The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-28
To r..t.vrice and \ ,r,nsfa Journals.

- 10 "a
The ". y, hi7-nicni, as is generally
known, is q rciigioa, newspaper OF great
ability, having among It's regular contrib
utors, Rev. Henry Ward Becchcr, Rev.
George Il. Cheeycr, also, Harriet Beechcr
Stowe, and other eminent talent. OF
course, iii. decidedly anti-slavery in tone
and sentiment. The aggressive spirit Of
the Slavery Propaganda-its Kansas out.
RACES. bred Scott decisions, ct cctcra-all
find bold and unhinching opponent in
the Independent, That paper has a sub
scribcr in Bradford, Nirginia; Int the
{" Democratic "-borler-ruilian- buchanan
postmaster Of that place has taken the
liberty TO refuse TO deliver the paper, and
to return il to the office Of publication,on
the ground that it is IAN inccndiary print
The Proprietors OF the Independent have
addressed the following letter to the Post
master General:
To the Postmaster General Of The u s.
"SrR: The Government Of the country
ha, placed the Official conduct Of the deputy
postmasters under your supervision, and itis
therefore the duty rs well as the right ofthe
citizens to notify you Of any delinquency on
their part. or any violation Of the rights OF
thoss who have busine. with the mails.
ave have q subscriber residing IN Brad.
ford, Virginia, who pays for his paper, and
has perfect right to receive IL through the
post Office, as We have y pe.rect and legal
right 10 send II to him through that common
channel. In direct violation both Of his
rights and ours, the postmaster Of that place
has criminally refused 10 deliver the paper
~ our subscriber and. instead thereof, re.
turned the paper to US by mail, with tbcs.
words written on the paper envelope:
".'rhis direction bradford, Va. unjust be
WRONG. No such incendiary print Is allowed
to come into Virginia
eve send you the envelope in his hand
writing. in proof OF the charge We have
made, and We respectfully ask for Justice at
your hands, that this UNJUST servant Of yours
ray be required to grant to us and our sub
scribcrs that use Of the mails which is the
right Of every law.abIdng citizen "
"TuE PRcrRIEroRs OF TnE ISDErENDEST."
Such is the plain statement and reason.
"oN 'SI"'s' Va Hc P''p''"is W 'Hc f"-
dependeat. One would naturally suppose.
that the Postmaster General would i'm.
mcdiatcly have ordered the postmaster
at Bradford, either to do his duty By de-
livcring to its subscriber paper coming
regularly by mail, or To throw up his
commission and retire from the public
service. But no. The slave drivers con-
troll the Post-oflicc department. The
matter has been referred 10 the Attorney.
General. Whether that functiona.ry will
consent 10 recognize the freedom of the
press, will be- known in due time. We pre-.
sumo. Speaking Of this BATTER the Va.
hoad Eupcrtina,cly rcr.larks -
This is certainly an important question.
and one which concerts no, only the pryss,
but every citizen Of thr Union. Will the
Denocra ic journals that take every opppr.
tunity Ia lecture the pcople upon their duty
% uphold the Fugitive Slave Law, and cum
denim all State Laws aimed at the execution
Of the catching enactment, show their
zeal in defending the inyiolabilty of the Post
Office? II q Virginia postmaster may nudity
@ laws of the Federal Government, where
is the harm in dong likewise with an un.
constitutional law?"