The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-09-05
From The Charleston Mercury.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE SOUTH.

The Washington Republic still iwrlls OF Bar
re,'s case. and argues at length in favor of its
former position. 1t quotes the action Of Con
ere>s, in refusing I" pass bill authorizing Post
masters, on their own view and Inspection, to
open pamphlets or letters. in order To aScesisn
whether they are of an incrndiarr character.
As conclusive against the right of Court of
Justice in State to compel Postmaster 10 he
witness in Il criminal prosecution, AMI pro
drcc in Court letter in his possession against
a criminal. With great rcspec, for thr high
authority of III" Government, organ, we arc IN
able 10 perceive any analogy between In" cases.
No one has supposed that Nh" subordnars oi
mere ngrn, to carry and deliver letters, as The
Federal Government is. without any authority
from the Post Office Department. or by law,
can open letters or documents. That an,hori
lY they may not have, and yet they may be
amrnablc to the criminal tribunals of III" conn-
try-nni ordering them TO break open letters,
bm to bring them int" C"nr. AZ the property OF
criminal who is aroused of crimes against the
State. The Rrpnh!ic seems 10 think there
will be great difficulty, even if the letter is
brough, into Court by he Postmaster of Spar
ianhnr.. to get its contents. u says:
with regard to the scaled letter in the
hands of the Sparanbnrg postmaster, we sup.
pose tha; nobody will he very anxious to claim
il but ifanyhodv should insist upon provin =
title To it, we apprrhcnd that III" postmaster
will feel il his duty to deliver it. II it should
he produced in court sealed, we apprrhcnd that
the postmaster canno, be compelled, under any
circumstances, to break The seal, or TO give los.
tmony as TO the contents of the letter. ii
would be novel employment for the learned
Judge, ,ha, Of breaking letters open to search
for testimony. No wcl.ahvisrd lawyer would
care about making iha experiments and we
are really quite at z loss (" imagine in what
manner he contents OF the letter can he reach.
ed, after the letter it<rlfiS prodacrd.'
The Republic is right, in Snpnosing that the
Postmaster will not he compelled TO break the
SEAL aud to give testimony AS to the contents
of the letter. All he will hr called npon TO
testify is, iha, he, as Postmaster received the
letter, and produce ii to lhe court, What are
the swipl consequences which will prohibit any
any welI.adv<ed lawyer from making the OK.
pertinent of breaking open The letter, or why i,
will be a novel ernplnymrn for learned Judge
to order letter 10 he lrohcA open, any more
than a sealed commission to cake testimony, we
have uat the slightest idea. When the letter
is produced into court, the Judge, we suppose.
will order il to be handrd TO the Prosecuting
Officer 10 be used in the case as he thinks pro.
Der. SUPPOSE man is mur,lrrcrcd by knit,
and the knife is locked I'd in n case in the
Land of tiicnd or agent Of the murderer. On
,he case being brouuh, in;o Court, wouI !, be
a "novel cmp!ovmcrl" In the Judge to order the
Prosecuting C(l:cer or the case to be- broken
o,.r IN orde from the opDroyancc octhc wea.
non. lba, The jury miuh, irldsn whether il was
IF ,h,, d.,dIv haracter. that, if used in q (ray.
murder would b. presumed! SO in Ihis case,
the letter will be broken open, 60 prove by its
contents, the crime and the criminal. 1t is news
>, ne ,h.i sha krpakinu omen Gf any thnu-lockS