The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1849-08-22
The Postmaster General
and the Mails.
Washington City. July 10. Is4s


Dedr Sir I'll have received yours OF
Tie 9Th uli.. IN which you say that in The
exciting Congressional canvass IN your
district in Alabama. anu charged with he !
ing ! downright .7b0iifiOnisi." and that
lie Democratic candidate calls me
blackhesred Sulphureous Aboli'ionisi.
Ton seem 10 desire me 10 defend mr.
self.
You. and al men Of ordinary discern
ment, must b6 sensible that those who
nsc such epilhe;s, generally regard ihe
People they address as ignorant and ex-
ciiable enough 10 be Influenced more BY
yiluperaiion and personal abuse, than eth
er hy facts or reason. II is therefore
course which cannot be stopped by any,
thing can either say or do all can say
is that am mol naw. nor have ever been.
an Aholi,ionisl, and have always rcceiv-
ell HE most bitter opposition from the Abo-
lilion party in my own Stale. j have al
ways held that nulll;ng should be done by
the General Government III relation 10 the
subject Of slavery in The several States. |
have always discounlenanced aud oppos-
ed all measures. public or private, intend
! ed to interfere with or disturb tie instiiu.
lion AZ existing within the States, as re-
c0gnized BY The constitution. Al The
same lime, il is due 10 justice and myself
10 say, am an anli.slasery man lliai j.,
regard slavery as very great political
and moral evil, and think nothing should
be done by this governmental increase or
\ extend il.
You say Mr.. Inge informs the people
that IS Postmaster General. can send by
the mails or withhold lhcrefrom any do
cuments wish, and Tia, since have heen
Postmaster General. the South has been
flooded with Abolition documents
l Nov, Sir, | have had, in Congress,
some personal acquaintance and infer.
) course with Mr.. lnge, and il is extreme.
~ difficult for me 10 believe he could evei
he guilty Of such gross and palpable mis-
; representation. Il certainly could not bt
; necessary for any one 10 write TO me FOL
information 10 meet so obvious false
hood. The Postmaster General has nc
power, direction or control over the mat
Ter 10 be mailed. II is regulated entirely
BY law. The laws Of Congress eslablisli
ing and regulating the Post Office Depart
nett are IN all parts Of the country oper
and accessible 10 all men. These law
J give neither TO any Postmaster nor 10 th'
head Of the Department any authority o
I, control whatever over any printed pape
= or letter which any person may think pro
e per 10 convey BY mall. When such
! paper OF letter, properly directed. is plt
2 scented 10 a Postmaster TO be mailed, h
Z has no right or power TO open and es;
y mine il 10 ascertain its contents or TO sur
press or refuse 10 mail it. No Postma:
} ter General ever attempted the exercise {
I any such power, and precisely the sam
= instructions, regulations, rights, power
y and duties exist in the Department an
~ Offices, which have existed for many veal
" before my accession 10 office. and no oil
" err. All This is known, or can be know
TO any man who desires to know the trutl
70 How gross and unjustitiable then mus.
: the representations Of any man who !
ierpts to make the people believe that
e am, or this administration. or even Il
nc President, is in any degree answerable
ng the sentiments contained in the print
VI and written papers which all men la
Vs. The power 10 send in The mails, a
40 which no one has the power 10 proven
Dr. ! am, Sir, your humble serv't,
ms JACOB COILAMER.
ri TO Thomas p. CRAWFORD.