The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-01-14
More Proscription-"The News'' For
hidden to Circulate at the South.


Two weeks ago we published the opinion
of the Attorney General of Virginia, de-
claring the right of State authorities to seize
and search all mail matter after reaching the
Office of its destination, and destroying what
ever letters and papers might be deemed of
IS incendiary" character. Since then we
have seen similar ukase from Attorney
Generals, Governors, and other public func
tionaries throughout the entire South. And
finally, on the 9Th of last month, Postmaster
General Holt comes out with his, in reply
to letter from the postmaster at Falls
Church, Va, asking whether he shall obey
the law of that State which forbids the de-
livery from any post Office of any book or
periodical intoxicating resistance to the
right of property in slaves" and Mr.. Holt
tells him to obey the law by all means. Civ
ing it the following sweeping application:
zone of the most solemn constitutional obliga-
tons imposed ON the Federal Government is that
of protecting the States against nsurrection' and
domestic violence'-of course, none of its instru
mentalities can be lawfully employed in melting,
tn the Temotest degree to this very crime, which in
wolves in its train all others, and with the sup
preston of which it is specially charged. You
must, under the responsibilities resting upon you
as an officer, and as citizen, determine whether
the books, pamphlets, newspapers, etc., received
by you for distribution. are of the iHceRdiary char
GcteT described in the statute; and, if you believe
they are, then you not only not obliged to de-
liver them to those to whom they are Addressed,
but you are empowered and required by your duty
to the State of which you are CITIZEN to dispose
of them in strict conformity to the provisions of
the law referred to. The people of Virginia may
not only forbid the introduction and dissemination
of such documents within their borders. but, if
brought there in the mails, they may. by appro-
pirate legal proceedings, have them destroyed"
These instructions are now being carried
out through the entire South, and persons
to whom such incendiary" documents
are directed are driven from the country
on peril of their lives.
Below we insert a communication written
by citizen of this place, containing an ex-
tract of letter from a friend in North Car
olina to whom he has been sending THE
News, who requests it discontinued as he
'endangers himself by reading such an
'mcendiary' document
EMPoRIA, JAN IL, 1860.
MEssRs EDIToRs Not long since, as you pro-
baby rrcollect ordered your highly esteemed
paper, the EMPoRIA News, to an intimate friend
of mine in North Carolina but to my deep regret
i now have to inform you that he no longer
receive it. He informs me that he endangers him
self by reading such an Z" incendiary document
But am of the opinion that, had not mOdesty
forbidden. he would have told me in so many
words, that the authorities did not allow such
q trash % to be handled in that holy, sanctified
State.
That you may have an idea of the feelings and
rpprehensions now existing in the South, will
| give you his own words.
"The recent Harper's Ferry foray, and other
things combined, have caused such an excitement
at the South that Southern people have gone al
most beside themselves with rage and fury. Po-
| litical excitement and madness boiling like
the crater of u volcanic mountain. and the very
basis of the Union is trembling to its rotten core,
and unless the rubbish is removed, and true faith
| full and honest men put into office, Iohtch
stitute the uery pillars Of the Union, down it must
fall for if such state of things exist much long
| err we shall b startled with the clash of arms
civil war and bloodshed for strife and confusion
now reign throughout the South" &c, &c.
In addition to the above, will further state
"Impending Crisis" has been ordered to leave
the State, which he refuses to do most emphatica-
| ". A few days ago, as am informed, meeting
| was held at PIttsbOro at which steps were taken
to Danish him from his native State, put him to
! death. You're, truly, JAMES y, WAY.
Since the above was handed in, we have
been informed by the writer that he has re-
ceived another letter stating that at the meet
ing referred to resolution was passed in
favor of hanging Mr.. Worth.