The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-02
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
THE POST OFFICE WAR.

| Never did an unlucky squib thrown by a mis-
chievous urchin among a bevy Of chickens, produce
greater shock, or raise 4 fearful Growing
screaming and cackling, than the late circular oi "
Postmaster General has done in the ranks q sise
press. Even the Sagharbor Corrector, "a mas
hitherto been content to expatate upon the different
varieties of whale, and the manner in which they are
captured by the enerprsing natives Of that impor-
tant mart has awoke from its long repose and open
ed calling fire upon the devoted head OF Mr. Wick
lite; and almost every paper we take up-from the
East and the West, from the North and South-has
an elaborate essay upon the subject Some of these
place their objections to the circular upon very high
ground-such as the true meaning and intent OF
the Constitution which they suppose-and rightly
no doubt-to be opposed to any check upon the cir
cuation Of intelligence others argue all around and
about the obnoxious provisions and make it appear
to their own satisfaction, at least-that Mr.. Wick
life exceeds his authority in giving such unplea
SAINT construction as he does to certain acts of Con-
gress but the majority inclined TO reflect, in
some way, upon the good faith and sagacity of the
Postmaster.
For ourselves, we have seen, as yet, no cause to
change the opinion have heretofore expressed on
the subject General Jackson it will be recollected
took The responsibility of interpreting the Constu
tion-n cases where its meaning had not been set
tied by the recognised authority, he understood IT,
and the people sustained him in that course Why,
then, may not the Postmaster General-who we be-
lieye is a lawyer of good repue- exercise the same
wrong the people, through their representatives, can
readily point out and correct his errors but if Gas
more than suspecD he is right, every will and
feel the necessity of Immediate and searching re-
form in the Post Office laws 1t is to this latter end
especially, that the attention of the people needs 10
be directed AS Mr.. Kendall has well remarked in
late number of his Expostor % the circumstances
of the country changed, since the laws on this
subject were passed. as to make them inadequate to
the existing state of things - and he suggests that
| he ha ard
poyed in exposing the defects of the law and sug-
costing proper remedies, than In assang the Post
master General" Such were the views put forth
! by this journal fortnight more ago, before the
war" proper had commenced and we are glad to
find them backed up by such excellent authority as
Mr.. X. We do not believe in the fashionable method
of allowing an odious law TO become " obsolete. -
II is only nipping off the branches without disturbing
the root OF the tree whereas ii is evident that
sufficient remedy can alone be found in the desruc
ton of both root and branch. And we have little
doubt that il hundreds Of arbitrary and unjust laws
which have outlyed their age and been cast into the
sea Of forgetluness-were tried in the same way
they would speedily be obliterated from the records
But the end Of all this will undoubtedly be- a ma
terIa dminution of the rates Of postage and trans
formation Of what is now rapidly becoming public
nuisance into very different sort Of machine To
secure this, however It not necessary TO abolish the
Post Office establishment but simply to correct its
abuses. Let urge upon the attention of Congress
an immediate and thorough revision Of the law-not
through the dull and sluggish medium Of petitions,
which nobody reads and welcome only to the
printers; but rather by direct and personal commu-
nicaiion with the members elect-or il preferred by
instructions emanating from public meetings The
evil IS certainly one Of sufficient magnitude to war.
rant movement Of this kind We can rally, by
thousands, to hear distinguished orator upon the
ideal OF perfect state, other Incompetent
sible theme-we can turn out en- masss 10 receive
distinguished military or civic chiefan-we can as
i'm he IN o,fy
banks and listen 10 the Irrational arn Of Jim along
Josey; and why, in matter Of so much interest to
tie people generally the cheap and speedy trans
mission Of intelligence should not adopt the same
coursef strikes us that series Of public meetings
throughout the country, held with express reference
TO the subject, would prove the most certain and con
venient method Of achieving this long talked Of and
much needed reform.