Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-11-16
The Portland Advertiser and the Olympia
Postmaster.

The Portland Advertiser and the Olympia
Postmaster.
Much has been said in regard to the
suppression of this sheet. We are Of
those who believe in calling things by
their right names; and when We see Il
Journal daily disseminating reasonable
sentiments, filled with the invocations
of tho wrath of God against the Ma
tional Government and the Union, stu
diously melting the people ofthis coast
to set at defiance the legally constitut-
ed authorities, in times of imminent
national peril, we do not hesitate to
pronounce such ajournal seditious and
reasonable, and its editor traitor, de-
serving the rigor of the law.
Such. for months past, has been the
course of the Portland Adcertiser, and
we believe our people and the Federal
officers of the Territory did but their
duty as loyal citizens when they solic-
tied the Postmaster of this place to
refuse to propagate treason by the fur
Their delivery of this infamous, scandal
GUS and tiaitorous journal. They who
faltercd not in thus avowing their allie
glance to our common country, they
who had so recently renewed their al
legiance by taking the oath to support,
project and defend the Constitution and
Government from domestic enemies,
but did their duty in this attempt to
close the avenue through which was
daily transmitted these nauseous va
pors of most perfdious treason. They
W ould have been derelict had they failed
to inquire care appropriations voted
by Congress to carry insidious appeals
based upon falsehood and treason to
our fellow-citizens, to subvert and de-
stroy the this Holy Compact, our Ma
tional Constitution; and to disrupt and
dismember the glorious fabric be-
queathed to us by the Fathers, the I'm
ION of these States. It was their duty
to pause and inquire, care Postmas-
tiers commissioned by the authorities
entrusted with the preservation of our
nationality, mere agents to disseminate
the seeds of anarchy, rebellion and civil
war. to build up a party in our midst
who preach sedition and practice trea
son? p
We believe the Postmaster of Olym
pia should refuse to deliver the pestifcr
GUS, treason preaching sheet whose
name heads this article, and other kin
dred journals. We do not claim fo1
him censorship of the press, or thai
the mere letter Of the law in ordinar,
times, would justify his refusal to de
liver newspapers coming through thu
mail; but we are prepared in these er
traordina,y times, when the Union is i,
danger, the Government devoting al
its energies to crush out rebellion, {,
commend to our worthy Postmaster
twhoss loyalty is beyond suspicion; 70
whom We entertain the highest person
ri regard; who we know detests u
much ~ we the hideous. treasonahl,
dogrnas Of that delectable sheet III,
instructions given by Hon. Amos Ken
dali, then Postmaster General, to I'll,
Postmaster at Charleston. on the al
August, 1885, - also the instruction,
Of Hon. Joseph Holt Postmaster Gen
eral under the late Administrators.
The former gentleman, sitter sayin.
that the law may not justify ezelusis,
Of matter from the mails, holds the FOL
lowing language in regard tothe dutie'
Of Postmaster At the Offices whers
newspapers are received:
"The Post Ofice Department Va.
created to serve the people Of each and
all Of the United States, and not 10 bs
used ~ the instrument Of their dsssruc
don. None Of the papers detained have
been forwarded to me. and l canno,
Judge for myself of their character and
tendency; but you inform me that they
are, in character. the most inflamms.
tory and incsndiaEy-and in.urrection.
airy in the highest degree By no &C,