The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-24
POSTMASTER GENERALS LETTER

Jons LoRiMrR GRAHAM, Esd,
Postmaster al .Nfp York


Postmaster al .Nit0 York
sm-Your several communications, enclosing TO
me, from time 10 time, many OF the articles IN inc
newspapers Of your city and OF other places, 'oueh
ng the circular which ] felt IL my ofhcai duty 10
address 10 contractors for transporting The Puonc
mails, in reference 10 private expresses engaged ~
transporting letters, &C. in violation Of the laws OF
Congress- over mail routes, aud also IN reference 10
the transportation Of newspapers, out OF the man.
contractors, were received by me 10 Kentucky n
confinement 10 my bed for several weeks Pfo'en'ou
me at the time from replying TO you, or la any man
ner noticing the violent assaults upon my motives
contained in macy Of the articles forwarded to me-
have TOO profound respect for the just influence
which well regulated press exerts upon the com
muDity to be nsensibe 10 its censures upon my pun
lie or private acts and have been educated ~ mat
school Of politics which taught to regard the loer-
ty of the press essential 10 the maintenance oil o
pular rights. Consequently have been ever ready
public private citizen, to sustain my que pro-
portion Of its RIGHTEOUSNESS, uDnoved by It's abuse
and undaunied IN the pursuit Of what believe TO be
right
The senseess clamor that my course has been dc
tated by desire to suppress the circulation oil news
papers-to dam up the channels Of intelligence among
the peoples worthy only the authors OF such efu
sions and can receive from me no other notice.
have been charged with the administration OF the
Post Office Department according to the laws which
the Congress OF the United States have passed, and
if these laws infraced and invaded and the facts
officially, as 10 this case brought TO my notce
am not permitted to omit the discharge OF my of-
cial duty for fear that should personally incur Tie
censure Of those who have, for veal or for wo, oil
this time the conduct of particular Journals. Nel-
ther could save myself from just public ccnsure oy
the plea IL true in fact, that other postmaster gene
rails had not in this particular case performed their
duty. The law TO my mind plain, and its con-
slant violation, to the injury of the revenue OF the
Department was brought TO my notice by official re-
ports Of postniasters, agents and contractors
The question raised 10 my circular letter to con-
tractors, and the letter itself, am happy to lind,
were, in my absence very properly referred by the
President to the Attorney General for his opinion
That officer and able jurist fully sustains the De-
partment in the course adopted. copy oil bis opin-
ion ! send you, and express hope that those who
have, from sense Of public duty, or from the iDhu
OF any other motive undertaken to question The
legality Of the which have pursued, will
publish this opinion Of the Attorney General.
In the circular letter, to which exceptions have
been taken by portion Of the press, have proposed
TO do, for the circulation Of newspapers all which
the law permits me to do. Ii any editor or contrac-
tor wishes 10 send newspapers out of the mail, and
will apply for this privilege it will be granted, as con-
tempated by the act 1925. ] am pleased TO say to
you that persons more considerable, if not more re-
gardfu of the laws Of the land, than some who have
reckessly assaled my motives have already applied
for such privilege and has been granted upon terms
just fair and satisfactory.
So long as 1t shall please Congress TO continue IN
force the laws now in existence for the government
Of this department. l shall endeavor to enforce them.
The department is required by these laws to sustain
ltseli by its own income. IL were TO fold my arms,
and close my eyes, and permit these inroads upon its
legitimate revenue, (every cent Of which, if collect
ed, is not more than equal to its expenditures)
would fail in my duty, and subject myself TO the just
censure of the public for whose benefit desire 10
administer the laws made by the representatives Of
the people for the government of the Department
Should il please future Congress to regulate this
subject to permit all newspapers TO pass free
Of postage, or to reduce the rates Of postage the
same vigilance and impartiality in the execution OF
the laws so far and long they may be entrusted
to my hands, will be observed.
am, with respect, your obdt sevant,
(Signed) CHARLES A. WICkLIFFE.