from letter which wo quote, and
which wo had overlooked in the proceedings of
Congress.
There ought to DO some remedy applied, to tho
wide sweeping elcctoneering agency of the Post
Omce Department.. For some time it has been the
subject ofremark, that tho General Post Office OK
erted more clectoneering influence, than all tn q
Departments of the Government combined. The
reason is plain: its agents, nearly oil Of whom hold
at the will of the Post Master General, are more
numerous far, than tho ents and dependents OF
all the other Departments. These are originally
oRon preferred TO their stations meritorious
partizans, or moro frequently, merit the continu-
nnce or increase Of official favor, by becoming So
Some Of tho Mail Contractors, in Virginia and
elsewhere, are known to be most active election
serers, and we will wager trfe, that in every in
stance where this is tho case, they follow tho par
talities of Mr.. Barry, and are hot friends of Van
Buron. Who was tho author of most abusive
attack upon tho Senators who rejected his nomi-
nation which lately appeared in the Enquirer,
signed ga voice from the Country7" Was it not q
Mail Contractor? They are of course, like all O.
ther men, entitled to their opinions and to the
right of maintaining them; but when they are dis
covered always to be on the side of power, it be.
comes question whether some measure is not ex
pedient on the part the people, to restrict the
Influence which power thus improperly exercises
The Post Office Department is more felt and
seen by the Public, than any other. It ministers
to its daily wants; its agents are stationed at eve
ry imp ortunt point, or traverse the whole country
Where they choose to abuse their trust, or to act
how Inv
much-in their power. We ourselves, have suf
fered grievously, from their par,izanship. For
example, in the ex etement of the late President
aai contest, our packages were frequently returned
upon us with assurances that they should not bo
transmitted 1t was beyond our power to identify
tho office at which gross outrage was perpe-
trated, and compelled to submit 10 what
We could not redress. Is such a state Of things
to be borne7 Cen Congress devise no remedy
against the partnership OF the Post Office7 The
Post Master General ought undoubtedly, to be
stripped of his appointing power which throws in.
to his hands IN influence almost exceeding that OF
the President himself. And we humbly think,
that mail contractors should be required to have
nothing to do with politics.
Letter from the Correspondent Of the u. s. Gaz.
"WAsHINGToN, Feb 90, 1882.
''The statement made in the u. S. Telegraph of
this morning by Mr. Clement, concerning the n
ncr in which Deputy Postmasters appointed,
has excited much feeling in tie House to-day and
you will see, by the reported proceedings, that Mr.
Vance moved an amendment to the Post Office Bill
the object of which is to place the appointment of
these officers, above certain salary, out of the
hands of the Postmaster general, and to give to
them the direction which all the more important
officers take, viz: through the Senate. do not
know whether there is much probability that this
amendment will succeed; but it's very suggestion
is calculated to alarm the Postmaster general After
the repeated statements on the subject which have
appeared before the people, from many distinct
sources, no one, presume, will any longer pretend
TO deny that the post-ofhce department has been
used with view to the furtherance of political
purposes of a personal character. The Van BuHe n
party not only admit the fact, without blushing,
but actually attempt to justify it, the ground that
every party is bound to take of it's friends; and
that, to accomplish this object when they acquire
power, that they have unquestionabe right to
use it.-This maxim political morality is worthy
'of the party in which it has its origin and the free
action upon it which the last three years have exhi.
bited, ought to awaken tho people to reflection and
induce them to take the work Of rcfo into their
own hands,