State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-06-21
From The Boston atlas.
MIX SENATOR DAVIS ON THE POST
OFFICE INQUISITION BILL.

IuDllcatlOn BIZ eXcItcS general dignation
and disgust. There is none of his North
ern presses that ddreS to Justify or excuse
1t. Some of them pass it over in utter
silence. Others remark upon it with n
faint, feeble and reluctant condemnation.
MI feel that he has betrayed the constitu-
tional rights Of the North Even the
stlcklers for "availabiity" confess that
their faith is shaken. They fear that the
sccptre has departed.
| We give below the views of Mr. Senator
Davis on this Bill. We ask for them am
attentive perusal and consideration. We
call upon every man who reads them, to
decide for himself how far a o.. Northern
Senator 80 voting for this bill is entitled
to the trust of his constituents. A more
justly obnoxious Law could not have been
framed. And yet Mr. Van Buren's two
Regency Senators, Mcssrs. fright and
TdtLmadge voted for this Bill, and it was
ordered to third reading by ~ The cast
ing uote Of Mr. Fan Buen.-E1 The mer-
its of the Bill were thus considered by MIR
Davis:
The question raised by this bill is this
shall we further regulate the Post Office,
by requiring the Post Masters TO Investigate
the contents Of the Mule
The bill makes it penal to receive or de-
liver any papers, the circulation of which
are forbidden. Now, sir, how can the re-
ceiving or delivering postmaster know
what he receives or delivers, without eX-
aminaton? If he fails to examine them,
the whole purpose of the law is defeated.
If ne examines them, the contents of the
mail are exposed. The bill embraces all
letters, as well as printed matter; for, after
enumerating newspapers, pamphlets, hand
bills, pictures, &C., it says, or any other
paper.
| The mail is necessarily submitted TO the
| inspection Of the poStmdSterS, miM po,cer
to REJECT or WITHHOLD so much of The con-
tents as haze anything an them touching The
subject Of Slavery, If 1t Is prohibited crcula-
ton. We are told that all incendiary pub
LEGATIONS are prohibited; but what are in
cendiary? Yes, what are incendary?
will read TO the Senate, from u document
before me, that they may be the better
able to judge what is and will be inhibited
as incendiary. A short time past, citizen
of New York, residing in that State, and
editing newspaper called the Emancipa-
tor, was indicted in Alabama and as he
was not resident in that State, the Governor
demanded him Of the Governor of New
York as fugitive from Justice, Though he
had not been within the limits of Alabama, J
that he might be tried upon the Indictment
A copy of this bill was exhibited TO the
Governor of New York, as the foundation
OF the right of claim, and thus became
! public. The Governor of New York de-
MED that person who had not been in
Alabama could be fugitive from that State,
and so he was not surrendered.
| Now beg the Senate to be attentive to
the offence set forth in this indictment. 1t
consists in matter extracted from the Eman-
cpator, and is as follows: "God commands
and all nature cries out that man should
not be held as property. The system of
making men property has plunged $3.50,
600 Of our fellow countrymen, into the
deepest physical and moral degradation,
and they are every moment sinking deeper"
OF all the matter published in this incendi-
airy periodical, as it is styled, this has been
selected as the most criminal, as designed,
as the indictment alleges, "to produce con-
spiracy, Instruction and rebellion among
the slave population of said State, in vio-
lation of the .4ctof the General assembly IN
such case made and prOUided." Such is the
law of Alabama, and such the language
which il makes criminal, and sends the
publisher, on conviction, suppose, to the
peniteniary. With the policy of such a
law have nothing to do on this OCCASION
for adduce this indictment as leading
example to show what is by law made in
cendiury. Whatever may be the views en-.
tertained in the States where slavery is law.
iuI, cannot forhear remarking that this
language will he read with surprise in this
~ nf IL tytll Lao
ed a mere expression of opinion, mere
} truisnI, 10y nlne-tenliIs ofthc people, & they
will find it difficult to understand how, IN q
Lald iohere the freedom Of sprech anil The press
are secured by The Constitutional can be IN idti
CRIMINAL.
II, sir, such declarations are to be denied
The privilege of the mail, the Constitution
of Massachusetts would be EXCLUDED AS
, LBELLoUs, because ii declares all men ar,
born free and eTtai. This sentiment i.
nunitcstly ms much mt war with slavery as
that contained in tho indictment.
The speeches made here in the halls o
legislation could not pass through the mail
: The debates themselves would he suppress
ed the speeches delivered here by IN,
Senator from Carolina himself, if the matter
, he has read to us from papers is carrie,
into them, could not be distributed IN Ala
bama through the post Office and for ough
hut | see, in following out the same doc
trinG, an essay on education sustaining il
: general importance would he deemed in
! ccndlary, because ii is Il portion OF the pub
! lie policy not to educate slaves. And VIII
should not q discussion Of free and libers
principles, asserting the right of mankin
10 govern themselves, follow the same fate
6 | need not multiply Instances to shoy
where this power leads to. Incendiar
matter is any thing unlavorable to slavery.
The general principle urged by the Sc
ntor from Carolina is, that where the State
have power TO legislate, the United State
are bound TO carry mo execution thei