The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-05
politifal.
From the Savannah Republican.
Postmaster General and Incendiary Pub
Iications.


We have seen frequent complaints of late against
Mr. Collamer, Postmaster General, for not prevent
ING the circulation of Abolition publications through
The mails. His attention having been called 10 the
matter MIR. Collamer wrote letter TO a gentleman
in Alabama from which we make the following ex-
tract:
.'The Postmaster General has no power, direc-
tion, or control over the matter be mailed. II is
regulated entirely by law. The laws of Congress
establishing and regulating the Post Office Depart
ment in all parts OF the country open and ac-
cessibe all men. These laws give neither To any
postmaster nor 10 the head of the department, any
authority control whatever over any printed pa
per or letter which any person may think ProPei
TO convey by mail When such paper OF letter,
properly directed is presented 20 postmaster 10
be mailed he has no right or power, nor has the
Postmaster General any authority 70 give hiiii pow
err 10 open and examine II, 10 ascertain i,s oo'es'
or TO suppress or refuse 10 mail II. NO Postmaster
General ever attempted the exercise OF any such
power; and precisely the same Instructions, regula-
tons rights powers and duties exist now In the de
partment and offices which have existed for many
wears before my accession 10 ONCE and no other.
All this is known, be known, To any man
who desires TO know the truth. How gross and un-
iustifiable them must be the representations of any
man who attempts TO make the people believe that
| am or this Administration, even the President,
is in any degree answerable for the sentiments
contained in the printed and written papers which
all men have the power TO send in the mails and
which no one has the power TO prevent"
This is sufficient 10 satisfy any honest mind that
the Postmaster General cannot remedy the evil,
ucithout violating the la,c. Who would have him do
that? Indeed who would submit to law which
would authorize him 10 overhaul the papers, and
open and examine the letters which are sent through
the Office. Such surveillance over the secrets OF
the freside, the business transactions Of men, and
the moneys and papers, transmitted under the
sanctity Of the seal, would be violation of law
and such an innovation upon the rights of individ-
uals as no freeman would willingly submit to. Nor
can il be expected that the various postmasters
through the country will tear off the wrappers and
inspect the thousands Of papers and pamphlets
which are sent through the office Besides delay
ing the mails, il would require vast amount of
labor Every postmaster knows, and every man
outside of a unatic asylum ought to know, that it
is impossible for him to tell what the contents
of a paper, without violating the law.
The object of these complaints is to injure the
Administration. Newspapers containing anti
slavery sentiments were circulated through the
post Office last year numerously they have
been this Every issue of the National InteHigencer
and Washington Union, during the past sessions OF
Congress- contained the speeches of Northern Free
SOIL members against the institutions OF the South;
and who thought of stopping the circulation
of these papers? They are bound by contract to
publish the debates in Congress, just the post of
ice is bound by law TO transmit them 10 their des
tination. These complaints, however, originated
in South Carolina. The people In that State make
80 much ssnoise and confusion over the Wilmot
proviso as though they owned all the slaves in the
South that some Abolition wag sent out number
of documents" with view, we suppose, to have
a general explosion. Doubtless, he expected they
would produce as great sensation many
bomb shells thrown into their midst; and he has
not been disappointed. As he has accomplished
bis purpose, and had his laugh, it is not probable
that we shall hear any more complaints.