Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-08-20
u IETrER EROM MR.. COLLAMER

Washington, July 10. lS49'
Dt,R SIR: ! received yours Of the Doth utn'o in
vh,rh yon say that the exciting Congressional canvass
in your ds'r ct in Aabama. charged with being "a
DOWNRIGHT aboons. ;" and that the Democratic candidate
calls me "a blackhearted and suiphureous ab1ionis
Yon seem To desire IN. 10 defend myself
You AID al men of ordinary dlscernnent must be SEN
sbe that those who such ephets. generally regard
the no,e they address gnprant and eXciahe enough
IN be Influenced by vuperation a1d personal a
base than either by fact or reason IL Is therehre
course which lie stopped by any thing tan either
say nr do. All can say is that am not now nor have
lever been an abilioni,t and have always received
the mst b tpr opp sitinn from tie Abolition party in my
own State have always held that nothing should he
d q by the General Government In relation to The SUD
,ect slavery in the several States. have always dis
countenanced and opposed all measures, public or pr
ya,e intended TO interfere with disturb the institution
as existing within the States cognlzed by the conSt
tDn At the same time it is due to justice and myself
10 say am an anti slavery man; that is, regard Save
~ As very sreat political and moral evil, and think
nothing should be done by this Government 10 increase
extend II.
Yon say Mr. Inge informs ,hp people, that. as P"smas-
Ter neal can send by the mails, or withhold there
fmm any documents wish; and that since nave ocen
Postmaster General the South has been flooded with
Abolition documents Now, srl have had, in Congress.
. me personal acquaintance and intercourse WIN MI
Inge; AMI is extremely difficult for me to believe he
ciud ever he guilty. Of such gross and papabe msIepre
senarion II certainly could not be necessary tor any
one to write to for information To meet 50 obvious
faseloh. The Postmaster General has NJ power dl-
sctin " control over the matter t. be mailed IL Is
regulated entirely by law. The laws OF Congress es-
tsblshing and regulating the Post Office Department
are in all parts Of the country open and accessible 10 all
men, These laws give neither 10 any postmaster, nor
the head Of The Department any authority or coh'fo
whatever over any printed paper OF letter which any per
son may think proper to convey by mail When such
paper or letter, properly directed is presented to post
master to be mailed, he has right oil power, nor has
the Postmaster General any authority give him power
open and examine it to ascertain lis contents or TO OPP
press or refuse mail it, No Postmaster Geneal ever
attempted the exercise any such power, and precisely
the same instructions, regulations rights, powers and
duties exist now in the Department and Offices, whlrl
have existed for many years before my accession to OF
fce and no other. All this is known, can be known
Ia any man who desires to know the truth. How gros
and inusiable them be the representations OF an,
man. who attempts make the people believe that am
or this Administration, the President Is, IN any
degree, answerabe for the sentiments contained IN TN
printed and written papers which all men have the pow
send in the mails, and which one has the powe
toprevent.
am, sir, your humble servant.
JACOB COLLAMER.
To Thomas p. Crawford, .4abama.