New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-13
The Gs.<as. Were they founded in truth or are
they altogether false

they altogether false
II has been intimated that the special agent
DID not 60 to Rockville to obtain the facts, but
TO cover them up, to whitewash the matter, with
the view Of quoting the alarm which the public
naturally felt on account Of the exposures which
had been made. We understand that he was ac-
companied to Rockville by Postmaster, from
whose Office some Of these very letters were re-
ceiyed, among which was at least one OF value
Why was this, if not for thu purpose of covering
UP mattersi 1t is not at all likely that paper
maker would care to expose Postmaster with
whom he has had extensive dealings, and with
whom be has always been on friendly terms.
And especially would he be unlikely to do ii were
be told in advance that he had committed
criminal offence in opening these letters. 1t
would not be singular if, under these circum-
stances, man should fail to recollect every
thing. The prospect, too, that the head OF the
family might get into State Prison by making
himself too free with other peoples property
for, We take it, letters belong either to the in
diyidual sending them or the one to whom they
are addressed, even though they may be sold
from Postoffice as waste paper-we say this
prospect might make the family itself also for
getful.
But the card of Mr. Holbrook is calculated to
deceive the public addressed, if it was not de-
signed for that express purpose. He gets Mr..
Superintendent Tacott to say that "during
"more than year past not exceeding five let
"ters have been received from Post Offices"
and then follows the ayermentwith the assertion
that the "haIf bushels of letters from Provi-
"deuce" were "lottery circulars addressed
"to persons who never call for them, or who
"in cities refuse to pay the fee of the penny
"post" Mr.. Superintendent Talcott's family
state in respect to Of the letters discovered
that they were without post-mark. Now, why
was not "the truth and the whole truth
eiyen1 If post-marked letters were received
and opened, it is most likely "the family"
know what the post-marks were. The public
would be glad to be informed how many of these
letters there were, where they were from, and
the nature of their contents.
1t strikes us the Special Agents card needs
explanation. 1t leaves the matter which it IN
dertakes 10 clear up more lhFONcu tnau IL was
before he commenced. Letter-wrters are
Justly alarmed. In some parts of the country
it appears the mail agents are in the habit of
opening and reading private communications
whenever they see fit Elsewhere letters are
gathered up and sold to paper-makers, aud
opened and read by the superintendent and his
family. The people desire to know the length
and breadth of this business, and where the
matter is to end Heretofore the seal of let
ter has been considered inviolably sacred. If
this is no longer the case, if a letter is of so
little consequence that it may be used for waste
paper, it is high time the fact was understood,
so that persons who are in the habit of in
trusting their communications to the mails may
govern themselves accordingly. 1t is crime to
break the seal of letter-a crime which even
the head of the Post Office Department cannot
twink at" with impunty. If this truth is not
appreciated it is about time it was impressed
on the minds of these officials by a few years
confinement in some well-guarded State prison.