The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-10-04
From the .htw York aurora
POST OFFICE AFFAIRS AGAIN.

| ram the .Neio York .Iarora.
POST OFFICE AFFAIRS AGAIN
! So much has been published impugnng the Tost-
! master General for taking measures TO enforce the
| penalty upon the transportation of newspapers
mail routes IN steamboats, aud stages that becomes
necessary, for his justification, 10 call public aten
ton to the law as it now exists, and 10 show that,
| however individuals may complain, an imperative
| duty, which he cannot omit and preserve nviolate
his oath OF office, and which he ought not to neglect
m justice TO the department entrusted TO his care de-
mards that he should take every measure in his pow
to enforce the provisions Of the statute which for
| bids such transportation.
We published two letters from Mr. Wickne on
this subject on Saturday last, and now
quested TO insert the following printed circular in
tended 10 be sent TO the several presidents of the
railroads used by The mail, and 10 other parties nie
rested IN It's transportation.
In doing this, act Of justice to q vgilan, pub
! lie officer, we wish II 10 be distinctly understood
that We are not defending the law In common with
our brethren OF the press, we think il is
provision imposing restrictions upon the dlssenna-
ton OF knowledge and intelligence which should be
| removed. We think also the postage OF letters Is
too high but MIR Wickfe cannot remedy that evil,
nor he permit the violation of the provision un
der consideration. IL will be seen by the circular
now published that he has power 10 grant permis-
sion OF parties to send newspapers otherwise than by
mail, and applied 10 doubt he will grant the PR
| yilege upon reasonable terms
The plan too much resorted to by editors Of seek
ing TO avoid an onerous law, by abusing on all occa.
SONS the public officer whose unpleasant task il is to
enforce IT, is act of justice which ought not and
in this will not produce any departure from the
| strict line OF duty.
As we have said heretofore 50 we say again, let
TIE complaints against all burdensome portions Of the
post Office law be laid before Congress- and no man
viii do more than the present vigilaat Postmaster
Genefa 10 have The best possible remedy applied 10
remove them, AID the law 50 modified as to produce
the greatest amount of public good with the least pos
sibc onus upon the people aud upon the dissemination
Of knowledge and intelligence.
! Until that shall he DONE those who delight 10 ere.
! ale excitement by The systematic attacks upon tie
Post Office Department and its worthy chief may as
well save themselves the trouble for We can assure
them that nothing that can be written will interfere
10 prevent him from pursuing the course which how
ever disagreesbe personally 10 himself he deems TO
be imPerailv'y called for by Conscientious dis.
charge Of his duties
PosT OrFIcE DEPARTMENT,
September !, l643
SiR The many complaints and numerous official
reports made by the Agents of the Department and
Postmasters, OF the continued violation OF the Post
Oihce laws by persons carrying for pay letters,
newspapers, and mail matter over and upon mail
roads, and often in the vehicle employed by the De.
partment 10 transport the mail and the reduction i'm
the revenue, owing, in no small degree to the exist.
ence and increase OF ihs abuse, have suggested the
propriety Of addressing you this letter Ii hoped
when your attention is called 10 the law and the ms.
ture OF your obligation TO the Department that YOU
will exercise the power you have not only To proiect
the Department against the nroads upon its RICH $
but TO give vIgIlant after tion TO the fuflment O,
your engagements, as contractor for carrying the
mail
he power 10 establish post Office and 10 carry
mall Is granted by the Constitution TO the Congress.
Of the United States. This grant Of power is 7GllI
and consequently exclusive. No State can establish
a post office, or run mail line, neither can any ct
4 zen do SO.
Congress, by the act Of 1925, section 10. ex.
pressly declared THAT no stage or other vehicle
l. which regularly performs trips on o post road or on
a road parallel TO it, shall convey letters nor shall
any packet boat, or other vessel which recul,rly
plies on water declared to be post road ~ convey
Il letters, excerpt such as relate some part of the
cargo. For the violation Of this provision the own
or Of the carriage, or other vehicle or vessel shall
incur the penalty Of fifty dollars" &c
The Sd section of the act Of 1927 declares thai
\ person, other than the Postmaster General or hi,
authorized agents. shall set up any foot horse post
for the conveyance OF letters and pacLtis upon A.,
post road, which may be established as such b,
d. law. The person offending shall, upon conviction
u be fined fifty dollars
= The 3Oth section Of the &C, Of 1895 provides tha
the Postmaster General, any contract he ms en-
ter into for the conveyance Of the mail NAV author
we The person with whom such contract "a TO be ,de
TO carry newspapers, magazines and pamphlets othe
i, Than those conveyed IN the mail frorided that u,
preference shall be given TO the publisher OF ON,
W newspaper over another, n the same place.
IL The 2ih section Of the same act proyjes that a
a person "wLo shall procure and advise or assist IL
the doing or preparation Of any Of the aois or crime
r by this act forbidden shall be subject % the sam,
p penalties and punishments the persons are subec
10, who shall actually do perpetrate any Of the sal,
acts or crimes, Sc.
N These are the provisions Of law which pertain {,
In the subject; from which it clearly appears that il /
unlawful Tor any person TO q post no matter tina
u be called an Express" or Agency either b,
land, by horse, or loot IN stage, or railroad car OF
J., 10y water IA steamboat other ves.el for the con
vcyance OF mail matter. ID. That il /, egualy M,
lawful whether such person shall run his own yebt
Gle, steamboat railroad car shall obtain the nri
Yege to run the post or express the stage car OF
steamboat oil another; more especially ii that otbt
q IS mail contractor. The person who i. engaged !,
u this busness-he who aids, assists, or emrS,s sucl
person, the owner Of the vehicle, ac all equal,
guilty Of violation Of law.
1t IS no part Of my business TO defend and hIstr,
the pioPriety Of the acts Of Congress, made TO pro
. tect the revenue OF the Department II such lssk
however were imposed upon me, as an Executive
officer, u would not be one Of difficult Performance
d In vain would the government hope To defive re-
venue Tor ir supp 1T from impos upon foreig
merchandise, without laws TO prohibit and punish