The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-25
(Signed) c. A. w
Hon. EDMUND BuRKE,
Newport, .Ntac Hampshire.
PRESCRIBING PRESCRIPTION.
C. A. WICkLIFFE.


the Clay Federal Postmaster at Lexington, and
the Reinstatement Of the old Democratic incuni-
bent
That the true history of this Transaction may
be preserved, we lay before our readers the fol-
lowing leler from the head of the Post Office
Department, in reply 10 a letter of inquiry from
the poor decapitared Mr.. Redd ex-Pos,master
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
April l4th, lS43
SIR Your letter of the 5th Of April was received
in due course of the mail.
In this letter you say, Z" on that morning Mr. Jo-
seph Fckln presented the preliminary papers prepa-
ratory to his succeeding to (you) as Postmaster at
Lexington, Kentucky" You add " In accordance
with your (my) circular, declaring your (my) readi-
ness at all times to specify cause in of removal,
now respectfully request you to designate the cause
causes which have induced you to make the change
II il IS placed on the footing of having exercised your
constitutional privilege, then | have neither excep-
ton TO take, nor complaint to make"
In the outset, you will permit me to correct an err
ror OF fact, IN that part OF your letter above have
put forth no circular of the nature specified b, YOU
The removals made by myself, have all been made
for reasons and causes deemed satisfactory to my
mind, yet have at no time proclaimed that | was
prepared to usher them to the world ! have said
| and now repeat that will remove no man unless
am satisfied sufficient cause exist for such removal
determination to act upon the principle ayowed
imposes no obligation upon TO publish the reasons
causes of my action, neither does it give right
on your part 10 require them.
When Mr.. FIckn was removed to make room for
you, no reasons or causes given or published or
furnished him, for the exercise of this Executive
! function, by the then Post Master General You
dad not hesitate to accept the office without an in
/ quiry into the causes of Mr. Fickln's removal
| As this act of removal and appointment was one
falling by the law, exclusively within the province Of
The President have referred your letter 10 him and
he instrucis me, without admitting YOUR right To call
for EN-, to furnish you the facts in this case ns the
grounds OF his action, 10 be used by you as you may
Judge proper
} That he had, relying upon the opinion Of those in
whom al mat Tune he had right TO confide yielded
has consent to the removal of Mr.. Fickn and your
appointment, under the assurance that it was right
! and proper 10 he done
Upon the application Of Mr.. Fickln and many
highly respectable gentlemen Of Lexington and other
parts oil kentucky, he was induced to cause a mi
mute examination to be made into the facts belonging
TO ms case, which turn out TO be substantially these
That Sir ficklin had filled the office Of Postmaster
al Lexington over twenty years, TO the satisfaction
OF Tue department and SO tar as the papers show, 10
the satisfaction Of the community.
There were, in the year lS4I, nine persons recon-
mended by various individuals for tbs Office but no
one recommending these gentlemen expressed a de-
sire for the removal Of MIR. Fickn. On the 2lst
June, le4l, a letter as received from the Hon III
Clay, addressed 10 MI Granger, In which he states
that he had before expressed his opinion that Mr.
ficklin, the Deputy Postmaster at Lexington Ky }
ought TO be removed up n the ground of partisan
ship, and active and effective interference i'm poll
tics that there was scarcely any man that ought 10
be removed on the ground Of political consideration
u Mr. fIcklin was to be retained. In the event of
his removal, Mr.. Clay recommended you as the sue
ces>or, adding that you an active intelligent
gentleman perfectly competent TO discharge the du-
ties OF the Office, that you were native Of Lexing-
torn IN the vgor Of life, and had the merit of not hay-
ing sought or solicited the Office though upon be-
ing applied to, you had expressed a willingness 10
accept IT, II bestowed on you. Upon this recommen-
dalton alone, you were Immediately nominated to the
| Office.
Letters from distinguished gentlemen Of opposite
politics to MIR Fickln, file at the time speak of
him IN the highest terms as an able efficient and i'm
portal Posmaster-that he gave general satisfaction
| 10 the community
Inc President, upon an investigation Of these facts
ielt mat he had done injury TO individual without
dement, 10 the public service that be had displaced
man with whom the community we're satisfied and
! appointed one who, though qualified and capable
and, 20 lar as he knew, discharged the duties we'll
yet Afforded no greater satisfaction than the old Post
MASTER II indeed 50 much. In doing Justice 10 MIR
Fiokln, the public and himself he regrets any MUS
tee has been inflicted upon you
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. A. WlCkLIFFE.
| THos. 5. REpD, Esq, Lexington, Ky