The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-25
FEDERAL ABUSES UNDER THE NEW.
POST OFFICE LAW.
AN ADOPTED INDIAN.


FEDERAL ABUSES UNDER THE NEW
POST OFFICE LAW.
The new post Office law requires, that postmasters
should advertise in papers of "the greatest crcula
ton" | think these are the words; though | am
not certain, as have not the law by me. This is
all well enough in the abstract; yet must confess
that the experience of few weeks has convinced
me that it is more liable TO abuse than the old law
which authorized the postmaster to advertise where
he pleased, the ground that be was too respectful
to public opinion, and too fearful Of losing his COM
mission TO advertise in paper Of too limited cir
culaiion, when there were others.
The present construction Of the law is, that it
means the paper of the greatest circulation without
the least regard to the place Kind of circulation A
paper may be printed in New York city, for in
stance, and yet circulate not one hundred copies
there; but, being the organ of the Mormons, or
some other Sect 1t may have in that sect very large
circulation abroad. Ii its circulation exceed that
OF any other paper the postmaster must give it the
letters, as some construe the law. See what the
"Ncw York Express'' says of the "New York
Tribune"--whig versus wing! IL openly charges
that Its circulation is made up of names procured
under the excitement Of the late presidential election,
At great distance from New York; and the time
Of the subscription had not run out when the New
York postmaster made out his decision. II is gen.
orally believed that the Tribune" stands in the
same relation to the present tariff thatthe "Courier
and Enquirer" did towards the old United States
Bank. Webb was never more Jealous for the one,
than Greedy is for the other. Whether Greedy get
his $52 200 or not, cannot say; but he deserves
il as much ever Webb did, and the manufacturers
can well afford to pay him this 1t is well known,
however, that the manufacturers exerted themselves
with great success to extend his circulation and in
this way, he got his full remuneration. Go to the
distant confines of Arkansas or Maine, and there,
last fall, you would find the attorney Of the manu-
facturers preaching, through the Tribune, "the
higher the duty, the cheaper the article" Support
the manufacturers, and they will support the far
mers," and such like humbuggery Hundreds
would be sent into some counties of doubtful States,
and no person would know where they camc from.
Should such circulation have the advertising of
the New York city letters ! Will democratic ad-
mlnlstraton--wil democratic Congress favor such
prescription of the democratic press of New York
city as thisl
A similar state Of things exists at Buffalo, New
York, where The democratic paper has the largest
circulation at home But the wing paper being the
organ Of the great steamboat combination upon the
upper lakes, has the greatest circulation in consc-
quence of the patronage of commercial men in dis
tant cities
Another instance has been mentioned to me, where
the wing editor, by brbing an apprentice, found
the circulation OF the democratic paper to be exactly
one hundred more than his. Accordingly, he got d
few wealthy wings, by putting his papers low, to
subscribe for hundred and ten copies of his pa.
per, and then went and claimed the letters of the
postmaster, who was apprized of the game. The
postmaster IN the premises noted nobly, and re-
piled, "You are still behindhand, sir for hearing Of
your maneuvres, have subscribed for twenty DEM
ocratic papers, and will pay for them of my own
pocket. And furthermore, sir, will expend all my
salary in sending papers TO poor democrats before
a paper that calumniates my principles and my par
~, and resorts to such tricks yours does shall
have one cents worth of patronage from me.''
know it to be fact that, in one little town, the
wing editor made his friends believe that, by taking
the patronage of the post office from the democratic
paper, 1t could not be sustained Whereupon
defeated wing candidate for Congress, who was very
wealthy, subscribed for enough to make up the
difference. The postmaster, however, had made
no change at last dates. The democratic congress-
man in this district expected to do his duty at the
coming Congress-, and use his influence to have this
clause in the law repealed
In one of our cities, the 'native American" paper
adverises the letters. Abhorrent as view their
doctrines, they must be still more to our adopted
citizens, to whom the democratic party owes much.
Will members of Congress elected by their votes
allow this clause to remain
In the Northwest there is an abolition paper that
openly ustifes the kidnapping Of southern slaves,
and the smuggling of them into the Canadian prov.
inces for British soldiers. II often alludes In its
columns TO the business done .upon the Jhder-
ground raroadn from the slave States to Canada in
open defiance to the laws of this country and 70
public opinion. This paper, that oqeepIbished
''Roorbackn and vouched for its correetness, had
hankering for the letters. So, after finding pt the
circulation Of the wing and democratic papers, it
issued private letters to all the aboonisis and ne
groes, telling them that, if many names were
added to its subscription list the advertising of the
letters could he secured. Accordingly, Mister Sam
Johnsing, of the anti-savery brass band, 60.
together "the brethren of color" Mrs. Tabitha
Sympathy, street-yarn-spinner, summoned the fe-
male anti-savery society at the house Of Miss
Esther Know-it-all, mDer and mantua- maker for
the society, who reads the minister's papers; and
Parson Weak-sister convokes general meeting Of
his congregation. Through such drumming as this,
the requisite number was obtained. Is this paper
TO have the lettersI
In some places, papers strictly relgously secta-
an, whose circulation is restricted their own de-
nomination, contending for the letters And
according to the New York Express, the Fourier
organ there has got them have forwarded to the
department a wing paper, advertising the letters,
which, in order to keep up the tariff, urges mer-
chants to use finer paper, and send ten or twelve
letters under one envelope and thus deraud the de-
partment. have another wing paper before me-
advertising the letters, that contains gross libel
upon the Postmaster General.
II will be another difficulty in the way of this
clause, that tell where the letters are to
be advertised as, beaten one month"; the wing pa
per and the abolition paper will not stay beaten
The one with money on Its side, and the other with
fanaticism, will pass the month in drumming, and
thus claim the letters for the next month So the
postmaster has an eternal quarrel on his hands
l. have mentioned a few of the evils and abuses
under this clause. have begun the campaign, and
want my democratic brethren to follow il up so
as to leave it to posmasers advertise as now ex-
cep to strike out shaving the largest circulation, .
and insert (f anything is to be inserted "regard-
ing the extent, the durability, and place of circula-
ton" You know enough of politics, SIR to be
aware that, in moneyed matters, the democrats can
not compete with the wings. And the wings know
that money win get circulation to their papers; and,
by this, they can keep patronage from the demo-
cratic papers in this country On this matter
want all our presses to speak out, and Congress to
act.
JUSTICE TO THE DeMocRATrc Pass.
PLEASURE TRIP TO PINEY POINT. OLD
pOINrr NOD I,OJ II ANN "a DR. fsrIA mr. r.,