The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-16

the laws Shall discharge this duty like patrl-
ols seeking by usual aud lawful means a modihca-
ton where a change is required or shall we engage
in mob Of nullihers, law breakers, anarchists and
traitors
The People of this town, as IN some others, have
an opportunity of choosing A private express Office
Tor the nsportalon of letters has been opened pub
hcy for the first time since the formation of Gov
ernment, and We hear of cleIgymen; doctors, moral
lists, phllanthropsts, and others purchasing stamps
end Joining 10 the mobilize conspiracy against the
Constitution and laws, aud seeking their shelter IN
der the egis Of three Judges oplrons in special cases
As well mig ht they engage in smuggling goods into
the country IN evasion OF the custom house laws, be-
cause three men accused of smuggling had got clear,
in consequence of insufficient proof. As well might
they embrace all crimes, limiting themselves only by
the chance Of detection With tie Spauans, and
some of the Indians stealing virtue, and the dis
oOvery of il only is the crime. SO in this case c-
zens shelter themselves Ia the VIC alton of law, under
decisions made in where he proof not suti-
clen To convict The carriers They hope TO escape and
be justified in The way. The Gopunment can {
prore that the railroad company its agents, know
that they are regularly transporting letters in pack
ages out side of the mail This is the reason of the
encouragement given. IL is mere evasion-a petit
Jogging bubble, to which some of the Judges have,
IN our opinion, given unworthy confidence.
Some endeavor to justify themselves in these vio-
atons of law, by the allegation Of exorbtant post
age charged by the Government. Admitting that
the present rates high that fact is insufficient
to justify the course taken TO force reduction.
reduction will undoubtedly take place, whenever
majority of the people, through their representatives,
VIII H. But unless Congress, II their wisdom, deem
1t expedent TO reduce the ates Of postage, the
course adopted by some Of the people may have
tendency 10 retard the reform they seek, aud lead to
the enactment OF laws which MAY not be success
fully evaded as they seem to be present. Besides,
suppose Congress TO reduce postage to cents
,ai. -nG l.u
carry for three cents, and would there not be many
OF the same who now encourage them to sup
port them them We have no doublof 1t. II Is all
wrong When South Carolina believing the tariff
too high, about to nullify in like manner the
laws OF Congress, did these Letter smugglers and
their abettors think any galow could be erected too
hlgh or any halter drawn too tight for the necks OF
their iellow-ciuzens OF the Palmetto Stae' May not
South Carolinans with equal justice consgn north
ern nulllfers Of mail laws an equally elevated
fate But the resistance Of south Carolina was no
bic and manly compared with this picayune letter
smuggling business, now here practically carried to
a notification of the Post Office laws But nullii-
cation of law, whether of the tariff or Of the Post OF
hce, ought to be frowned down in whatever section
OF the country il its head 1t leads 10 disor-
ganlzatlon, TO immortality, and to disunion. No man
can be good citizen, who will not support the laws
Religion and patriotism inculcate obedience. he
murderers of Joe Smith, the rioters of Philadelphia,
OF tariff laws and the nuIliiers of Post Office laws,
smugglers of goods and snugglers of letters, should
alike be reg lrded deserving the reprooi of all or
derly and law-abidng men.
II here is another feature worthy of notice. The
mail is pro bono publico. Is it SO with the private
expresses' Far from it. They tend 10 the public
injury. They selfish and oatch-penny traps
Are they their agents bound by any oath or obli
gation' What security is there that letter will
reach Its destination What certainty is there that
after selling their stamps the concern may shut
up shop and the tenants disappeari Will they car
ry letters any routes but those which furnish
them rich and money making business' No. The
u. 5. Mail carries your letters from the Aroostook
TO the banks of the Sabne-from Fiol ida to Iowa
from the heart OF the city 10 the remote and secluded
hamlet IN the mountains or the prairles. Will the
smuggers do it 2 No. For whose benefit then are
they engaged For the few business men OF the c-
ties ana large towns, and their profit The
people cannot avail themselves of them-the small
towns, the byroads, the farmers and planters can.
not be reached, because 1t would be Improbable. -
Thus these smuggling expresses propose to take the
most profitable OF the post routes, and leave Uncle
Sans mail to carry letters and all the newspapers to
the masses, and 10 all the remote points. The farm
ers will have TO continue 10 pay the old rates of post
age and, IN addition they will have TO help To pay
the tax which must be laid to raise the deficiency
the post office revenues created by the acts of the
smugglers. Thus the. farmers and citizens living off
the main routes OF communication will in fact pay
the expense of this luxury of the few. Is it not
therefore clear that the Of the people, although
they want cheap postage, are directly interested in
putting down the smugglersi
How much, in future, shall we respect the teach
ings of those moralists and philsnthropists, who,
while they pretend TO incucate virtue temperance,
piety, sc. with one hand are, at the same instant,
engaged IN violating the laws and defrauding the 60
vernment with the other
LAW AND ORDER.
p. S.-Since the above was written we learn that
the private letter express was stopped on Tuesday by
the Tonawanda Railroad, IN. Y and that the Au.
burn and Rochester Railroad Company have refused
to carry any mallable packages for the expresses.
These reiusals were IN consequence OF a notice OF
the intention OF the Post Office Department to levy
foe of $50 for each time such letter packages were
carried the law directs This is an example OF
the uncertainty OF these Piasburg Sun.