The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-13
POSTMASTER AT EUFAULA.

awe notice. says the Columbus (Ga.) Sentinel
that the President has removed Mr.. J. H. DAN
forth from the post Office at Eufaula, Alabama
and appointed Benjamin Gardner, Esq, editor
of the Shield, in his place. Mr.. Danforth was
a most efficient and popular officer, and his sole
offence has been his refusal to be the instru-
ment in circulating Abolition documents through
the post Office Nine-tenths of those interested
in the Office were opposed to his removal A
meeting has been called, to take place in the
Town Hall this evening, to take into considera-
ton the recent outrage committed by the Abo-
lition Government at Washington on the citi-
zens of Eufaula, by the removal Of the late
postmaster"
The National Era exchanges with about two
hundred newspapers in the slaveholdng States
of all parties and sects, majority of them po-
litical, and leading papers in their respective
parties Always welcoming cordially such an
exchange, wehave never been importunate for it
but have generally left it to our Southern
friends to make the first overture, unwilling to
be regarded as obtrusive. Applications from
the South for an exchange are of common oc-
currence, and we have not heard that any post
master has ventured to interpose an official
veto on the exchange We have also consid-
cradle number of subscribers scattered through
out all the States of the South, who, with rare
excent;ons are accustomed to receive their pa
pers regularly.
Nearly year ago an old citizen of Eufaula,
a Southerner by BIRTH and who had been in
the military service of his country desiring to
read the Era, though not entirely concurrlng
in all its views, sent us an order for it, with
the subscription money His name was enter
ed and the paper regularly forwarded. Soon
after It was returned by the postmaster at Eu-
faula MIR. Danforth, with note announcing
that he had not delivered it, nor would he de-
liver anv such paper This of course, was an
act Of resistance to the authority of the United
States and plain violation of his oath of
Office II was an outrage on the rights Of an
American citizen, an act of censorship to which
no independent man could submit without deg
radiation. and which, if tolerated was prece-
don't for the exercise of similar tyranny in 9TH
o. cascs Jf the Era could be thus arrested at
a most Office, where it was obnoxious the Union
or Republic might be arrested, in post Offices
where one or the other might be regarded as
odious.
Il seems to us that the duty of the Postrnas-
er General was obvious it was to dismiss the
offending postmaster, and appoint one in his
place who would keep his oath of Office. Would
not that have been his course, had some high
err law deputy at the North refused to deliver
the Republic to subscribers on account OF Its
rro-slavery notions!
We submitted to him statement OF the facts,
accompanied by the letter Of Mr.. Danforth A
note of inquiry, as we were informed, was sent
to that gentleman requesting an explanation.
In due time an answer came, confirming our
representation, and submitting in his justiica-
ton newspaper report Of the proceedings oil
a meeting at Eufaula, which resolved that he
had done right, that they would sustain him in
his course, and that were he dismissed on ac'
count of his conduct no man should occupy
his post
We heard no more Of the matter, except that
the petty censor was continued in Office, having
defed the authority of the Federal Government
and been sustained in his resistance by a com.
bnation of citizens. II was suggested that ap.
plication should be made to the President for a
Proclamation, and for instructions through
Mr.. Crittenden, to the District Attorney &c
prosecute the consprators for Treason, but il
was cruel to embarrass the President with nc
many trials for Treason at one time, and 80 we
let the thing slide" only holding up from
time to time the inconsistency Of executing law
80 rigidly in the North, and winking 50 hard
| at law-breakers in the South.
If the paragraph quoted above be true, il
| would seem that the Administration has at las,