Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-03-01
From the Boston Pear

FROM the boston PEARL
PosT OFFIcE.--Your Post Office is your
only true democrat, the lcveller of all dis
tinctons, the patron of all trades and pro-
fessions--the herald of lovers signs and
creditors duns-the distributor ofgood and
evil--the announcer of intelligence to kill,
and to cure. The scroll on which depends
the fate Of a nation, and that which decides
the sale of a load Of potatoes are equal
here. Both receive the like attention.
With equal care is the paper of state and
the rustic's blotted epistle preserved and
forwarded on its way. Beside some Sena-
tors important package nestles in, cheek
by jowl, the greasy letter of a soap boilers
daughter. The poets burning lines keep
company with the merchants matter of fact
epistle (; and the Quaker's modest sheet
shake hands with a polite invitation to a
ball, or courtezan's amatory professions.
Here the written declarations of deadly
foes are fondy and ardently pressed to-
gether-the letters of opposing politicians
meet and embrace in the leather hall to
which they are consigned. The General
Post Office whose branches extend into
every part of the country-through whose
veins the life-blood of commerce, of agricul-
ture, of literature and of love are continual
ly coursing, is the most important institu-
ton IN the country. Without it commerce
would be becalmed, science would retro.
grade, literature would die, and love would
cool. Without its indispensable aid the
creditor could not dun, and the debtor could
not complain-the love-lorn damsel would
sigh over the negligence of her absent
swain-the merchant would dream of ship
wreck and ruin---the politician would not
electioneer-the poet could not borrow mo-
ney-the woman of fashion might wear a
bonnet that had been three days voted down
by the ton-the state of the weather in ILL
nois would remain unknown on the sea-
board-the murder would be first announ.
ced by travelling preacher and what is
worse than all, the Pearl and Galaxy would
not be circulated down east.
Of how much Importance is it then that
the affairs of this great thoroughfare OF
business, love and literature, should be
kept pure and unsupported. Ofhow much
consequence is it that the gate-keepers and
toll-takers of this establishment should be
men on whom the most implicit reliance can
be placed Considering the importance Of
the Post Office, and the responsibilities
which rest on its agents, what must we think
of those postmasters and mistresses who
keep their letters in tea-kettlc, or stow
them up garnet in an old handbook among
lumber? What must we think of an ole
lady who picks out letter with handsome
seal to give to the children TO keep then
quiet, while she reads her Bible upside down
What shall we think Of the post mistress
who allows the girls Of the neighborhood Il
squeeze up and examine all the rose color
cd letters at penny peep? Some ofthos
little agents Of the Post Office are about q
competent for the task as monkey is f
manage steam engine. They will with
hold letters by way of punishment to thei
neighbors, with whom they chance to hav
q quarrel-and cannot think of delivering
up magazine or newspaper to the humbl
individual who subscribes to it, until tn
Squire and the minister have had the perust
of it; and even then if these worthless con
slider it Of immoral tendency or calculate
TO encourage heterodox opinions, it is mad
the subject of an auto de .fe. How happ
then is that people who have postmaste
possessing all the requisite qualifications an
: the scrupulous integrity required by h
calling. How favored is that people VIII
have a Nathaniel, who is an Israelite ii
; deed and in whom there is no pllile."