Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-07-23

SUBSCRIPTIONS 10 the Txtra 0lOOe. Dut ~ Wac
not until the receipt of your last letter on yes
Iterday, that was made acquainted with the
fact that you had also reserved to yourself tho
power Of furnishing such offenders as are now
under tho control Of another officer 1;
nor will profess now to understand how il is
to be exercised, unless, indeed it is TO be under.
stood that the Hon. Mr.. Niles is the mere "lo.
cum tenens'' during the time you may find III
convenient TO devote your services to the cdi4f
toriaI chair
have thus minutcly detailed the circum-
stances that operated 10 prevent my compile
snce with my promise contained in my letter
Iof the 30h, which appears necessary for my
own ustfcaton-lor il cannot be supposed
that had either time or inclination to furnish!
matter for newspaper controversy IN the col
umns Of the Extra Globe, TO which suppose
your undivided attention was to be given for
the next six months.
take the liberty ofsuggesting, very respects
fully, that you might find your operations
much facilitated in the task you have under-
taken, even at this late period, Il mean offers
reting out and furnishing the offenders in the
Post Office Department. by asking for com.
mitteo of investigation, through the agency Of
your political friends in Congress, without
whose aid, such an effort would be vain and
fruitless; to bring before the country the names
Of the offenders, and the evidence Of their guilt
before the adjournment ofthe present Congress
Yet as it appears that the power Of furnishing
as we'll as rewarding, is still to be exercised by
you, in your private capacity of private citizen
with the cherished hope that may witness an
immediate reformation in the Department,
choerfuIly give you the name Of the honorable
gentleman referred to in my letter published
in the Richmond Wing, together with the cir
cums,ances of the transaction complained OF.
refer you to the letter Of the Hon. Truman
Smith of Connecticut, marked A. herewith en-
closed, the original Of which is now before me
In regard to the general charge OF corrup-
ton and espionage in the Post Office Depart
ment, refer you first to the enclosed copy ofu
circular, bearing date August 10Th, 1899, mar,
ked B, signed "Rob. Johnston, Second Assist
ant Postmaster General, J" with tho proceedings
of tho Postmaster in Petersburg, (Mr. Shore)
relative TO the Petersburg Intcligencer
have yet TO learn under what law, and by
what authority you take upon yourself to IN
struct YOUR subordinates, TO detain in the oil.
fee, if necessary, regular packets of papers
deposited therein, and to examine them by per.
sonal inspection, against the will, and contra
Try to the direction Of those who had deposited
Ithcm-which could only be done by breaking
a seal, or what is equivalent thereto, tearing
lopen an envelope.
am at loss to know why the same discre
Iton might not be- exercised with the same i'm
puniy in relation to letters. This, then, con
slider system Of espionage established under
your own eye, and by your own directions
What punishment will you apply TO the often
der in this casca
But whatever may have been the extent Of
the instructions, tho practice, it will DO obser
we'd, has not been confined to newspapers; aud
although fully within the knowledge Of the
Post Master General, we have heard nothing
either Of reformation or rebuko
As far back as 1898, complaint was lodged
with tho Postmaster General, by highly re;
spectacle and intelligent member Of Congress
that postmaster in his district, was not only
in the habit Of OBTAINING packages in his Office
for weeks, but that he was guilty Of violating
seals, aud revealing the secrets Of private lct \
tiers; an Offence for which he deserved 10 lose
his ears, in addition 10 the loss Of his Office
and yet this man continues in the service Of the
Department, refer you to q letter of the
Hon. Edward Stanly, Of North Carolina, mar
ked c. wherowith enclosed, the original o
which is also before me.
A case OF similar enormlty occurred Will
the letters of the Hon VIM. G. Preston, Soma
tor from South Carolina. with which tho Post
master General was made acquainted at III
time yet that Postmaster has not been dismiss
ed from once, but is still in the employment
the Department! refer you TO the copy 9
Mr.. Preston's letter markell d.
any additional information is desired, Il
me refer you to the statements contained
paper marked +, furnished by the Hon. job
&c. Clarke, from the State Of New York.
| These are but few Of the cases that nigh
be enumerated, and with which have beea
furnished; but presume they are enough
satisfy the most hypocritical, that tho charge
contained in my letter, TO which you have &C
verted, were not made in idleness or thought
cssness, and that they did not originate eithe
in wantonness or wickedness Of disposition
they are enough, at all events, hope, to occt
lpy the leisure moments you can spare for ii
vestigation from the laborions duties you hay
undertaken Of furnishing editorial matter 20
the Extra Globe, OF rewardng all those VIII
may contribute (by subscription) to its sur
port, and of bringing to punishment the often
ders in the Post Office Department; but thi
system Of rewards and punishmcnts has bee
Extensively, rigidIy, and fearlcssly exercised
and may be brought to such perfection that
may be executed with facility that know
nothing Of; in which event will undertake II
furnish additional matter, whenever can as
carfnin that in tha on Sas ann m rated the offar