Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-05-30
lie, MISSOURI, SATURDAY, MAY so, 1910.

DerS or congress, 1t must come from MIR. RltChie,
not from me: my business is with him, as his was
with me. Let him show that he was authorized by
them to send them papers in this manner, and he
may slip his own neck out of the halter--but he
can't do that without slipping theirs in.
The systematic corruption and espionage of the
Post Office Department Of this country, has reached
terrible and alarming extent, and Fouche himself
did not, during the reign of Napoleon, exercise his
power for the benefit Of his master in more fear
full degree, than is now exercised daily, for this
Administration l am authorized by highly re-
spectacle member of Congress to say, that envel-
opes that have been frankcd from Washington con
tanning Wing documents, when they reached here,
contan ned other documents Of the vilest Loco Foco
character-thus showing clearly that they had
been broken open in the Post Office, and robbed of
their contents. IS it wonderful, then, that the
People are not enlightened upon matters connected
with their dearest interests! But will it not be
wonderful still, if they do not correct these abuses
when they get to their knowledge!
How is it that this privilege is allowed TO Mr..
Richie, and that he practice it with inpunity
and without committing fraud, whilst member
of Congress, to whom the privilege of ranking is
given, is confined down to his two ounces, and is
charged with practising fraud, if he obtains the
frank of the Clerk on any package weighing more
than that.
l take occasion here to say. that the Clerk has
never been applied to, to frank any thing for me-
but by what construction of the law is it, that |, to
whom the franking privilege is given, can't send
two ounces and half of single bundle, and Mr..
Richie, to whom such privilege given, can
send two pounds and half of his newspapers,
and as many bundles as he chooses, free of post
age!
| There they are, now in the office seen by more
than fifty members, and liable to the inspection of
| all.
How they got to Washington, know not-I
only know from information derived from the Post
master of the House, by inquiry, that they TO
! him in a mail bag, with the balance Of the mail
| from the city post office Here they are, to be
folded in the document room, and sent off under
the franks of members of Congress.
presume, to,rerer, that they came by mail from
Richmond, for they reach here often as they are
published; and if they freight, then " it is
not through the channel designated by the law of
the land" and he convicts himself Of the stipend
Gus fraud he has charged upon me. Yet this is the
gentleman who undertakes TO publish my name as
connected with fraud, which l consider no slight
accusation, coming even from one OF Mr.. Rltche'
knoun political turpitUde.
| hope some contrast will be found between his
course of conduct and mine-he availing himself
of privilege that he is not entitled to- amounting
to absolute smuggling, and | declining privilege
that the law authorizes me to exercise; yet | an
to be ussailed by him as the aggressor, and he t,
escape free.
1
troubled myself about Mr.. Richie, if he had let nj
, alone; but when he makes blind, and groundes
and wicked attack upon me, he must take "a Rolan
; for his Oliver'-and these facts are mentioned
for the benefit of the American people in general
the Postmaster General in particular, and for thu
more especial benefit Of the Committee of thu
House, recently appointed to investigate the fraud
committed in the Post Office Department, and thu
, abuses Of the franking privilege.
And now am about to commit another fraud il
the Department, for instead of sending this lette
&" through the channel designated By the h,c Of th
land," free Of postage, l Shall commit it to the
, hands of some FRIEND who will be sure to deliver
it safe and without delay, for fear it may find it
way under the counter until after the elections
t. over, as it will be directed to the editors of WIFI
} newspaper, and may be supposed to contain in
portant political matter
, | apprehend it would be useless to ask Nj
Richie to give this letter place in the Enquire
and "Crisis"--but If he would, | might be induce
to relieve his political friends of portion of thei
labors, by ranking few of them myself.
} Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
| JNO. NJ. Bolts.
' Messrs. peasants, MosLEY, and DAVIS.