The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-27
THos. RlrcHlE, Esq
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The article which we append below shows
very distinctly that selfinterest has prompted
divers city papers to assailihe Postmaster Gene
raj for the rigid apd faithful discharge of his
duty The country presses, those whose Inte-
rests are not affected one way or the other by
the enforcement of the law relative to the trans
portalion of matter out of the mails, doubtless
regard the question more impartially and with
greater justice than any other
We do not say the law on the subject is a
good one; we do not say that the act is not OBJ
noxious 10 just complaint; but We do say that the
Executive officer deserves praise instead Of cen
sure for enforcing the law as he finds it-ant
none the less credit for having the nerve 10 dc
so when the law is bad one. The letter we
published yesterday, shows that the Attorney
General agrees with The Postmaster General in
his construction of the law.
Fromthe Youngstown (O) Oiire Branch.
CHARLES A. WICKLIFFE.
For the past month or two this Distinguish
gentleman. who is Postmaster General, has
been the object of the most ungenerous aud ma
lignant attacks. by the newspaper press, more
particularly in The large cities. We had intend
ed ere this 10 have SAID something on THIS sub
ject, but have been kept from il by want Of time
and even now have 10 scissorIZe 10 HIM justice
We commend the following remarks TO tht
readers attention. They are to The point, ant
TO our mind exactly. No candid man will ri,
from their perusal and say that Mr.. Wicklif
does wrong in attempting 10 have Post Office
Laws faithfully executed. If then he does bu
n 1ufv hot oh .fu IN frod nd will &,
him therefor.
THE POSTMAS Ter GENERAL.
Several papers in the large cities, and particu
larry that class known as the penny press, have
opened warfare upon Mr.. WickIIff. The eff
cient and able Postmaster Grner for under
taking 10 prevent a violation Of those laws
which be has Sworn TO see faithfully executed
Ii is well known that several individuals in ih,
large ci'ie-, have commenced unping, what j,
called expresses, on the great lhoroughiares Of
travel, and between the cities and larger vii
lagos, for the ostensible purpose of csrryin
packages and parcels, which would not com,
under the head of maable matter. These ex
presses have become successful, and usua ly
are conveyed in railroads and steamboats,, wheie
The mail IL carrird-in other words, they trave
by the quickest conveyaDces from place TO place
Their expresses, instead of con6nipg their bust
ness TO lis legitimate purposes, have commenced
carrying letters and newspapers, until he re-
venue of the Post Office Department has been
seriously affected by it.
il Is well known also, that any contractor FOR
carrying the United States Mail, STIMULATES with
the Government not TO be engaged in carrying
letters or mallabe matter out OF the mail, nor
allow 1t 10 BE- done by others in his conveyance
and furthermore swears that he will obey the
laws and Constr uton OF The United States, and
protect the Department, as Ear "a he can. from
fraud. Congress has passed laws, at different
times, Tor the protection OF the Department, and
forbidden any person from being engaged in
transmitting mail intelligence or parcels out oil
the mail, from place To place, under severe pen
alues. This law, through some cause or other,
has been entirely disregarded by these express
companies, as well as The oath of contractors
who are employed OIL aroads and steamboats,
IN carrying the mail, by Showing the express
agents To carry on This unlawful business In
their cars and boats, until it has become the do
~ Of the Postmaster General to take M sures
Tor It's enforcement. To do this he has Jssned a
circular and sent to all the contractors, in which
ne calls their attention 10 the law and expires SEES
determination TO execu'e IT, As far as he can
For doing This he is censured in the severesr
terms by The presses alluded 10, as we think
without any kind of reason. This law, too. is
denounced In the same manner, and all beca,,s,
IT coniiicts with the pecunIary interest of the
publishers, who are in the habit OF sending
their papers from the place a, which they are
published TO their agents in the different villages
aud cities, at a moety Of The cost TO transno,I
them in the mail. The editors of these papers
contend tina the law should be repealed, and
that every individual should enjoy the right OF
Carrying letters and papers wherever hey please
Lei us look at the question in another light, and
see if the law should be repealed. II is true N.
Post Office Department 10 monopoly in on,
sense1buriils monopoly Of the whole psopl,