, 1863-12-19
The Walla Walla Post Office,

EDS. STATESMAN To the great surprise of all our
citizens it reported upon the streets this week that
our worthy and efficient Postmaster, E. E. Kelly,
ESQ., is about to be superseded in the post office of
this city by--H. Parteri Knowing the principal
facts in the case, desire, with your permission to
make them public and to ask the judgment of the
citizens of the city and county upon the matter.
First, co avoid the charge of political prejudice f
such thing could be brought up in this case,) viii
state that am Republican, and at the late election
in this Territory voted for the Union candidate ior
Delegate to Congress
few weeks after the election last summer, Parker
came to prj0ately and asked me to sign petition
praying for his appointment to the office of postmas-
ter at Walla Wala. Remembering his late action in
sprining county ticket upon the people in clan
destine manner-withOut even asking the men whom
he placed there as candidates if they would accept
the offices, and thereby placing several of best
citizens in false light before the public and gener
ally disorganizing pot cal afairs-I declined to
sign his paper. He asked me to not mention
the matter SO that it would come to the ears
of these pelicGner8 remarking at the same that he
would show them yet p AS made no promises,
and his mode of procedure was 50 perfectly under
handed. violate no obligation in speaking of the
matter now. Hearing few days after he came to
me that he had dropped the matter, deemed it un-
necessary to mention it then. Upon the list he
Showed me he did not have the name of one citizen
of this county; but he had just returned from Van
couver, where he did F" a land office business and
Ob aimed the names of several men there, who had
no more right, in justice, to rgn such paper than
have the people of JEFF. Davis dominiOns. The
matter is purely local one, and maintain that it
should be left for the people of Walla Wala county
alone to attend to. Since the report of Parkers ap
pointment has reached here, l have been told that
he went to several good citizens here with his peti-
ton and enjoined the same seciesy upon them that
he did upon me, and it is perhaps needless to add
that he met with like success with them. Now
ask. ia this proper way to proceed and does it not
clearly show that he knew if it publicly done he
would be defeated by the people For one, pro
nounee it dishonest, to the mildest term can ap
ply, and believing it such, will sign remonstrance
against his appointment upon the ground that he has
obtained it by fraud and deception. A man who can,
not come out openly in such matter, or who would
serve the people in public capacity whether they
want him to or not, is rot worthy Of public conf
dence. , ~ss-- l .e
So far as Mr.. Kelly is concerned, j. claim to be his
friend only far honesty, integrity and capabili
ty entities him to that friendship and no man
quanted with him can say that he is not possessed of
all these essentials to good citizen and officer. A.
to his loyalty (Which, by-the-w way, indirectly
questioned in Psrkers petitionthe petition setting
forth that the Union cause could be subserved by his
appointment) his position as Ag ent of the Sanitary
FHnd and his success in procuring the largest sub
scripton to that fund obtained in any county in
Washington Territory proves him true; and assert
from my own knowledge of his character and with
out fear of contradiction that not one man can be
found in the county who will say that he has ever
heard him utter dsloyal sentiments, or language in
any manner uubecoming true American citizen.
He took charge of the post office when it did not pay
for the trouble of attending to it, and now thatit
pays something he is justly entitled to it until the
people whom he serves ask his removal or until be
voluntarily resigns his commission. He has labored
assduously for the procurement of good mail service
to city and county, and has been instrumental in
the establishment of all the post offices in this
and Grand Roude valleys, and for this is entitled to
the credit of doing the people favor that else
would undertake. In addition this he has just pro-
cured the establishment of post office at Placervile,
l. T. He does his business IN his Ogn name is oblg-
ing and accommodating as officer and the peo-
pie here have never thought of removing him-never
asked for his removal trust they will now all ask
that he may be continued in office.
The names of the Vancouver sgners are herewith
enclosed and you are at liberty to use them at your
discretion. CITIZEN.