The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-28

have thought II was just 10 put al newspaper ~
far the carriers of the public conesr"e''
upon the footing, subjeotng them alike 70 INC
same postage.
1t is matter of regret to me- that have not been
enabled to prevent the violations of the law oil io~'
upon all the great routes but lrejoce that have mel
with partial success. There are yet persons engaged
for pay, on of the routes in the business MOI
only of transporting newspapers, but letters IN uie
same vehicle employed by the Government TO trans
port the mail. These hope, with the aid of Con-
gress, and the appreciation of just public sentiment
to arrest.
See what frauds and suberfuges this practice Will
tempt certain men TO adopt
Even the editors Of the Baltimore Clipper have not
been enabled with all their stock of dsineresed pa
triosm and law-abldng love, to withstand the temp
tation which this practice holds out They not only
claim the right send their paper of the mall by
the mail carrier in violation of law, but are guilty
Of concealng their letters directed TO their corre-
spondents, in their newspapers. received from Mr.
Byrne, the Washington and Richmond Mail Agent,
letter, under date of 9TH November in which he says
al, to-day, detected in the bundle of Baltimore
Clippers sent presume from the Clipper Office, in
one for Fredericksburg, and one for Richmond
directed TO the Agent carrier of that paper these
places. |, of course, took them and mailed them In
the regular mail made up by me for hose places"
Upon sending copy Of this letter to the editors Of
that paper, and making of them respectful inquiry
and also demonstrating against this abuse they in re-
ply devote some three pages of argument TO prove
that they have this right and had been in the habit Of
exercising and then devote much of their edori-
al abors the abuse of my humble self in the fool
sh charge that Their paper had been prescribed be-
cause Of its politics. will do myself and the edl-
tors, the justice say, until their paper handed
me by friend, pointing to this assault upon my
cal complexion of it
Until Congress shall repeal the law Of 1926 shall
execute its provisions as far as in me lies IL this prac-
tce is tolerated. it requires depth Of thought 10
its effects, not only upon the of the Depart
ment but upon the newspaper press itself All the
editors cannot-nay, very few of them, if they
disposed, can-avail themselves Of the privilege of
violating the law, as the editors of the Clipper have
done. The consequence is, the one paper pays post
age whilst the other avoids it, The fair and less ia
vored editor will find his subscribers diminished be-
of the increased of his paper over that of
his less scrupulous or Fortunate brother of the
press.
do not design to interfere with the private right of
any editor If he chooses to employ at his own ex-
pense, his own messenger in his own vehicle, to
carry his papers to his distant subscribers he has
right to do so. But deny him the right to employ
the contractor of the Department. be that conrac
railroad company or stage owner, to carry out of
the mall, any matter which by law can be sent in the
mail.
The rule Of my official conduct ever has been, and,
trust, ever will be- to administer the law of the De-
partment as it is declared by the law-making power,
justly and mpartally, and, trust, independently of
the coarse censure of partisan press. shall essay
| so to discharge it in the present instance And
shall expect your operation and that of the agents
and contractors of the Department. | was much
gratifed to be informed by the special agent of the
Department, that the conductors of the railroad cars
between Fredericksburg and Richmond prompt,
yielded their assent to the requirements of the law
1926 as the illegality of the practice wa.
pointed out to them
am, respectfully
| Your obedient servant
C. A. WICKLIFFE
B. PAXTON, Esq,