Litchfield enquirer., 1834-09-04
From the PhiladeIDLia I,,omir.y.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Outrage. excitement prevails in
this quarter, and especially 10 the Third Con
gressional District, ia consequence Of gross
outrage on the rights Of the people, commit
ted by the post Office department. 1t seems
that during the recent session of Congress,
many of the constituents of Col. John G.
Watmough complained of neglect on his part
-alledged that he never forwarded them any
public documents, although they had repeat
eddy written to hiun-and that n member Ot
Congress who did not pay more attention to
the interests of his district, was unworthy the
confidence and support fthe people. State
ments to this effect reached the ears Of Col.
Watmough, when he expressed himself with
the utmost surprise, and boldly alledged that
he had been particularly attentive to the very
individuals who complained, land had frequent
ly forwarded them important papers. Still,
no documents were received-his constitu-
ents became more indgnant-and on his re-
turn home, he was frequently censured by
them, as they met him in his walks through
the district. He still protested his innocence,
and proved, in the most eonclusive manner,
that the documents had been forwarded from
Washington-had reached the city-but had
been suppressed by the post Office here; wheth-
err with political object or otherwise, will
soon be ascertained. Nay, more-it turns
out that the very documents addressed by
Col. Watmougb, Mr.. Bnney and others, to
their constituents-carefu!lye nveloped, seal
ed and directed-have, unopened, with the
seals still upon them, been sold in hundreds
by the post office department., to groeers and
Others, as waste paper :!
This may appear incredible to the honest
freeman of this ram n1nnitv h1,f II 10 cfrinflv
true. We have seen some Of these documents,
as folded and directed by Col. Watmough
and Mr.. Binncy, at Washington, and after
wards sold by the Post Office to grocer 10
Market street. A greater outrage was never
recorded in the history of this country. The
excitement produced by the disclosure of the
facts we have related is great. Col. Page,
the Philadelphia Post Master, is absent from
the city, and no efficient explanation Of the
gross violation Of the rights Of the people has
yet heen attempted. The corruptions of the
Post Office Department, as developed in the
report Of Mr.. Ewing, excited feeling, of dis
gust and horror throughout the land, but when
this last outrage is added to the list, hen the
people are told that there is no safety 10 the
Mail-that their property, hank notes, checks,
drafts, &c. are liable to be torn from the mail
bag by the underlings of the Department, and
sold for waste paper, what bounds shall check
their indignation We have not done with
this matter; the outrage is too fragrant and
abhorrent to be forgotten in day. Thank
God there are stiIl thousands Of stout hearts
among us determined to be free determined
TO have their rights, and to rescue their pro-
pcrty from the spiunderers who now batten
upon the public crib. This last oatrags. VIII
Aindle new spirit in them worthy the occa-
sion, We have arrived at a pretty pass in
deed, It our rights arc to be- thus trampIed opp
on, and our property thus to be wasted and
Aundered, with impunity.