The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-13
FRANKING ABUSES BY PUBLIC OF
FICERS.


The monstrous abuse of the Thanking privi-
lege, and violations of law committed by the
present office-holders, are among the very po-
tent reasons why they should be reformed our
of office. The high officers Of the Government
ought to be the first TO set examples of obedience
to the laws If the laws are not regarded by
those, who, in addition to the duties of citizen
ship, are bound also by the obligations of oaths,
how can we expect that there will be- in the
end, any thing but anarchy, disobedience and
corruption, far as the influence Of Govern
ment extends2 How could we expect, were il
not that the mass of the people are more vlrtu-
GUS than their rulers, any thing but general
suspension Of the force and effect Of all law and
all constitutions If they can violate one law
with IMMUNITY they can another, so that we
shall see, if these abuses continue, ultimately,
Government subject to no law; and such
Government must soon fall into anarchy, and
anarchy is always followed by despotsm
Amos Kendall has introduced more disobe-
dience, more INSCRIPTIONS disregard for legal
restraints, and other official sins, than he will
eyer be able to answer for though he should live
contest will stand as monument of unprinci-
pied audacity, which future people will look upon
either as the beginning Of the end of the Repub-
lie, OF political phenomenon exciting their
curious inquiries as to how any one portion of
the people could have been duped into his sup
port, or how another portion could have tole-
rated him with any patience, or for any length
of time whatever. They will see that his or
ders to Postmasters, while he was Postmaster
General requiring them to return to their own
ers or authors, with double postage all letters
sent to them for private account, were violated
by himself the moment he left his office, with
the coolest impudence imaginable, and the VIC
lation continued throughout the summer and
fall, on the most comprehensive scale, with to-
tai insensihility TO the beauties of consistency in
HIMSELF or the obligations of duty among the
poor Postmasters whom he punished if they did
not instantly, without one word OF honest re-
monstrance, fall in with his lawless projects
| But he is not only accountable for his own VIC
latlons Of law, but also for the sins of others
who have attempted to justify similar violations
by his example. The Extra Globe, like the APP
obedience. And when the day of wrath comes.
the woful penalties will fall upon many, many
heads. The Secretary of the Treasury, the 1st
and I'd Assistants Postmaster General, the Soil
cltor of the Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secre-
tary of the Mexican Commissioners, sundry
Commissioners we might name, and others, will
feel keenly the corrective rod which an indignant
people are about to apply.
The Solicitor Of the Treasury, in his exces-
sive solicitude for the State of Ohio, but more
particularly his own Office, has been deeply en-
gagged in ranking off the Extra Globe, and other
documents having similar objects When he is
called to the bar of judgment by the people,
whose laws he has treated with contempt, with
what face will he listen to the reading of the
law he has broken These are the words of
the law:
All letters to and from the Solicitor Of the Trea-
sury relating 10 the duties and business Of the office
shall be transmitted by mail free of postage"
| So the ranking privileges of the Mexican
Commissioner are granted in words like these ::
| :" All communications to- or from the Secretary of
the Board of Commissioners, the business of the
commission shall pass by mail tree of postage
In similar manner are the ranking privileges
|
of all the officers we have alluded to erpresslv
limited by the laws of the United States Are
not these men Sporn to obey and support the
laws And are men who wholly and daily dis
regard their official oaths honest men I? have they
conscience do they recognize any obligations
to supreme being are they fit 10 be trusted
are they worthy TO be in office 2 Will not man
who will break his oath, plumber, steal, lie, bear
false witness, and commit every offence prohi-
bited by the Decalogue2 And is not such an
officer, plague spot, leprosy, perpetual dis
honor upon your Government Rely upon it
these oath-breaking, and law-violating men, are
8 tit for treason, stratagems and spoils-let no
such men be trustedn
| HONOR TO WHOM HONOR is DUE.
| Our esteemed friend, the Editor of the Baltimore