Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-03-07
INCE\DIARY PUBLICATIONS.

The able and eloquent Report, made to the
Senate some week. ago, by Mr.. Calhoun, relative
10 the right OF Congress TO strain hy law III, cir
eulation Of Incenliary Publications, through the
mails has been excluded from our columns hl-
.r,o b, press Of other matter. Delay, however,
has b, no means diminished its interest |, is a
pointed and irr, sisibc argument, in opposition to
ihr exercise OF that power by Congress, on" of
. most dangerous character, akin. both i'll prin-
ciplc and in its application, to the Scdion law of
,hp elder Adams
The fact that the recommendation of the Prcsi-
dent to CONGRESS-, in Iii, last Annual Message, To
pl,> such a law, has elected no commrni, except in
| Mr. Calloun'> Report, either ON the floor Of Con-
grr>s OF in the public prints, although nn,hng is
more common than dcnunciaiions of the Sediion
law, with which that recommendation is identical
In principle, shows how li,, reflection there i,
and i, possible less Justice, in The clamors Of poll
uic,an>. ana in the vrrdicl> ot public opinion.
John Adams's name will 90 down to the latest pos
,,rty, loaded with eNccralions, the author Of
the Ear famed Scd,tion law,-Qes, understood, BY
the way, than famous for, unfortunately, not ono
fourth of ,hoS. who dcnopncc it have an, know
lelge of lis provisions, or evcu of It's cen2!al cha
rarnr) -~hile c.. Jack .on, who, in lis last Mes
,a,c, recommended measure Identical its nature,
escapes all rrproaoh--nay, is even appauded To
the very echo Il AT aPr'auds aean'
Ms. Calhoun, however, as the reader will per
ecNe, does not lave the suilccl with denial of
Tho reht of tie general gos. =: 20 forb'd
circulation Of lncendiar, Publications tErop.'. IT,
pabIc mails He contends thai the power To de-
iend ihcm>elyes AGAINST these publications rests
with the ,lavc-holding : at X TIA the general go
,ernmcnt is excluded from all agency n thc mat
ter, except in so FIR as lis co-oprraon may be
necessary 10 carry lhe State laws Into effect
and he su>,ans this position by train of reasoning
which, il not conclusive, is Yet ingenious and diff
hcu 10 be rcfuted.
For our own parts, while we have been always
tBpcsr1 to do Justice to the motives oi Amos
Kendall, in c,nniving at and lnsl,ng the course
pursued by the New York postmaster in reference
10 these lnccndary Publications, during til" last
summer, it is impossible hot TO perceive that the
recognition of power in the deputy pos'masterS,
with or without the consent of the Postmaster Cen
eral, acting under the authority of law or not TO
decide what classes of papers shall be permitted to
circulate through the M ills, and what shall be
GUIDED, would open the door to wide abuses and
lead to most fatal results. The postmaster who
To-day would throw Gartison's Libfroter in the
streets, might tomorrow perform the me KIND
OGcc for papers poltcaHy ohno>ioGs 10 him
and the whole department might, ii this way, be
converted INTO a political machine, circulating only
such opinions and arguments should find favor
with It's Chief. 1t is not wise, think, even 10
get rid OF the Abolition tracts by means so hazar-
oous. The object would unqncstonaby be good
one but the means of attaining it would confer too
mnchpower upon IN I'M Iuals who would I've strong
attempted toalnse it, especially under admini,tra-
IONS winch act upon The maxim that the offices Of
ihe country are the personal property of the Pre-
S'd'n', 10 he bestowed, Eot for faithful services or
conspicuous merit, but as "rcwards" to polit-
'ea' Par;zans, WHO have laborcd in his cause.