Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-08-24

=. q l.
. - =. WASHINGTON CRY, July 10, 1919.
= DEAR SIR received yours of The 29th ult., /
in which you say that in the exciting Con-
gressional canvass in your district in Alaba-
ma, am charged with being g a downright G
dbolitionist,'' and that the democratic candI- r
date calls me ga bleckhearted sulphureous t
abolitonist" You seem to desire me to de-
fend myself.
YOU and all men of ordinary discernment
must be sensible that those who use such ep-
ithets, generally regard the people they adj
| dress as ignorant and eycitable enough to-be
| influenced more by vituperation and personal
abuse than either by facts or reason. II is
therefore course which cannot be stopped by
anything that can either say or do; all can
say is, that am not now, nor have ever
been, an abolitonst, and have always re-
ceiyed the most bitter opposition from the abo-
lition party in my own State. l have always
held that nothing should be done by the gen.
eral government in relation to the subject of |
slavery in the several States. have always !
discountenanced and opposed all measures,
public or private, intended to interfere with
or disturb the Institution as existing within the
States. as recognized by the constitution. At
the same time it is due to justice and myself
to say, am an anti slavery man; that is, ]
regard slavery as very great political and
moral evil, and think nothing should be done
by this government to increase or extend it.
You say Mr. 1nge informs the people that,
as Postmaster General, can send by the mails
or withhold therefrom any documents wish,
and that since have been Postmaster Gener-
al the South has been flooded with abolition
documents.
Now, sir, have had, in Congress, some
personal acquaintance and intercourse with
6 Mr.. Inge, and it is extremely difficult for me
to believe he could ever be guilty of such
gross and palpable Misrepresentation. 1t GER
tainly could not be necessary for any one to
write TO me for information TO meet so obvi-
i Gus a fasehood. The Postmaster General has
no power, direction, or control over the mat
ter 10 be mailed 1t is regulated entirely by
: law. The laws of Congress establishing and
: regulating the Post Office Department are in
n all parts of the country open and accessible TO
all men. These laws give neither TO any
- postmaster nor to the head of the department
any authority or control whatever over any
printed paper or letter which any person
re may think proper TO convey by mail.
r, When such paper or letter, properly direc-
is ted, is presented to postmaster to be mailed,
he has no right or power, nor has the Post
master General any authority to give him pow
Is er, to open and examine it to ascertain lis con-
Ia tents OF to suppress or refuse to mail it. No
Postmaster General ever attempted the eXeF-
else of any such power; and precisely the
e. same instructions, regulations, rights, powers,
- and duties exist now in the department and
- offices which have existed for many years be-
u fore my accession to Office, and no other. All
- this is known, or can be known, to any man
is who desires to know the truth How gross
= and unj usti6able, then, must the representa-
tons OF any man who attempts 10 make the
Ill A.
IT. ton, or even the President is in any degree
by answerabe for the sentiments contained in the
>, printed and written papers which all mer
lIav0 the pUWrI ~ otnd III the mails, ant
49, which no one has the power to prevent.
ny | am, sir, your humble servant,
9TH JACOB COLLAMER
i'll To THOMAS P. CRAWFORD, Alabama.
Ter 1t will be observed, in reading the abov
letter, that the only interference with SLAYER
,ur which Mr. Colamer disavows, is with it as
w. exists in the States. Now, be it remembered
ina that neither Giddings, Hale, Corwin. nor an
ted other, even the most notorious Abolitionis
the pretends to interfere with slavery in the States
$ a Their blows are aimed at its extension int
ent the territories, or It's existence IN the Dlstrl'
ste of Columbia Mr. Collamer even in his lie
cad ter, avows himself opposed to its extension
sly How far he is willing to carry that oppos
cut. ton, may be better understood by looking
,as- few of his votes while a member of III
dea House of Representatives.
osi- He voted against the 21st Rule, which e.
gs- cluded Abolition petitions. Consequently
cen voted for their reception. He voted again
our the admission OF Texas as a slave State, eve
EN- after it had been annexed, in conformity to Il
oint resolutions OF Congress, passed at Il
previous session. He voted for the Wilm
Tnef proviso attached to the three million bill.
, OIL voted for Mr. Roots resolution instructil
e 10 the Committee on Territories to bring in b
8 in nrovidnp a territorial government in Calfc
par MIA and New Mexico, with clause exc.udi
ave- slavery therefrom. He has uniformly vot
SOL for every proposition 10 abolish slavery a
'e VI the slave trade in the District of Columbia
,osi- No, moro. ho uon ro,od ~ ,ho 1,.t ..;
"lng of Congress for Giddings' infamous propo
'ne ton to allow the slaves in the District of {
Aeie lumbia to vote on the question of their O,
; al. emancipation; and in last January, he vo
IN OF against Mr.. Meades resolution directing
Sla- TO be brought in providing efectuay for
nell apprehension and delivery of fugitive slav
no. under the provisions of the constitution.
'ne Is this nan, then, who has gone as far
nion' the farthest, in erything that marks an
ore. oitionist, both in words and deeds. an abb
ZIONIST or not? Is his equivocating-n
=, committal letter-a letter which absolut
commits him to nothing sufficient to
.hou, him from this imputaton' We think !
~ and we don't see how any plain, honest n
a,o.. can come to a contrary conclusion. We w
der if our friends of the federal press tn
nh;. they can pull wool over the eyes ofthe /
Tay r. y '.l'',-7pD' o' '''NN'
gainst THE Mosou1ro D1rE,cu,rv Tho W.
eignt' ington correspondent of the Baltimore
lnjer' says :-'' The Allegheny, it is underst