The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-18
Political.
From the Mobile Advertiser.
Letter OF the Postmaster General.


Letter OF the Postmaster General.
We publish below letter from the Postmaster
General 10 Thomas P. Crawford, esq, of Pckens
county, and which first appeared in the Pickens
Republican of the oath ultmo. IL shows that Jacob
Collamer is not the Abotionst that he is repre-
sented to be- The rank charges made against MEM
bers of the Administration disgusting as they
are unprlncPled and untrue. Not leading man
in the conservative Wing party is of the rank aoo-
ition cast. The traitors 10 southern rights are 10
be found in the ranks of The Democracy, once los
tered and cherished as 90 northern men with south
ern principles. When those thus fostered and cher
ished, and imposed upon men with south
ern principles" because the partisan purposes and
party success require it for the nonce, show the co-
ven foot, and appear in their true colors II will not
do for Locofocosm to cry out traitors, and yet call
upon the southern people TO look to Locofocoism
for their safety, and Democratic Congress for
their support burnt child may with reason
dread the fire. and see in the very character of Its
chivalric appeals low and degrading ambition
that is one thing 10 day, tomorrow another.
From the Baltimore Patriot.
The Postmaster General.
We have seen for some time past that the south
ern Locofoco press has been abusing and villifyng
Judge Coamer, and charging him with being +" a
backhearted and sulphureous Abolltionist" and
using such epithets, all nstgated doubt, by the
fact that Judge c. kept the 50 even tenor of his
way" and the faithful discharge of his duties with
out regard to any of the opinions expressed of him
by the Opposition. He has, however, now spoken
for himself, and we give his letter, in which he
speaks out on the subject in hand nobly and wor.
thy of his character as true patriot:
WASHINGTON CITY, July 10, l849.
DEAR SIR / received yours of the 29th ult., in
which you say that in the exciting Congressional
canvass in your district in Alabama, am charged
with being "a downright .4boiiionis' - and that the
Democratic candidate calls me "a blackhearted, sui
phureous Abolitonist' You seem to desire me to
defend myself
You, and all men of ordinary discernment, must
be sensible that those who use such epthets gene
rally regard the people they address ignorant and
excitable enough to be influenced more by vtuper-
alton and personal abuse than either by facts or
reason. IL is therefore which cannot be
stopped by any thing can either say or do; all
say 49, that | am not now, nor have ! ever
been, an AbolItionist, and have always received
the most bitter opposition from the Abolition
party in my own State. / have always held that
nothing should be done by the General Government
IN relation TO the subject of slavery In the several
all measures, public private, intended TO interfere
with or disturb the Institution as existing within
The States as recognised by the Constitution AT
the same time, II due TO Justice and myself 10 say,
| am an ant-slavery man that is, regard slavery
very great political and moral evil and think
nothing should be done by this Government to in
crease extend it,
You say Mr.. lnge informs the people that, as
Postmaster General, send by the mails, or
withhold therefrom, any documents | wish, and
that since have been Postmaster General the South
has been flooded with abolition documents
Now, sir, have had, in Congress, some person.
al acquaintance and intercourse with Mr. Inge, and
II IL extremely difficult for to believe he could
ever be guilty OF such gross and papable misrepre-
sentation. IL certainly could moi be necessary for
any one TO write 10 me for information to meet. so
obvious falsehood The Postmaster General has
power, direction, control over the matter
be mailed Ii is regulated entirely by law. The
laws Of Congress establishing and regulating the
Post Office Department are in all parts OF the coun-
try open and accessible 10 all men. These laws
give neither to any postmaster nor 10 the head OF
The Department any authority control whatever
over any printed paper or letter which any person
may think proper 10 convey by mail. When such
paper letter properly directed, presented TO
a postmaster to be mailed, he has right power
&c open and examine 1t to ascertain It's contents or
10 suppress refuse 10 mail IL. No Postmaster
General ever attempted the exercise of any such
power; and precisely the same instructions, rega-
lations, rights, powers, and duties exist in the De-
partmenr, and Offices which have existed for many
years before my accession TO office, and other
All this is known, or be known, TO any man
who desires TO know the truth How gross and
unjustIfable then, must be the representations of
any man who attempts TO make the people believe
that am, this Administration, or even the Pres
ident, is IN any degree answerabe for the senti-
ments contained IN the printed and written papers
n nd m he
and which no one has the power TO prevent.
am, SIR, your humble servant,
JACOB COLLAMER.
To THOMAS p CRAwFoRD.