The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-08-10
A NEW ISSUE.

An Abolitinuisi lncendarv, named John
VI. Barrett, native Of Ohio, has been
lately arrested in Spartanburg, for cifcu
i,iins Incendiary publications IN this State.
From letters taken in his possession, i, is
proved tina, the pamphlet, circulated so ex.
tensively, signed Btu,us," was prepared
and printed a, Cincinnati, Ohio. /, was
known that Barrett was authorized 10 take
from the Post Office in Sparianburg let.
ter addressed to John Edward Thomson.
tiavln. good reason 10 suppose that this
letter contained important matter 10 prove
Birret's guilt, on proper ufi iavit being
made, Magisira'e issued a warrant a.
eainsl G. W. II. Leg, the Postmaster at
Spartanhufg, 10 compel him 10 give the Us.
u1l security 10 appear 57.Jre the next
Court Of Sessions, with The said letter, as
witness egalns Bntett Legc re.ased
TO be bound as Witness against Barrett,
vhereupou he vas committed To llil. lis
defence Is, that, according to the laws o.
the United States, lie canno' deliver this
letter to any one not duly authorized 10 re.
ceive il; and, secondly, lha, by these laws
he is bound TO send his letter TO Wash.
inaton, il not taken out Of III, Office BY oue
duly authorised II receive tt, before The
neat Court OF Sessions viii meet IN Spar.
tanbuig. Upon second thoughts, however,
after some he,itancy, he has entered ato
the repaired bonds, and has been liberated.
The issue raised Is this Have the criml
nal authorizes of the State the right to
compel the attendance Of the agents Of the
Post Office Department IN this State, 10
bear testimony as to anv crimes rerpe rat.
cd through the Post Office against the
State, aud to bring and lay before the
Courts any letters IN their possession prov.
ng such crimes. The laws Of Congress
make no pro, lsipn for the case which has
arisen, because It never entered into the
minds @, former ADMINISTRATORS that the
become pelilous TO the safety of a Stare ;
that insiead ot being protector end sup
porter uf order and law, il should, in any
of its branches, be used as an instrument
OF incendiaries, To carry out their schemes
of InsurIectIun and bluodshed. Now, we
know not what Postmaster General Cola.
mer may do in the premises. MIR. Ken.
dali, one Of his predecessors in the office,
issued circular to the Postmasers III the
Southern States, directing them not to CIR.
culate Incendlary publications through the
Post OIices in those States. We should
suppose tina, if a Postmaster can suppress
letter or document, he might for the
same reasons which Justify its suppression,
carry il into Court, in furlherance Of the
criminal laws Of State. But whether the
Postmaster General shall pursue thiscourse
or not, we have no idea that this State will
finch from protecting itself against the
fagitious conduct Of the Post Othce, or it,
agents, within its limits. tf her laws are
not clear or strong enough for her protec
ton, they vii! be made so. II the FEEDER
al Government, thinks proper TO attempt Il
shield its officers with privileges and i'm
muni,ies Incompatible with the peace U
the State, let it do so. One of two thing
+. will occur they will have either to leave
J the service of the General Government, o
suffer the penalties of our State Laws
, though life itself should be the forfeit.
! Charleston Mercury.
THE TERRITORY OF OREGON.
Q BY the late California papers we lear
= thai n Census has recently becp taken q