Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1840-05-09

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of documents franked by me, | complained
to the post-maste (Col. Gooch) himself,
who said he did not know how long they
had been there, but it was possible they
might have been detained by the state ef
the roads.
sit is not possible for me to say how
long they had been III that office-I only
speak of the facts as they occurred; but
know that other papers, mailed subsequent
y to them, had been received and distrbu-
ted at that office, and that these papers had
been detained improperly for ten, days
somewhere, and / also know that they
should have been distributed as soon as re-
ceived, and that the bag had been opened
and laid aside under the counter, with no
purpose of having the documents distribu-
ted at that time.
ais it remarkable, then, that ] should pre-
fer to send my documents as freight, ra-
ther than trust them through the Post Of
flee again, ifI was anxious for their imme-
diate and certain delveryl
"But more than this-I have daily ap-
plicaliOns from friends in different sections
of the State for documents / sent them
many weeks ago, which shows that there
are other offices where the same scheme is
praciised." M
"Now hearl Is it not remarkable that
Mr.. Richie shoul have the unblushiDg sf
frontery tie charge me with a fraud on the
Post Office Department, (when, | venture
to say; have been as scrupulons in tie
use ofmy privilege as any other mcmber of
Congress, no matter who he ISL because |
have declined the privilege of sending my
papers through the public channels, which
am authorized by law to use, whilst he, en-
titled to no such privilege, is daily practising
the grossestand most objectionable frauds,
by sending his newspapers and other doc
uments to members of Congress, to be-
franked by them throughout the United
States!
"What are the facts? No member Of
Congress is allowed by law to frank any Ia
iper, save public documents, weighing more
than two ounces: and the Post Master Ge-
neral has recently addressed circular TO
members of Congress complaining of it as a
fraud, that they get the clerk of the house
to frank for them in some instances, when
the package contains more than two oun-
ces: And yet there are, al This moment, fif-
ty pounds weight of the "Crlsis," and pro-
ccedlDgs and address of the Democratic
Convention, living on the counter of the
Post Office Of the House of Representatives,
in bundles weighing (not two ounces) but
two pounds, and two pounds and half
eech, directed to various members of Con-
gress of the Administration party, all re-
cevcd through the mail of this morning;
and by yesterdays mail, there were ten
bushels of the Crisis" directed to single
member of the house, (Mr. Hopkins,) each
weighing two pounds and half, and no
postage charged. | speak with certainty
of their weight, because had them weigh
ed myself, in the Office. These were all
sent by Mr.. Rtchc, or from his Office, and
of course by his direction.
"It appears, then, that the seventy-fye
pounds of printed matter from Mr.. Rltch-
les office, containing the "Crsis" and the
proceedings of the Democratic Convention,
in packages or bundles weighing two
pounds and upwards each, have been re-
ccived through the mail at the Post Office
oftha house of representatives, IN hoo Digs,
and no postage charged!
81 understand from the Post Master, that
the regular rate of postage established by
law, would require postage at the rate of
fifty cents an ounce ON all over two ounces
in each package.
Seventy-fve pounds would contain
twelve hundred onnces, there being thirty
packages; only two ounces in each, or six
ty in all, were entitled to go free. Sixty
deducted from the gross amount of twelve
hundred, leaves 1140 ounces to be paid for,
at so cents an ounce, which amounts to
$j4O, that the Post Office Department was
entitled to receive from some quarter, and
of which it has been defrauded and robbed
by somebody.
"Now, let Mr.. Ritchie turn his vigilant
eye to this outrage, and set his wits at
work to .erret out the offender, and hold
him up TO the public view, and to the scorn
and Indignation that he merits, through the
columns of the Enquirer and the Crisis"
and if he can't find him out, hope the Post
Master General will, and that he will make
out his account against Mr.. Richie, and
send it OH TO Richmond, and If he don't
pay 1t, have sui: Immediately instituted
upon it, and have me summoned as a wit
ness, together with the Post Master of the
house, Mr.. Hopkins, Mr.. Craig, Mr.. John
son, Mr.. Lucas, and fifty other members Of
congress, whose names will furnish, if ne
ccssary.
Let it be understood that have given
the amount Of postage due for two days on
ly, because that only has come under my
o,Un cye. How long 1t has been practised
/ know not-nor do know how long it is
to continue. | understand, however, that
it has been practised ever since the "Cri-
SIS was established.
8" 1t was but few days since that my
colleague, Mr.. Wise, received through the
mail small package weighing five ounces,
aud was charged one dollar and fifty cents
postage. Now, ii these facts don't satisfy
every man, woman and child in the coun-
Try, of the mode in which this Government
is administered, then confess | am at a
loss to conjecture what will.
"Thc systematic corruption and espio-
mage of the Post Office Department of this
country, has reached n terrible aud 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
Z his admipist ration | nm nnthorzed hv