The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-15
For the National Era
APPOINTMENT OF PUSTMASTERS FACTS.

Let me now give some facts illustrative Of the
statements in my last.
There are in Ohio, as per last Blue Book
one thousand four hundred and fouy-sigM post Offices.
| select one Of these located on the Western Re-
serve, with whose history | am familiar There
are 10y some authorities only seven offices on the
Reserve, and only twenty -nne in the whole State,
| which afford greater revenue to the Department
IL was established in 1892 IL has had six Post
masters one who held the Office two years, was
the choice Of the people all the others were ap-
pointed without consulting, and against the wish
Of the people. No one Of the five did or could
have obtained a respectable minority vote at the
time Of his appointment Three Of the Ave were
imported from abroad expressly for the Office and
all were appointed by the influence Of men living
abroad, for the very honorable purpose Of re-
warding favorites or Furnishing enemies. The
first two were very illiterate men they were al
together incompetent to ordinary business details.
They we're obliged to have others 20 keep their
accounts and make their "returns" One was
imported-both were appointed by foreign infu-
ence, but without any particular notice from the
people. In their case, there was probably no re-
monstranoe.
In ls4l there was O change In the politics Of
the Administration at Washington. Then the
third man, the choice Of the people, was appointed.
il should be said, however, that he was appointed
by the outgoing Administration. And, doubtless,
that is the only reason why the wishes Of the peo-
pie we're needed In this instance,
Since then, when there was q change expected,
the people have regularly elected n man in open
public meeting, and earnestly requested his APP
pontment, and as earnestly demonstrated against
the appointment OF any and everybody else, but
with no effect. The candidates were chosen
abroad and the people had only the consolation
Of being told 10 help themselves II they could"
or these three, two were imported. Neither had
a single vote Of the people. The other was cit,
iEen, and had six votes out Of one hundred and
fortythree, the number cast at the public meeting
BY voting their choice, by petitions, by remon-
strances and by appeals to the throne, and to "the
power behind the throne all vigorously prose-
cuted, the citizens have tried TO get such men ap-
pointed ss were reasonably competent, and reason
ably accommodating All their efforts were
useless When Mr. was asked
whether he would reconsider his appointment, he
said {" II any man comes here to name the ------
post office, will kick him out doors'---a feat 1t
Is said, he has sometimes accomplished; and this
too, when there was on file Ia his office the pro-
test Of nearly every business man In the town,
against his appointees--and when he know they
were men TO whom no business man would intrust
his own private affairs.
The Office has almost always been closed sove-
raj OF the common business hours OF the day !;
and pretty uniformly, II Is closed at an earlier
hour In the evening than are the stores and shops
in the village. This Is often great hindrsnce
and annoyance, especially TO those who live in
the country, and who come into town In the
evening rs also to those who live near, when,
as Is the case part Of the year. the mail arrives
ut late hour in the day. IL Is often closed MS
coon o. those are served who may be waiting the
malls arrival During some hours OF the day,
there Is crowd Of murmurng people, waiting
for the Office to open. Many, many hours are
daily lost in this way.
These last incumbents have been so unaccom-
modating as to be termed cross and grabbed
men. Sometimes their acts have been positively
outrageous; but, more commonly, they have been
such little petty mean, vexstious acts, as to rem
der intercourse with them very annoying.
These things, the closing Of the Office, and tho
lack of reasonable accommodation In their oa,-
oiaI intercourse, have csussd more heart burnings
and more general complaints than anything else.
SIZE FouRrH PAGE