The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-08-15

fidelity, decentralization Of society," and various other
niquities, as its respectable brethren Of the wing
party in this city all acknowledge with shame and
'ndlgnation,-and which, according to Its own
showing, sworn to, and now in the archives of the
Post Office, possesses circulation Of screen thou
sand one hundred and ffty-too in this city :
And yet setting aside extensive aggregate cir
culation-all our country circulation, and look
ing at the items, which we presented in our aft
davlt, it must be clear to every one that our
city circulation alone is at least three thousand
or four thousand beyond that of the Tribune
and far beyond that of any other paper in the city
Since we sent in our returns to the Postmaster, our
daily circulation, it is proper to add, has increased
over on thousand and our weekly in the same pro-
portion, making our daily circulation about four
teen thousand per day, of which, about eleren Mo,s-
and are issued tor the city, making the aggregate
circulation over forty thousand copies of all kinds
These are the facts-pain, cogent, and indispu-
table, The Postmaster had them before him. He
could not the unsuspectlng reader will say, have
sisted the inevitable conclusion that the Herald was
entitled to the selection of the department as one of
the advertising papers in this city But 1t appears
thar the Postmaster Of this city does not reason in
the way usually adopted by intelligent and honest
minds Neither the old nor the modern systems OF
logic recognize it-yet 1t is probably older then
either. He evidently requires, at all events, his
premises be peculiarly established before he can see
his way safely to conclusion. Setting aside, al
together our sworn statements, demonstrating
the superiority of our circulation, he selects a
journal of inferior crculation-a journal, too, against
whose assaults and those Of its party, we have again
Jo{o lad nd xuh0n
we considered him to be unusty assalled, and when
none other than an independent journal like ours
could have been found to step forward in his behalf
However. that is hardly worth mentioning. And
here let us say that nothing for the paltry
remuneration of one or two hundred dollars for ad
vertising the lists OF letters But do for the
truth-for justcs-for an honest and honorable ac-
acknowledgement of facts. But neither truth, justice,
nor fact have-b regarded in this business. And
this gross violation of the law of Congress-ths open
and fragrant disregard of facts justified by of
the most paltry and pitfu specimens Of petogging
that ever appropriately marked and accompanied u
paltry and ptfu act of injustice. In reply to our
| appeal to the President for explanation of this
extraordinary affair." received the following sim
| gular communication
WASHINGTON, July 20, ls4o.
directed by the President to enclose you the copy
of report made to him from the Office Department
upon reference of your letter to- It will also super
sede the necessity Of reply to your letter Of the same
date addressed to the department the same subject
am very respectfully,
C. JOHNSON.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq. New York
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT
| July 10th, ls45. )
| To THE PRESIDENT UNITED STATES
DEAR SIR =
A letter addressed by James Gordon Bennett to the
President of the United States complaining of the dec
sion of the Postmaster New York in the selection of
two newspapers for the publication Of letters sncaled
for at his Office has been referred to this Department
| and has been carefully examined.
By the Act OF Congress Of Sd March, 1925 section 26
PostmasteIs directed have published list of the
letters uncaed for at their respective offices, in one
their residence for three successive weeks, instead
thereof, they directed to make out "a number OF
such lists" and them ito be posted up at such
places their ricny shall appear to them best adapt
ed for the information Of the parties concerned"
1.-The Act of the ID July 1885, section 49, directed the
publication of such lists of letters under the direction of
The Act of the Sd March, Is45, provided that al ad
vertsements made under the order Of the Postmaster
General in newspaper or newspapers, Of letters unca-
papers Of the town place where the Office adver-
Using may be situated, having the largest circulation
and further directed that in of question dispute
to the Of circulation of any papers" the Post
master SHOULD receive evidence and decide upon the
fact.n
| It was made known to the Department by the Post
master at New York. that newspapers in our large
cities particularly those devoted to religious subjects
whilst their circulation within the delivery Of the Post
Office very limited, and thus the intention of Con-
the parties concerned" be entirely defeated and the
Department be subjected to the expense Of publication
without the advantage expected to be derived from it.
| The Postmaster at New York advised that it was
the intention Of Congress to have the lists OF IN
oe
vicinity, and that he saoud select the two papers ha-
wing the largest circulation in the city and county of New
York for the publication of the lists of letters remaining
uncaled for in his office.
lnpursuance Of these instructions the Postmaster at
New York addressed printed letter to the several ed
tors in New York prescribing the in which the
application should be made and the kind Of evidence
the largest circulation within the city county Of N.u
York Application for the printing of the lists Of letters
made by several editors setting out their crcula
ton in the prescribed accompanied by the pro-
per evidence. James Gordon Bennett also applied
giving the general circulation Of the Herald and dsre
5ardng that portion Of the instructions which required
evidence of its circulation oithin the city and county o.
v.w York The Postmaster at New York, in deciding
which is recognized by law as the proper rule in mane
for the transportation Of the mail that of dis
regarding all bids which not made in the mode and
manner prescribed in the notice On that account he
did not consider the application of the Herald and gave
the printing to the two papers which had applied having
York
There can be no doubt that it was the intention of Con
letters remaining in the office, and this object to be
promoted by the direction to print in the paper having
the largest circuationthe parties interested pre-
sumed to be at the Office to which the letters
were directed and the paper having the largest crcua
ton within the delivery would most likely give notice
to those interested and meet the wishes Of Congress-
recent application from the Postmaster at Lexington
KY furnishes strongly illustrating the propriety
the course adopted by the Postmaster at New York
having probably, the largest general circulation mostly
in the Northern States whilst it's circulation within the
delivery Of the Office, within the State probably very
limited
The rule adopted by the Postmaster at New York t.
ascertain the largest circulation within the city an
county New York, probably the best that could
been selected to meet the objects Of the law The
course adopted by the Postmaster at New York, wa
under the instructions of the Department and his con
duct meets its entire appreciation.
have the honor to be,
very respectfully,
your obdt servt.