The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-18
Meanness OF the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES aster
General.

General.
BErLows FAIIs, VT, March l5 1854
HON. JAMES CAxPrEIL-
sm-My late removal from the Post ONCE at this place
by the appointment Of my successor is in ITSELF mat
of very little consequence but the grounds Of the re-
moval make of some Importance, and this my apology
to the public for thus noticing SO triang matter
make apology to you, for none is needed. You have
considered it subject of sufficient consequence to receive
your attention. and therefore, you are
may properly give II mine.
What the grounds OF my removal are am not permit
ted to know from yourself from any with
your department. This, believe, is not the ordinary
course of procedure except at the usual
scrpons believe is customary-and it is certainly
justwhen heads of departments have removed their
appontees to notify them of their offence and give them
at least the semblance of chance to be heard But YOU
in this case have done such thing Such an act done
by private individual would be denounced by every in
tegent man; and am not able to perceive how enter
ing high official station divests one of the ordinary OBJ
legations Of courtesy Again. is evidently proper that
the people in each locality should be heard with regard
to who should serve them deputy postmaster But
you have not to consult any one within one
hundred miles of this place
In this manner, sir, you have removed your own APP
pointee before he has held his appointment eight months
1t is be presumed that disgrace attaches 10 such re-
moyal may be true that does But as we proceed
we shall see whether the disgrace attaches who
have been removed or to you who have made the re-
moval Has there been any complaint of my honesty or
competency Not any What then is the reason of this
unprecedented procedure 1t is briefly stated and is
thsThe peculiar stripe of my democracy dsastefu to
YOU or in party language the consistency Of my political
shell was not soft enough to receive the impression you
desired to give It, You desired to make useful the
editor of democratic newspaper to stamp peculiar color
Of opinion upon the readers of the paper which had the
editorial charge My offence consisted in not accepting
your dctaon through the pretended agent of the Cab
net, in this State. matters not what may have been
the subectof this dictation 1t simply contempti
BILE in any light, and the when as in this case
Cabinet officer has interferred in State politics and at
tempted to give tone to mere local opinion confess
that expressed opinions with full knowledge of the
consequences for had sufficient knowledge of your
character to place considerable confidence in the ntma
lion OF your agent, to the effect that the department
would not allow even petty Post Office to remain in the
hands OF one who dared to declare his adherence TO the
national democracy.
Now, sir, have something to say to you about your
attempt thus to etter the free expression Of opinion
and TO buy the party by the distribution OF pety
Offices and then have something say to you OF this
same agent-Mr David A. Smalley, of Burlington, ver
You have said to the democratic editors Of this State
every one Of hom holds Office under the general govern
mel OF abuse of whom shall indicate and the vehicle
OF cur own applause, or your successors will be appoint
ed" believe such ase of the in your hands is
unprecedented, at least under any democratic admins
tration Never before have democratic cabinet men de-
scended SO low as to crafty their spite by prescribing
men Of their own party How valuable to you is that
fulsome aduaton which be bought for the contemp
tible income of a country post oHicel Have you no
better employment among the duties of your Office than
the dirty work OF examining the columns of country
newspapers to see If the gauge of their aduton suits
you, or their political stripe corresponds with the one
you have dictated9 Do you expect that every who
accepts Office under you will make utter sacrifice OF
his individuality, yield up his entire independence?
And have you the face of man, and it not covered
with shame and confusion at the of such an
expectation You may reflect that your exalted position
will screen you from the disgrace you merit but you
should at the time reflect that there vast DIFF
ference between being high in official station and high in
the confidence and esteem Of the American people The
former you may gain by accident or by the fortunate
sefdestruction of opposing asprans but to the latter
you only attain by faithful and honest discharge of
duty in the smallest as well the largest particular.
So far have held only yourself responsible and it is
this pettogging Custom House officer from Burlington
this fellow, Smaey And he is the confidential agent of
the Cabinet and oonsultclupon political matters per-
tanning to this STATED II such agency necessary
1t could be hoped that you would have selected
acceptable to the people of this Statesome one of
more SOUL of more capacity But the establishment of
tion Of John Tyler and before that yon will scarcely find
one unless you have to Roman history when
was customary under the empire to send into the
quered provinces proconsus clothed with full power to
extortion upon the subdued inhabitants. This wrggler
seems to esteem himself chosen the political proconsu
Tor the conquered province of Vermont If this heather
custom to be revived it is not surprising that you have
clothed with yonr favor fellow Of little capacity
But he is not safe. He betrays your confidence. He
back and justifes the iteness of the
saying that the President himself advised upon the
ubject Of my removal. Can this be true? Can it be
hat tho President of the United States has 40 forgotten
he high place he occupies to allow himself to be con-
uted about the policy OF removal in insignificant
0st Officer But II II Is not true and your acuuey has
etaed batch Of lies, what will you do with hims am
ow through with you, sir The subject is q small one
ut not too small to be set in its true light Having &C.
emphasized this am done. Your obedient servant,
A. G. BURKE