The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-09
ours,
From The .Neic York aurora
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.

We thought We had said enough to satisfy the |
captous, the subject Of the measures taken
by Mr.. Wickfe to enforce the penalty of the law
against those who, in his conscientious opinion he
believes to be defraudng the Of the depart
ment but observing that of whig twopennies
has undertaken, we presume for political effect, to
attack not only the chief but those under him. who
are anxiousy engaged day and night in the arduous
discharge of its duties, impelled once more
to say a few words 10 quiet the public mind, and to
show that all the fuss kept up by the press this
subject arises from a one-sdcd view of the matter.
Having already published the law, and the con
structon given to il by Mr.. Wcklife, deem it
only necessary further to state that he has taken the
very give redress 10 those who think them
selves injured He has directed suits TO he brought
To enforce the penalties. Now II his construction Of
the law is incorrect the Judges, before whom the
parties implicated will have every opportunity Of be-
ing heard, will settle the question with a solemn judi
cial decision. If Mr. Wicklife is right, do not
doubt he will prove to be, then the parties go to
Congress- and If that body can be satisfied that the
provision is against the public interest, the law win
doubt be changed IL, the other hand il can
be made to appear that Mr.. Wcklife is wrong there
will be further Of complaint, as those who
feel injured will have gained their point
| Why then all this abuse of an able and yigilant
public officer, who, in the discharge Of his public du-
ties, refers what he believes 10 be the abuse OF law
TO the judicial tribunals'
The fact is that due consideration is never given
to the post office regulations and the law by which
they are governed.
The United States mail is established upon the prin
cpe that those sections Of the Union where Transport
taton is rapid and cheap, are as much concerned TO
keep up the distant and expensive branches they
| are their Merchants and traders on the Allan
tic borders have creditors distributed all through the
new and distant States and could not conduct their
business with any hopes of success unless they could
correspond regularly with every portion of the Union
| 1t is idle TO say that individual enterprises could
the public at less expense than the mail in
deed that they could at all minister TO the business
wants of the community, because along the seaboard
| and in portions Of the mail route where there
railroads. Expresses are established which a
good purpose.
But there are other and equally important func.
tons performed by the Post Office Depart ent, to
which Msmmon, in his eagerness TO turn penny,
never gives thought. The well being and happi.
ses Of the social system requires that the domestic
| affections should be administered to- Parties sepa-
rated in this widely extended country thousands Of
| miles the children of one family, who
still cherish the fond remembrance of home and the
family altar and these thousands to be sacrificed
! to the few that may be located in the commercial
towns where these facilities exist We think not,
and feel satisfied that the genius Of our Republican
institutions is at utter variance with that spirit Of gain
which would sacrifice all the finer feelings of our ma
ture to its qualification.
We know there are real abuses in The present post
Office laws, and will go further than we will
TO have them redressed but again enter our So
lemn protest against the hue and cry kept up Tor po
lIcal and sinister purposes against pure, dIslnter
ested and vgilan public servant, merely because he
feels it bounden duty to submit to the judicial trl
bunas for decision abuse which he conscientously
| believes to be nfraction Of law which he is
bound by solemn oath to see faithfully administered