The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01
DELINQUENT POsTMAsTERs.

The editor of the Wayne County Wig, pub
lished at Lyons, New York, states that one of
his subscribers in Virginia addresses him as
follows:
"By the way, do not get more of Uncle Tom
in the Wig than is necessary, for | suppose
you know that the postmasters are obliged to
destroy everything of that sort in this State"
He calls upon the editor Of the Era to know
whether I" Southern postmasters are obliged to
destroy all papers containing facts and com
ments in relation to Slavery?"
We see, also, note in the Tribune, from the
editor of the Religious Telescope, who states
that the postmaster at Chenille, Va, refuses
to deliver the Religious Telescope to subscri-
bers, but burns it publicly in the street, ON the
ground that it contains Abolition matter He
says the laws of Virginia require him to do
this and furthermore impose fine and imprison-
ment on all persons who circulate such papers.
Now, the Religious Telescope Is a religious
Anti-Slavery paper, very moderate in its tone,
and is the organ of the United Brethren in
Christ non. slaveholding church. For sixteen
years it has circulated freely in Virginia"
He wants to know whether the postmaster
at Chenille has a right to burn his paper.
The case seems to us to be clear. The Post
Office Department engages to carry and deliver
mailable matter at certain fixed and defined
rates. The several postmasters take an oath
to deliver all maiabls matter received at their
respective Offices.
The laws and regulations for the government
of the Post Office Department. published in
1852, defines the duties of postmasters The
law of Congress- approved March 8, 1928, sec,
ton 30, provides that if any person employed
in any department of the post Office shall i'm
properly detain, delay, embezzle, or destroy
any newspaper, or shall permit any other per-
son TO do the like, or shall open, or permit any
other person to open, any mail, or packet Of
newspapers not directed to the Office where he
is employed, such offender shall, on conviction
thereof sbrfeit sum not exceeding fifty dollars
for every such offence And if any other per
son shall open any mail, or packet of newspa
pers, or shall embezzle or destroy the same, moi
being directed to such person. or not being au
thorized to receive or open the same, such Of
fender shall on conviction thereof pay sum
not exceeding twenty dollars for every such
offence"
Section 80 provides "that all pecuniary pen
allies and forfsitures incurred under this act
shall be one-half for the use of the person OF
persons informing and prosecuting for the same
, and the other half to the use of the United
States"
) Section | makes it the duty of the Postmas
/: ter General to prosecute offenders against tn,
1 Post Office establishment
E The regulations for the government of tn,
, Department chapter % page 40, section 2lO
, requires that "postmasters will not suffer news
Q papers to be read in their Offices by persons h
Q whom they are not addressed
Q Under these laws and regulations each post
master takes an oath to faithfully perform al
Q the duties required" of him, and to abstain
0 from everything forbidden by the laws in rela
$ ton to the establishment Of post Offices and pos
, roads within the United Statesn
Here, then, Messrs. Editors Of the Wig an,
. Telescope, you zee the course for you to pursue
These Virginia postmasters defy the laws undo
. which they are appointed. Your duty 10 b
enforce the law against them. Your subscri
, bers have doubtless paid the postage on thei
papers in advance, ~ the law requirss-th
Post Office Department has engaged 10 ds''ve
the papers, and they should be compelled 10 q