Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-30
Van Bmren---Robbing thc Mail.

We invite the attention Of every friend
Of equal rights and free soil, and oppo-
nent 10 the extension of slavery. to the fol-
lowing authenticated copy ofthe bill which
was engrossed in the Senate of the United
States. by the casting rote ef luariin Van
BnreH. then Vice President, to leSaiize
the robbery of the mail by southern post
masters. for the purpose OF suPpres~ng
free soil documents. Rccollect. ,ha; Van
! Buren, $ vote, alone engrossed the bill
Here is the law.
IAN Ac, PROHIBITING deputy posima>ters
from receiving or Transmitting through
the mai. 70 any State. Territory or Dis
irict certain papers therein mentioned.
the circulation of which, by the laws of
said State. Territory or District. may
be prohibited. ant for other purposes"
BE il enacted bv the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled. that
j, shall not be lawful for any deputy post
master in any State. Territory or District
of the United State 5. knowingly to deliver
TO any person whatever, any pamphlet,
newspaper or handful. or other printed or
pictured representation y TOUCHING THE
SUBJECT OF SLAVERY. where. by the laws
of said State, Territnry or District. their
circulation is prohibited; and any deputy
postmaster who shall be GUILTY thereof
shall be FORTHWITH REMOVED FROM OF
riCE."
I SEC. G. And be it further enacted. Tha,
nothing in the acts of Congress to estab
lish and regulate the Post Office Depart
ment. shall be construed to pro,ec, any
deputy postmaster, mail carrier. or other
officer or agent of said department. who
shall circulate. in any State. Territory. or
District. as aforesaid, any such pamphlet.
newspaper, handful. or other printed or
pictorial representation. forbidden by the
/ laws of such State. Territory or District.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted. That
! the deputy postmasters Of the offices
where the pamphlets. newspapers, hand
bills, or any other printed papers or picto-
rial representations aforesaid. NAV arrive
for delivery shall. under the Instructions of
the Postmaster General, from time 10 time
give notice OF the same, SO that they may
be Withdrawn by the person who deposit
ted them originally to be mailed. and if the
same shall not be withdrawn in one month
thereafter. tET they shaii De burnt, or 9th
erwise destroycd.''
The following extract from the journal
Of the proceedings Of the Senate Of June
Sd. 1856. page 800, shows that the above
bill was ordered to be engrossed for "a third
reading by the casting vote of Martin Van
Buren,. then Vice President, viz:
The Vice President having resumed
the chair on the question shall this bin be
ensrossed and read the third tme!
at was determined in the affirmative.
Yeas, 10
/ mays, 13
son motion by Mr. Morris. the yeas
and nays being desired by one-fitl of the
Senators present:
! "The Senate being equally divided ~
the Vice President VOTED IN THE AFFIRM-
ALIVE So it was ordered that this bin be
enyrossed and read third time
! Office Of Sec'rv of Senate L. 5.
August Sd. l343.
81 certify that the above extract is truly
copied from the Journal of the Senate of
the United States.
w PATTON. Eng. Clerk
No word of comment can be needed.
The same old fox is at his ancient tricks