Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-31

coMMuNIcATIoS.
There men in the United States, now in retire
men' on whom the eyes Of their connirynrn rl
apt to in the hour Of difficulty and peril than any
other ndvduaG 1t is scarcely necessary to say that we
alude to HKSRr Car and Jous c. CALHOUN.
Like the giants of antiquity, from the potential influence
of their opinions they be said be strong
in action. Without Office, they yet stand lofty land
marks boundess waste Of surrounding mediocnty-the
august representatives with equal patriotism, is cha
table to suppose) of the different principles by which they
consider the affairs Of this great country ought be admin
stered They blaze cynosures in opposite spheres.
has been said that great in this world pay dearly
for their distinction. This is emnenty in variety Of
modes by which this moral is skngy illustrated illustrated
alone by the feverish dream of ambition but by those
thousand annoyances grave and ting which reach
those who rest in the humble decvites Of the valley Of
this life.
Mr. JEFFERSON said in his retirement Monticello, hat
the great evil Of his declining years oppressive
respondence." But this great did suffer under
aggayaton Of this evil in the form of having 10 pay the
postage Of his Oppressive correspondents for he enjoyed the
privilege of free letters to the day of his DEATH Mr. CLAY
and Mr. CALHOUN without this safeguard against the
Of the epistolary prodigalty of their friends.
We hope not giving false importance to what
might trAe when venture appze the cores
ing moderate fortunes the postage-bs Of both Of them
nconvenienty burdensome As think they ought MOI
pay an impost perhaps the principle OF the
window tax, for giving light to others, viii propose
problem, not a difficult to solve as one in Euclid
Suppose each individual who writes them was to
the postage on his letter. what would be the amount Of III,
tax to the writer and what the saving his distinguished
correspondent in the aggregate of his annual postage
mt n AZ
their correspondents that they hare their letters stamped
"post paid mailing them. From the gross abuse o
the ranking privilege will express regret that this i'm
munity extended to these gentlemen Notwithstanding
the distinguished position they have both occupied under ou
Government, because alternative for their relief is in III,
hands Of every of good feeling and reflection who writes
to them But, in reference abuse they may do some
| hing for their own protection
They are, doubtless very often the objects Of an ntoerab
nuisance, which public in this country perhap
exposed than in any other in the world We alIude
anonymous letters addressed those who occupy hiel
stations from Of concealed scoundres and lbelers VIII
only gil their epses with the lowest abuse and bases
threats but make up their scandalous missves in the mos
volumnous form, for the express purpose Of enang tn
highest Of postage those to whom they address
ed We would therefore, with all proper Difference sugges
to Mr.. CLAr and Mr. CALHOUN (although this article
written without their prvty conusance) that after hi
notice. they take letter out Of The post office ,oheh is no
marked "poa paid"
We consider that this would operate the eIecus
the prurent scandal Of arocous and the drven
gossip Of idle correspondents that well be devised and
the most potent restraint those who sometimes write
libel others, frequently to Aatter their selove
i From one scho pays his o,cn posfag
i Dhen he Drifes on has o,D,l business