New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-09-07
4 CARD.

RrrUBIIc,S Rooms, WlsHIsGToN Sept 3, 1859.
deem i; my duty to call the attention Of the peo-
PIE, and of the members of the Congressional Repub-
lean Executive Committee particularly, to one Of the
most despicablo acts Of political prescription ever per-
pe,rated By any Administration Government officer
in order to accomplish party ends.
On the adjournment Of Congress, the Cougressiona
Republican Executive Committee made arrangements
with me- as Secretary Of the National Republican As
.cci.ion, 70 have prepared printed, and circulated
certain political documents and the Hon. John C0vodc
of PenrsyvsI ia was detailed TO aierd 10 frsnking the
same This work has been ndustriously prosecuted,
and Mr. Coyode has from time to time, visited Wash
ngton for the purpose Of frsnking and mailing tho
document all of which have been regularly forwarded
by the Post-Ofice Department, until Friday last,
when some 80 eco, and most OF them for Minnesota
were sent TO the Office, IS formerly for ds'ribu-
ton. Shortly after their arrival at the Office,
Postmaster Jones sent pack to me by his messen-
ger with tie remark that he had reason 10 believe that
the fraIk on il was not Mr. Covoies. and they would
not be sent from The Office Mr. Covode and myself I'M
uedia,ely called upon the Postmaster, when pro-
duc,d the returned package, and the Postmaster put
the question to Mr.. Covoie whether that WAS his
frank. Mr.. Covode promptly replied: " Acknowledge
that 10 be my frank" This reply did not satisy the
Postmaster. lie again put the question, and was an.
syered in the same manner. The Postmaster then
went on TO presume that While MIR. Coyode asknowl-
edged il to be his frank, he the Postmaster did not
believe il was written by him, aud unless he would
ayow that he frauked ali the documents himself, he
would not .eud them Of. Mr.. Coyode was not dis
ros.d to make any such syowal. An appeal was
taken to the Posmaster-Genera, who decided that II
the Postmaster has reason to believe any iraDked mail
matter received at the Office is not written by the
person him eli hose frank bears it is TO be retained
IN the office aid that Member Of Congress or other
person legally authorized to frank bas a right to
sputize any person to do il for him. though he
90 pcr sonaly and acknowledge it IA his frank. SO
much FOR the act of the City Postmaster and the de-
cision of the Postmaster General and now word ~
10 the general practice of the PostOihcc.
It's fact patent 20 the whole country and certainly
to every individual who has visited Washington that
but very few Members ever do their own document
aLkng, but generally authorize their wives, daugh-
ers sons or clerks to do it for them and before
he's al attempt been made TO stop these documents be-
cause not ranked by the Members Themselves.
For years past the dferen, political organizations
have been the practice Of seudns out from here doc
um ME known a, the Poet Office 10 have been ranked
by clerks employed by these organizations, and no ex
cepiion has heretofore been taken to 1t.
The clerks Of the Post Office inform me that il has
been their Universal practice 20 distribute all such
matter ,miDg To the Office
When asked for precedent for this act, Assist ant
Posn aster Tree cooy referred back to the Of
We do no, object 20 the decision of the Postmaster
General as the law reads he could make no other but
Why does the City Postmaster demand this decision At
the present tme and thai, too, upon documents is
sued by the Republican party, and already in his office
accordance with what has been the custom for years
past The answer must be plain 10 the mind Of every
person. Of whatever stripe of politics he may be.
In the frst place, most OF these documents are d.
Teced 10 Minnesota; secondly, because violent par
tsan holds the office of Postmaster; thirdly, ia the
language Of this Postmaster, Jones, there were TOO
many N Hen that had there been fewer Of them they
would have beer allowed 10 PASS; fourthly, because
the Democratic Clubs To- now &C lively engaged In
sending out documents.
Irequested as he bad admitted over and over again
that il lad been the custom Of his office for years pss
TO mail these documents without any objection what
ever that he would allow boc sent 10 the Office be-
fore this decision made to be forwarded and apply
the to all future documents coming to the office;
but this he peremp,oriy refused TO 90, even though
many amor them were franked by Mr.. Covode him.
self II tbis il n)t political prescription then know
rot what political prescription is.
For weeks past have had IL iniimated IN me that
these documents were to be stopped 10 he ros-omce,
but paid no need to such rmors, little thinking that
any holding the honorable posilon Of Postmsster
of Washington City would descend to such pGry tricks.
He may attempt 10 shield his act under cover Of the
the law and the decision Of the Postmaster General
bit ask why be has not applied this law TO his own
aIty and particularly in the Gaze OF the Hon. i. Is.
Florence, who has for months past been sending
through the Post Office thousands Of his Democratic
clerk
During the campaign Of 1856 called upon First A.
sistan, Postmaster General King who si holds thst
posor) with reference TO this very question, and he
then frankly informed me that were Ihe Department
called upon 10 decide this question officially, wond
be compelled TO decide according TO the letter Of the
law but tha. this practice Of ffsDking by proxy had
become 20 general in its operations, and had been car
red on by all political parties, and for such number
Of YEAR, that general usage had almost male It Law,
and that they not dsposedto do anything IN
the matter unless the Postmaster demsnded an Official
decision.
Col. Berett. who vss then Postmaster, demanded
10 official decision, perhaps because the Democratic
40 well as the Republican party was at that time in
t4re.ied in the matter but things have Undergone
change. The Democracy low have no desire, or are
TOO UGH divided among themselves, 10 attempt 10 in
iers.t the people any OF the leading political qaes
tons Of the day ard every means must ~ taken ~ re-
tard the onward progress Of our cause.
Those pergons who expecting documents from
the Committee will Learn by thu above s,atemsnts
Why they have not been received.
LEWIS CLErIIANR,
Secretary National Republican A..ocisii9n.