The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-25
THE .sToLEN LETTER"


We read in the Baltimore Patriot, of Satur-
day, letter, copied from the Pennsylvania Tel
egraph, purporting to have been written by the
assistant postmaster Of New York to the Post
master General. Two or three weeks since
our attention was called TO the same letter in an
obscure newspaper of Philadelphia, the editor OF
which boosted that il had been stolen. Published
through such an organ, we paid no regard 70 the
contents of the letter; nor did we suppose any
decent journal would insert an article either ie-
lonously procured or mallclously forged-oe-
cause the person who receives goods knowing
them to be stolen, circulates paper knowing
it TO be forged, is an accessory after the fact,
and alike subject to punishment. We adhere
to the same opinion still; and from the time that
has elapsed since the first appearance OF the
letter in worthless print, we are confident no
paper of reputation will countenance by publ
cation the felony or the forgery. That 1t APP
pears only in such papers as the Telegraph and
Patriot, confirms us in our belief.
The letter in question, even if genuine, (oi
which we doubt, since the only testimony we
have to that effect is the assertion of the indvdu-
al who boasts that it was stolen and, II stolen,
| who probably stole it,) will do no injury to the
| Republican cause, and add no strength 10 a
party that would resort to such means TO uphold
its tottering power. 1t tells but little, except
perhaps the opinions Of the writer, that we
| knew not before it assures us OF the organiZa-
| ton of an Administration party among the Peo-
IF nvofa=sa1 polItIcIauS. fore
| tells the success Of the Republican cause in the
city, and might have been equally prophetic OF
| its triumph throughout the Stale speaks of the
kind Of men who are interesting themselves In
| the Peoples cause as persons ''who live In the
mass, and when they move, the portion OF the
mass, in which they live, moves with them p
| a fact most nauseous TO Federalism. The letter
makes no revelations, for the simple reasons the
reputed author had none to make it exposed nc
secret manGuvring, no improper management,
for there was none to expose: and If it reaches
the public mind through organs of communica
ton in which trust can be rcposed, it will have q
salutary effect in convincing the People tina
the country's condition prospers in the increase
of the Presidents friends.
We cannot here but remark the sineuary (e
licitous tactics by which Federalism seeks tc
advance its cause. Under the garb of friend
ship it establishes intimacy where it hopes tc
destroy seizes all occasions TO entrap confidence
to betray il makes Of familiar domestic inter
course means TO obtain the secret wishes Of the
heart from unsuspecting faith, and perver,s un
guarded expressions into deliberate assertions
magnifies each uttered exclamation; falslfes al
speech it cannot bend TO its purpose, and in
vents where it cannot repeat.
But however disregardlul of the rules honor
pre-crbes, with regard to confidential inter
course, its advocates are no less inatentive tC
the commands of positive law for the same
persons who reveal communications entrusted tC
their honor, with equal indifference empty the
pockets Of the leaders who address them. Ar
ignorance of moral principle induces eilhe
practice.