The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-08
Washington, July IL, 1859.
MEANNEss IN THE POST OFFICE.


MEANNESS IN THE POST OFFICE.
1t viii be seen by the card of Mr.. Clephane
the Secretary of the Republican Association il
this city, that the Postmaster of Washington
Mr.. Jones, has been seized with a suddel
qualm of conscience upon the subject of trans
hitting matter through the mails supposed to b.
franked by an authorized agent of a member o
Congress. Taking this fact by itself, entirel,
disconnected from the surrounding circum
stances, and it would indicate a hopeful stat,
of contrition and reformation for it is notorious
that thousands upon thousands of such frank
have been permitted to pass unquestioned b.
the conscience-stricken Mr.. Jones, not only du
ring bis present term of Office, but during tbs
whole of his former term. He has been in of
fee for eighteen months past, and at the las
session of Congress he permitted members of al
parties TO resort to it with IMMUNITY. No dis
guise was attempted. The rule was, where &
heavy amount of franking was to be done, tC
employ clerks to perform the drudgery of wri
ting the members name, as well as of directing
States Senate, by Mr.. Iverson, that a single
Senator, Mr.. Douglas, had sent out more than
three hundred thousand copies of his speeches
during session, and other Senators were stated
70 have sent We know not how many thousands.
Every one knows that Mr. Douglas could not
send out the enormous number of speeches
which go under his frank, without making
hanking the steady business of his life. 1t is
notorious that he as well as other Senators and
members, Democratic, American and Repub-
hcsn, have been in the habit of employing or
authorizing one, two, or more persons to frank
for them and the fact ia nowhere better known
than at the Washington City Post Office.
We understand, that during the recent trial
of Phillips, in this city, for using the frank of
Mr.. Douglas for his own private purposes, the
fact was either proven or admitted by Mr. Doug
las, that the defendant had been employed or
authorized by HIM to use his frank in sending
out political documents. We also have it, upon
good authority, that Mr.. Thomas B. Florence,
member Of Congress from Philadelphia who
has Quixotic project on hand for starting
democratic Review In this city, has been
permitted freely to avail himself of the services
of an agent in ranking thousands OF circulars.
But there is another case about which there can
be no doubt viz that Of some thirty thousand Re
publican documents which were sent off under
Mr.. Covodes frank, from the Republican Rooms,
about SIX or eight weeks ago. For weeks, the
young Republicans about the city were en-
ployed at their rooms, publicly and openly, in
Thanking and directing these documents, in the
name and by the authority of Mr. Coyode, who
went to the Post Office to inform the Postmaster
of his presence in the city when they were sent
forward IS a matter Of course.
No disguise or deception was attempted.
Nobody was deceived. Time seemed to have
sanctioned the abuse of employing agents to do
the drudgery of ranking, and some of the best
men in Congress, of all parties, resorted to it.
The Postmaster Of Washington and his clerks
understood the matter as perfectly then as they
do now. But the Democracy then had, or sup.
posed they might have, an axe TO grind so
The Republican proxy ranking was permitted
10 pass unquestioned. But the party is now so
divided and dispirited by the result of the
Southern elections, that they can raise no more
funds to be used in publishing and circulating
documents. They therefore make virtue of
necessity, and become honest reformers This
IS the whole story.
We will not deny that the decision made by
the Postmaster is abstractly right But it would
have been more to the point, and have done
moro credit m his boDaut, .rd Co,--ooz g :.
had been made year or more ago, upon the
first case which came under his observation.
He is no novice. He was Postmaster for we
know not how many years, prior to General
Taylor's Administration and he was aware
that the irregular practice existed during his
former term of Office. He therefore cannot
pretend that he has just discovered public
abuse, and put stop to it. Such pretence
would be false and hypocritical: and no intel
hgent man in Washington would be imposed
upon by IT.
We trust that this miserable piece of Peck.
snifian honesty viii lead to general discussion
of the ranking privilege, and to its entire
abolition. 1t is an enormous abuse, in its bes
estate, and fruitful of frauds upon the Treasury
Every vestige of it should be swept away, ex
cept the simple privilege of reccirinq letters
etc., by members, while in Washington. The
next session of Congress should sweep the Law
from the statute book, and thereby cut off tbe
mean and partial administration of If durinrtbe
Presidential campaign. The Black Demoe
Tacy viii be permitted to send off car loads O
ranked matter in 1860, under the forged name,
of members of Congress, while the law will b,
strictly enforced against the Republicans S,
let the source of corruption be cut up root ant
branch.
Since writing the above, we have receives
the following upon the subject from CORES
pendent:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 1859.
The stoppage of the Republican document
is based upon decision of Postmaster Gen
eral Campbell, confirmed by Governor Brown
and reafirmed by Mr.. Holt. The laao doe
not authorize such construction with regard t.
documents, as it specifically refers to letters
The discretion in the matter of suSpectiRq tn,
handwriting not TO be that of the person who's
frank is used, as left with the City Postmaster
he does not find it conrenieRt to suspect an
but Republicans. There is no doubt that docu
ments are constantly passing through the cit,
post Office unsupported" under the frank o
distinguished Democrats who are far away
end who have not been here for months.
Yours, ~. ARGUS.