The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-27

evidence OF their guilt, before the adjournment
q The present Congress- Yet as il appears that
the power Of Furnishing, as well as rewarding,
Is sill TO be exercised by you, in your capacity
OF private citizen, with the cherished hope that
may witness an immediate reformation in the
Department cheerfuliy give you the name of
the honorable gentleman referred TO in my letter
published in the Richmond Wing, together with
me circumstances Of the transaction complain
ed Of .i,...
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.
10 regard 10 the general charge Of corruption
and espionage in the Post Office Department,
refer you first to the enclosed copy Of circular,
bearing date August Is, $780, marked b, signed
hob Johnston, Second Assistant Postmaster
General, with the proceedings Of the postmaster
10 Petersburg Mr.. Shore) relative to the Peters
burg Intelligencer. e
have yet to learn under what law and by
what authority you took upon yourself instruct
your subordinates 10 defain In the Office il ne
cessary, regular packets of papers deposited
therein, and to examine them by personal in
specton, against the will and contrary to the d.
recion Of those who had deposited them-which
could only be done by breaking seal, or, what
is equivalent thereto, tearing open an envelope.
am at loss to know why the same discre-
ton might not be exercised with the same inn
puniiy in relation to letters. This, then, | con
slider system Of espionage established under
your own eye, and by your own directions.
w nat punishment will you apply TO the offender
in this case
But whatever may have been the extent Of the
instructions, the practice, it viii be observed,
has not been confined 10 newspapers and al
though fully within the knowledge of the Post
master General, we have heard nothing either
OF reformation or rebuke.
As far back as 1893 complaint was lodged
with the 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
and revealing the contents Of private letters
an offence for which he deserved tolose his ears,
in addition to the loss Of his office and vet this
man continues in the service Of the Department.
] refer you to letter Of the Hon. Edward Stanly,
Of North Carolina, marked c. herewith enclosed,
the original Of which is also before me-
case of similar enoImity occurred with the
letters of the Hon. VIM. c.. Preston, Senator
from South Carolina, with which the Postmaster
General was made acquainted at the time; yet
that postmaster has not been dismissed from Of
fee, but is still in the employment of the Depart
ment. lrefer you to the copy Of Mr.. Preston's
letter, marked ID.
II any additional information is desired, let me
refer you to the statements contained in paper
marked E, furnished by the Hon. John C. Clark,
from the State of New York.
These are but few of the cases that might
be enumerated, and with which have been fur
nished; but | presume they are enough to satisfy
the most hypercritical, that the charges contained
in my letter to which you have adverted, were
not made in idleness or thoughllessness and
that they did not originate either in wantonness
or wlckedness Of disposition they are enough,
at all events, hope, to occupy the leisure mo
ments you can spare for investigation from the
laborious duties you have undertaken of furnish
ing editorial matter for the Extra Globe, Of re-
warding all those who may contribute (by sub
scrption) to its support, and Of bringing TO pun
lshment the offenders in the Post Office Depart
ment; but this system Of rewards and punish
ments has been extensively, rigidly, and fearfuy
exercised and may have been brought to such
perfection that may be executed with facility
that know nothing of; in which event will
undertake TO furnish additional matter, whenever
can ascertain that, in the cases enumerated. the
offenders have been reformed /; but, al the same
time, trust that the day is not far distant when
you will be released from this unpleasant and
painful task, by the general reformation in every
branch and department of the Government.
which the People themselves have resolved to
carry into execution.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. BOLTS.
Hon. Amos KENDALL,
Late Postmaster General.