The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-08-18
LETTER FROM MR.. coLLAMER.
WAsHrxerOn CRY, July 10, l04o.


Dear Sir.-I received yours Of the goth ult
which you say tina, in the exciting Congress
sionaI canvass in your District, in Alabama,
| am charged with being a downright sA6O6-
tiOnisG, and that the Democratic candidate calls
me $ a blackhearted, sulPhulious AbOlitionls''
You seem to desire me to defend myself.
You, and all men OF ordinary discermen',
must be sensible that those who use such cpl
.hets, generally regard the People they address
as ignorant and excitable enough to be iniu-
enoed more By YituPeratiOO and personal abuse
than either by facts or reason. 1t is therefore
course which cannot be stopped by anything
can either say OF do; all can say lie, that
q mnOt, nor have | ever been, an abolitionist, and
have always received the most bitter Opposi-
ton from the abolition party in my W State.
| have always held that nothing should be done
by the General Government in relation TO the
subject Of slavery in the several States. l
have always discountenanced and opposed all
measures public or private intended to inter-
Fere with or disturb the institution as existing
with the States as recognized by the Constitu-
ton. AT the same time tits due 10 justice
and myself TO say, ! am an anti-slavery man,
that is, / regard slavery as very great pcliti-
cal and moral evil, and think nothing should
be done by this government to increase or ex-
tend 1t. aEfa -
You say Mr.. lnge infOrms the pople that,
as Postmaster General, | can send by the mails
or withhold therefrom any document / wish,
and that since | have been Postmaster General,
the South has been flooded with abolition doc.
uments.
Now, sir, ! had, in Congress, some personal
acquaintance andinteTcOurse with Mr.. Inge and,
it is extremely difficult for me to believe he
could ever be guilty Of such gross and payable
misrepresentation. 1t certainly could not be
necessary for any one to write to me for inior'
nation to meet so obvious falsshOOd. The
Postmaster General has no power, direction
or control, over the matter to be mailed. II il
regulated entirely by law The laws Of Con,
gress establishing and regulating the Pos
Office Department are in ell parts Of the cOun,
thy open and accessible to all men. Thss,
laws give neither to any postmaster nor to the
head Of the department any authority or con,
troll Whatever over tny printed paper or loile
which any person may think proper to conve,
by mail. When such q paper or letter is pro
Ferly directed, is presented to a Postmaster Il
be mailed, he has no right or power, nor hl
the Postmaster General, any authority to Civ,
him power TO open and examine it to ascertain
tie contents or to suppress or refuse to mail il
No Postmaster General ever attempted the ex
eFcise Of any such power, and precisely III,
same Instructions, regulations, rights, power
and duties exist now in the Department an,
Offices, which have existed for many year
before my accession 70 Office, and no other
All this 10 known, or can be known, to AM
man who desires 10 know the truth How
gross and uniusti6able then must be the repre-,
stntations Of any man who attempts to max,
the people Relieve that am, or this admins
t~rstlon, or even the President is in any degrs,
answerable for the sentiments contained in TIL
printed and written papers which all men hav,
the power to send in the mails, and which nj
one has the power to prevent.
am, sir, your humble servant,
j. COLLAMER.
II y