The Arkansas advocate., 1835-10-02

thero can be no doubt: fit shall ever be settled by the authority of Congress, that the post-office establishment may be legally and must be actually employed as an iFresponsi- ble agent to enable misguided fanatics or reckless ineendiaries to stir up with impuni- l ty instruction and servile war in ihe south ern states, those states will of necessity con slder the general government as an accom- plice in the crime-they will look upon it as identified in cruel and unconstitutional at- tack upon their unquestionable rights and dearest interests, and they must necessarily treat It as common enemy in their means of defence. Ought the Postmaster or the department, by thrusting these papers upon the southern states now, in defiance of their laws, to hasten state of things so deplo- rablei
 l do moi desire to be understood as af- firming that the suggestion here thrown out ought, without the action of higher authori- ty, to be considered as the settled eonstruc- ton of the law or regarded by postnasters as the rule for their future action. It Is only intended to say, that in sudden etner- gency, involving principles so grave and consequences so serious, the safest course for postmasters and the best for the eoun- try, is that which you have adopted
 1t prevents the certain seizure of all the mails in the aggrieved states, with a view to the interception and destruction of the obnoxious papers-the interruption of com- mercial and friendly orrespondence-th loss of confidence In the safety of the mail conveyances--and the probable overthrow of the authority of the United States, as far as regards the post-office establishment, throughout half the territory of the Union.
 It prevents a speedy interruption of com merce and trade between the north and the south for there are abundant evidences, that the vessels or steamboats which should be known 10 come freighted with these pa- pers, whether in the mail or out would not long be suffered to float in safety in the southern ports.
 It alays in some degree the excited feel ing of the white man against the black, which changes the dominion over the slave from one of mildness to one of severity and puts the free negro in imminent peril of his life.
 You avoid being made yourself the agent and accomplice of blind fanaticism or wick ed design, in course of proceedings, which. if successful, could not fail to repeat on our shores, the horrors of St. Domingo, and desolate with exterminatng war, half the territory of our happy country.
 You prevent your government from being made the unwilling agent aud abettor of crimes against the states which strike at their very existence, and give time for the proper authorities to discuss the principles involved and digest safe rule for the future guidance of the Department
 While persisting in a course which phi lanthropy recommends and patriotism ap- proves, doubt not that you and the other postmasters who have assumed the respon- sibility of stopping these inAammatory pa- pers in their passage 10 the south, will per- ccive the necessity of performing your duty in transmitting and delivering ordinary newspapers, magazines and pamphlets with perfect punctuality. Occasion must not be given to charge tho Postmasters with car rying their precautions beyond the necessi- ties of the case, or capriciousy applying them 10 other cases in which there is no necessity; and 1t would be the duty as we'll as the inclination of the Department, to punish such assumptions with unwonted severity. This suggestion l do not make because I have any apprehension that 1t is needed for your restraint; but because 1 wish this paper to bear upon it's face com plete explanation of the views which take of my own duty in the existing emergency.
 Vsry respectfully.
 Your ob't. servant,
 AMOS KENDALL.