Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-05-19
TUESDAY EVENING, MAY l6, ls4s.
A Paraphrase.


II lis lamentable fact that, in these days Of
sentimental party subserviency and toadysm,
no man can become holder of Office and dis.
penser Of patronage, without being subjected to
the most fulsome and indiscriminate adulation
from the Locofoco press. Business ncompe.
tency, faithlessness and partisan motives rather
brighten his name and reputation. His politics
are his apotheoss! No party but enros among
its members more or less frothy demagogues;
but the Locofoco party seems to possess no DEM
agogue so frothy, from Pillow up to Post, that
he cannot command some Leonidas" to cover
him with the most absurd adulation and flattery.
We say it is lamentable and when we look up.
on such frequent exhibitions Of man.worship,
having no legitimate origin anywhere save in
the most degrading partisanship, we can hardly
think it remarkable that so many Of the learned
and higher-hearted men of the age have TO give
way to the Polls and Ty'ers Of the hour!
A Postmaster General enters upon the duties
of his office with no acquaintance with its i'm.
mensc details, and no particular reputation for
the business talent and energy absolutely indis-
pensable for its proper management lie sets
himself up, forthwith, as Samson Agonistes in
the Observation-Disclosures a spiteful opposition to
the great measure of reducing the exorbtant
rates of postage that have so long oppressed the
business portion of the people; predicts all man.
ner Of failure from the passage by Congress, of
law directing such reduction in obedience, to
the vociferous demands Of THE PEOPLE GUAR.
rels with Railroad and Steamboat Companies,
and sends his nails in comparison, BY one.horse
wagons and wheel-barrows, in spirit Of mean
hostility to a law which his unrivaled wisdom
disapproved but the Justice and expedency of
which the rapidly augmenting revenue of his
Department is daily demonstrating ;-swears
the Post Office Department will be inextricably
involved in debt and disaster unless far higher
rates of postage are demanded in sublime con.
tempt OF the successful example of Great Britain
to the contrary ;--recommends and succeeds in
carrying an oppressive provision that excludes
almost wholly, transient papers from the Mails
so manages his contracts that all the papers
in his political faith that have spark of indie.
pendent and manly feeling pronounce his admin
stration of the Post Office the most inefficient
and imbecle Of any that the country has suf.
fered under for years ;--appoints, and retains
against he remonstronces Of his ocn party friends
deputy Postmasters whose chief end and aim
seem to be to discommode and dsoblige and
provoke important business communities $50
grnds down those with whom he contracts
my, that his own mere partisans are obliged to
admit that for the frequent failures of the mails
SHE conirac'orsa moi censurable. for their SINAI
compensation will not admit of extra expense in
the transmission of mail matter land in short
demonstrates. in all conceivable ways. his entire
unfitpess for the duties that were committed to
him, and his own entire indifference TO the bus
ness wants and interests of the people whose
servant he is. And vet such Postmaster
General finds plenty of courteous" apolopists
who apDear TO think il is something 10 the mr.
pose to talk about his s,generous and manly So
cial relations" q his "high motives" ~ and the
economy he is sobligedr to practice " to NEE
the expenses OF his fiscal YEAR" when the in
come of |" his fiscal year" is Increasing at ar
entirely Unprecedented rate, and promises tt
make the Department a source of rerenue in
stead OF expense to the Government
Again-suppose such Postmaster General
finds, year after year, one or more lines of ex
ccllent Steamboats, running on Lake Champlain
70, ii bundled and fifty miles parallel with
Stage route, by means of which Steamboats,, t.
the great accommodation Of large, important ant
increasing business communities, he nigh
greatly expedite the transmission of his mails
and suppose petitions and remonstrances are
crowded IN upon HIM representing the facts, ant
The business requirements OF those communities
Ill OF which, year alter year, be neslects with
nut reason or excuse land suppose, finally
that. coerced by the strong voice of public indig
nation that such palpable neglect of the PLANES
requirements OF duty had awakened, he taldll.
oranges 10 have his mails sent by these Steam
boats, thereby securing their reception at impor