The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-16

his clerks 70 contribute good the alleged
deficiency. OK this have suii'enty spoken Il viii
and may well be left to destroy eaca other If he was
not responsible for tho money theo most clearly he had
the means adopted If he had such right, thea must
have been the express ground that he was yespon
sbe In truth neither the one position nor the other is
at al maintainabe.
is not alone legal aspects OF the defence that are
thus confused and contradictory When the department!
communicated to Mr. Westcott the charge preferred
against bin, his response WAS stout and emphatic de
NAL His letter TO the Postmaster General under date
of I'd February 1882 opens with the folown Ian
SRI received your letter Sist u saying 3it is al
legged that receipts taken from certain clerks your
office for the quarter ending seth june 1851 for larger
smount than they received
content myself to lay with prompt Genial Of thi
alseat IN as affecting the integrity Of my accounts
thus boldly taken and assumed that Of confession aod
justification, which be has continued since 10 occupy Up
the present moment The Investigation Of few days
probably suhced TO disclose 70 him the existence OF
amount OF Testimony within the reach Of the government
which rendered this acknowledgment prudent as his
former denial had been rash and III advised.
II is finally urged chat the transaction cree from
he usual badges Of fraud; that vas open aud ucder
stood by all participated in it, assented to by
those who lie victims. In support Of this view, the
hdayiis OF twenty eight clerks and messenger have
eeh hed These papers were prepared uuder the iafd
nee OF The relations Of dependence which secured
ieIce IN tie Office while the arbitrary levy being
onsummated. They must be received with many grains
allowance They substantially copies OF each other
nd forth general terms tina, Nc Westco pesctsed
deception that the question Of the deficit openly
iscussed ard that the ai ants thought then and still
think. il Eight for the clerks TO be Obliged to mike
God the loss II Is difficult 10 conceive how the conyic
ton can be sincerely entertained that is just to hold the
innocent responsible in pereoD IN property for the
delnquencies Of the guilty Bat there other twenty
eight clerks who we're subjected TO this contribution,
NEST Of whom have lot spoken on the subject Tney
doubtless view ii in the light IN which felt
constrained present it, fe OF thesc who vol
nnteered their adsvits have pronounced tbs Vouchers
which they signed 'talee" they too depend.
ent to demonstrate when the outrage perpetrat-
cd on them, and they are now too conscientious to
permit themselves to be Used instruments for its yiud
cation Could it be supposed, has been insisted, that
Mr. Wescot is not guilty. according to the letter OF the
sponse TO the present accusation is dealing fairly
with the government TO meet this proceeding with tech
nical objections and interpretations which might embar
ress prosecution before petit Jury Because reason
abe doubt may be entertained OF the guilt of plbc
officer it does follow thst he should be retained in
place o, trust and high responsibility.
II is the mission OF the Post Office Department, above all
others To inspire ard 10 deserve the complete confidence
Of the public which can only accomplish by disc ardrg
from its service those whose lives and characters
above all feproach AID all sus l,cion.
Az Of which is respectfully submitted J. HOLT.
To THE PRESIDENT.
THE FRAUDULENT POSTAGE STAMPS.
from the Washington Constitution June TO-
startling" article IL New York paper Of the sth
nst, under the imposing head Astonishing Frauds in
in the Post Office Department lead TO the be-
lief that that department loses ulioo Of dollars
by the of counterfeit and washed postage stamps
We find inquiry, that 10 investigation has been made
leading b the belief OF 0s The Suspicion that such lling
and whole o,e frauds hare been committed On the
trary, careful investigation 10 the department has led
to the conclusion that although occasional cdemM
made TO cancelled and wlShed stamps in pay
ment Of postage, such attempts rarely sue
cessfIl and that considerable loss to the revenue
has resulted from this abuse We find that the depart
ment has TO believe-ether roia proof
sopable presumpon-that there has been any counter
eng OF postage stamps since their introduction the
ice The sale Of postage stamps has Increased
increasing from car TO year IN nearly uniform ratio.
Surely this could be the If the statements
true. Moreover, It would he next impossible TO
introduce counterfeit stamps TO any considerable extent
without Eci,i0g pcon trsrt through hs d2cy
Of dishonest Post Clcs officials; and this way would
not be bic to succeed without assistance in all the
principal ofces Ct the Union 10 Office could many
spu stamps be sold because the dmirshed demaud
for the legitimate stamps would necessarily st arrest
the attention OF the postmaster.