The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-03-01

II is very serious question how far post
Muster is to bc he'd responsible, IN Cases Of
pcclniary loss resulting from failure to do
his whole Luty III respect - the custody Of
letter, passing through his hands. " hen it
:, clearly SHOWN that such loss has been the
suit Of his own gross careicssness or that
Of his Suhordina,es. o. the general bad man
accmcnt @! his ollicc. it would seem no more
tilag lust that such liability should follow
\, least such has been the opinions Of courts
and lures in some cases where this question
Of Responsibility has been brought before
Them The case Of Christy VS.. Smith, post
master at Waterbury, Vermont which may
BE- found in "Nermont REPORTS vol. $, page
fG.;, should serve as warning to postmas-
ter, who are prone to inetilciency and loose
management in the discharge OF their duties.
y letter containing a considerable amount OF
money was mailed at Salisbury VI, to par
" in Waterbury in the same state. 1t was
lost. SHIT was brought against the postmas-
Ter Tor thc recovery of the amount with costs.
|, was satisfactorily shown that the letter
reached the Waterbury office, but was not
delivered. II was further proved tina, the
office was hadl, managed, that letters could
be easily ab,tr4cted If 'm the boxes by reach
ing through the delivery window, and that
prr> ms in no way Connected With the office
were all wed tree access AZ All times behind
the boxes AID his assistants admitted that
th' had never taken the required oath Of
o;iirc This ct>- resulted IN a verdict for
the plaintiff ;hough no one attributed to the
defendant any greater delinquency Or dI>hon-
e>ty than Il neglect Of thtt uegrce of watch
tulne>> and care implied by the acceptalee
OF lis important ,rI>t.
Honest, in tie di~ch ,ryc Of official Gcrv is
not confined 20 ;o>taInJny from U. .tcpre-
'ac >a1ctt, OF letter seals for pdrppses of
mere curiosity. Il is not honest to allow
others, not conn, ct,d with posi- office, an
opportunity 20 be dishonest, by falling Il
pr vide al; possible che ckS and prccaution,
.,'..iG>t 81; p contingencies. l. is n0t honest
T.. ,.i.''', N >uch Responsible positions, per
SIS Who. tHIn.-.ti ignorance. bad habits stu
p...tv CT III Inference. IRE as Likely &c 90
wing y right ~ tra9Sactng post Ctt.ee bus
i.e,S. it l. r]t honest to accept ol high
trust :!o'n government. and Yet con Sder and
Il, al the position N the light OF snecure
visiting thu Office often enough perhaps t.
Sgn the quarterly accounts. ant poke; tn.
.lGSe or small commissions. as ;he case ma,
be. II is not honest 10 MAKE the post office
political caucus room where tobacco smoke
lpHd talking and disorder usurp the place of
reatnc>> aind soo,i order, and where timid
applicants for l,tt,rs are turned off with ;
negative srowl from the lazy official in thu
t.irl distance who finds it easier to pronounce
the i.achns we'd word nothing" than to TAX.
d'wn his extensive legs from their elevated
position. and make faithful search for thu
jter. 1t is far from honest to allow esriou:
49," pryins persons to inspect the letters OF
others for any purpose or under amy preteXt
or TO afford any information whatever con
cefhln, such correspondence. In short the
pubic have right to expect and to demand
The utmost care. privacy and vigilance in the
management Of thcr postal afairs.-Hol-
Lr0ok's L. S. Mail.