St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-22
CO., MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER % 1859
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TRATION AND ITS fIAR:-For years past
it has been the practice Of members Of
Congress who had great deal Of frank
ing to do to employ q confidential clerk to
sign their names on franked envelopes
The signatures thus made we're ayowed 9
and acknowledged by the member and the
Postmaster At Warrington never hesitated E
on receiving this acknowledgement, to send
off the documents 30 franked.
This course has been adopted BY Mr..
Douglas and many other leading demo- i
Gratis, a. well IS by leading members Of the
opposition. -..-.-.,,....-.... r-.:..,- =. T.
On the I'd Of this month, however, the
Republican Committee at Washington sent
to the Post Office IN immense quantity of
documents, under the flank Of Mr.. Co. :
vode, Of Pennsylvania, one Of their num-
Der. Postmaster Jones tabooed the whole
lot, under the pretencs that the frank was
not in Dir. Covode's own hand-writing.-;-
MI. 'Covode was on hand and acknowledge
Cd the frank, but Mr.. Jones still refused
to send the documents. .-. -, -.
Mr.. Covodc thercupon appealed to
Postmaster General Holt. He was at
tending . meeting Of tho Cabinet, and
First Assistant King declined to decide
till after conference with him. Subse-
quently the Post Office Department decid-
ed that the Republican documents could
not 20 because some of them were admit.
ted to have been franked by 4 clerk
No objection was made by Mr.. Jones
until he ascertained that the documents
we're intended for Minnesota. There Is .
warm and doubtful contest going on in that
State, and a. Gov. Sibley was then in
Washington he was sent for, and it was
doubtless upon his advice that this trick
was hit upon Of keeping the documents
from being sent of. It would never do
the Governor probsbly argued, to permit
these documents to have circulation in
Minnesota; it would defeat the democra-
tic party; and Postmaster General Holt,
true to the instinct Of locofocoism, hunted
Imp . Aimsy and false excuse for the pur-
pose of excluding them. The practice,
for long years past, has been to send off ali
such documents. The question about the
validity Of the frank has never been raised
till now, and would not have been raised
1 now, but for the existence of party; ne
eessity for keeping Republican documents
out Of circulation. 2zss,:..-.-~.z. ..- ..: .-~.,
4 During the year 1856. tho country WAS
flooded with Locofoco documents franked
| by clerks; and we venture to saJ that the
rule never has been and never will be en-
forced against Democratic documents ffau-
ked in this fway. Messs Douglas, and
I Florence have been deluging tho whole
country with Speashes and Quarterly Re
view circulars without question for months.
That their franks were written by clerks
there is, proof positive. -sE ts@yEl 81. :
The trick Of the Postmaster General and
Gov. Sibley will not succeed. The docu-
ments will be refolded and reffanked, in
such manner Is to avoid5 all cavil, and
they will reach Minnesota, With this Eaddi'
tional weight in their favor, that the ad-
ministration did Ill it could to prevent
their circulation. Its evident fear of theil
effect will add to their influence u Tits.
burg Gazette. |ss &5l3 tar @ <fssss'es', ia
No wonder the Moccasins are afraid 81
the documents afraid that the official re'
, cords Of their doings should come before
: the people Of Minnesota. IF their deed.
had not been evil they would not thu
dread the light; but Ill their trickery can
not save them. The sGasette' Is mistak
en- about the contest here being doubtful
: Destiny has set them down for Salt River
and they Are bound to 70. = - T55sszta 81