Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-09-11

From the Philadelphia Commercial lntcllgcnccr.
o'frage, Corruption. Violation Of the ia,r.
The following facts can, If necessary.
be substaniiated by evidence the most con.
/ elusive:
Col. JoHS G W,rnoueu, during the
recent session Of Congress, was generally
censured by his constituents for his ne
glect TO forward 10 them documents and
other sources Of information. Some Of his
/ friends wrote TO MIR. WArMousu spprix.
ing him of these murmurs, and were as
tonished TO receive in answer, Information
that large quantity of important docu-
ments had been forwarded 6y him 20 his
constituents; that bis duty in this particu.
lar had been scrupulousIy & fully complied
with; and that If the documents had not
been delivered the fault was with the Post
Office.
Inquiry was at once made at the Post
oilice. and Il was discovered that the doc
nments had been stopped. Anxious to
excite animosity against Col. Watn,ough.
his communications with his constituents
had been arrested by the office, holders,
and immense quantities Of documents, and
other communications ranked by Col
Wafmough, were allowed TO accumulate
IN the office. These documents, sealed
and franked, directed with great care and
accuracy. we're sold by the clerks Of the
Post office, as waste paper by the hundred
| weight, TO gentleman of Market street,
whose name has been left with us, and
can be given if applied for
II may be remarked that this sale Of the
documents, took place after Mr.. Wafmough
who had heard Of the outrageous conduct
of the Post Office, had sent an order for
them 10 the office, which order was disre-
garded.
So bold and insolent was the pcrpetra.
ton oil this outrage. that it became neces-
sary for MIR. Watmough, TO forward his
communications by private conveyance.
There IS, there can be, no excuse alleged
for these official crimes. The packets, some
oil which we have seen, were directed with
such peculiar accuracy, that the Office
holders cannot effect any difficulty in their
distribution.
[But. suppose the letters not to have
been claimed al all. or TO have been alto
geiher misdireeted. what right have the
Post Office, 10 make any other use Of dead
letters than TO return them as such to the
General Post Oilieep As stated above,
the case is one Of the most fragrant and
defensible abuses ever committed in the
Government.--.sationat bateItigencerl
Since preparing the above the following
tardy and very lame explanation of the
misconduct of the Post Office, has been
made by the friends Of the Administration
in Phlladelphia:
From the Philadelphia Pennsylvanian.
On inquiry, we learn that the simple
facts OF the case are III sse. During the
winter an immense number Of Congress
sionald documents were received al the Phil
adelphia Post Office. Thousands were di.
rccted TO persons who could not DO found
by the carriers. and were returned TO the |
office. Col. Walmough had ranked many |
of these documents: he was notified that |
a quantity remained in the Office, uncalled |
for, and he sent committee, by whom |
they were taken away, and distributed. |
II so happened, however. that few pack |
cts. bearing his frank, together with 9th
ers, ranked by G. &. Cambreleng. Suth.
erland, sc, were accidentally mingled
among the dead newspapers, and were not
discovered, when those newspapers were
sold, in compliance with an act Of Con.
gress.