Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-03-20
How an Administration Newspaper i'll Mi
chigan is Sustained

Mr. Chandler, one Of tho United States Scna.
tors from Mlch gaH, IN n recett 49, ech IN the So
nate; made the following \ closures which
commend to such If there be any except otiee-
holdcrs) as ure opposed to divarcns the Post OF
flee from NIL partisan ind corruptng association
with the Federal Government. The hill now ren-
ding in Congress, will eiectually secure this des
rahe end, and DO attended with nm annual saving
to the Treasury of the large nm unit now absorb
cd by those officials wha hold the more import
ant post oihocs aud, 50 far any indly ser
Wees they render nsc concerned, are neither moro
nor less hnn s.nccrres
| Hear Mr.. Chandler:
But again, sir have little further expert
cnccd in my State. In the Summer Of lS5i, II
man, in the town of Lexington. in tho State Of
Michigan. was detected in rohLing tho mail 1t
appeared that he was n deputy postmaster; that IL
to Say, tho postmaster lived milo or two from the
office, aud deputized him to net as postmaster I'm.
der the plea that owning the Democratic paper he
must receive the revenues Of the Office 10 enable
him to run his press. The iuels Of the case were
set forth nj the Postofhcc Department. How WAS
the guilty Nah treated? The postmaster of Lex
ngton removed, and the identical man Who
robbed tho mail was appointed Ia succeed him
supposed that this was mere mistake; sup
posed that they Ind taken the postmaster who bad
| been removed for tho theft, and applied at the
| pustofiice Department To have the mistake recti-
| fled. | brought the papers along and submitted
] them to the Postmaster General, mud said; "lhls
is clearly mistake, and ask tina, il may be rec
! lltied and that this mnn may be removed" lilo
said very WE'LL | will have it investigated. -
! This was during the first session OF the Thirty.
! Fifth Congress- and some months nitcr tho man
| had been detected. ! went 10 the Poslnihce De.
pnrtment from time to time but was turned
away and sent to one of the Assistant Postmaster
! Generals to see what progress WAS made in tho
| investigation. Finally the Assistant Pasnas ter
General drew out n large quantity of letters from
leading Democrats in my State. aud said 1t was
necessary for the Democratic party that this man
should be kept in uii,c But" said |, this
man is pos,ofice robher. the; and demand
that you have him removed. don't ask that II
Republican be put in his place, bn, that YOU have
Democrat appointed who will not steal"
"We. sir, the demand was deemed unrcasona
ble.-l Laughter lie was not removed he was
retained in Office; and more, sir. ho was promoted
he promoted to be the deputy United States
Marshall for that district after these charges were
made and proved 1t was very lucrative place
for him. Under the postmaster he could rob the
mail, and being deputy United States Marshall
his very first act was to establish an immense
mandatory Of counterfeit money. Laughter.
But he held his office there for years after these
facts were established. True, he was liberal man
he owned n newspaper press, and they could moi
have n Democratic press there without giving il
the patronage of the post office. lilo spent hi,
money freely. and he could afford to do So for he
made il himself. laughter. or all beyond what h,
got by robbing the mail