Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-30

tue SthUuaTu
Mr. ED1roR-Dear Sir AS the true and loyal
citizens of North Carolina, aohen oppressed look to
you as tried and manly friend, permit me- in be-
half Of the good people Of Clay county, through
your columns to bring to the notice Of our worthy
Governor, and also to the proper department at
Richmond a most serious grievance in the postal
service The facts are these About the 1lth of
October the mail contractor at Asheville ceased to
transmit the mail from that place through the coun-
ties of Haywood, jackson, and Macon, to Murphy,
in Cherokee Clay county, lying east Of Cherokee,
is dependent upon that line for mail advantages.
For six or seven weeks from the above date no
mail was sent on this line from Asheville since
then it has been brought a few times as far as
Franklin Macon county, but up to this date, (Nov.
SO,) it has not come to Cherokee or Clay.
When our people heard the mail had been brought
to franklin, and wsuld not be carried through to
Murphy, they sent the regular mail carrier to
Franklin for the Clay county mail, and when he
demanded our mail Of the Postmaster at Franklin,
he, 0he P. NJ gave him part of the mail due u.s.
but kept back q part, and gave, as the reason why
the mail was not carried through to Murphy, and
why he then kept back part OF the Clay county
mail when called for by the regular mail carrier in
our county, that "ue Ghe people Of Clay ssere re-
garded as disloyal and therefore We. could not get
the mail"
Now, Mr.. Editor, is not this most serious grev
ance? Injured deeply, and then grossly and ma.
iciously slandered and impudcntly insulted by one
OF the minions of power Clay county is almost
literally in the army, few skulking "originals
excepted. She abides by the laws is now quiet, and
has had disturbance wsthin her borders since the
.oar 6sgan Her home guards are viglant and
aithfuI Judged by her works, no county in the
State or any other State, is truer or more loyal
Shall her citizens in the army be deprived of the
privilege of sending and receiving letters from their
narents wives and children at home? Shall her
citizens at home be deprived Of the rights of citizens
and be treated as aliens by the government, whilst
they honor the laws, pay their taxes, and discharge
every other duty of good citizens?
A large majority Of our people voted for Gov.
Vance. and hold the same political opinions with
him. Is this thing done by bis order or approval
If not is it the handiuork o. the Richmond govern
,uent2 Or is it the aJomina5le work Of the mail
contractor at Ashevile, aided by the lying syco-
constituents and loyal citizens to be thus in
jured, thus slandered and insulted with impunty !?
Will not every honest man in the State burn with
indignation at such an outrage upon the wives,
mothers, children and friends, as we'll as upon the
soldiers themselves of gallant county? The aoisest
truest, nsightiest of the past !-OYr nane guardn-
tees our charaeter-CLAY !-CLAY!!
Are not Postmasters sworn to forward the mail
when called for by the proper agent? Ought not
this Franklin Postmaster to be punished or put into
the army for perjury and disloyalty to the govern
ment? Ought not the contractor at Asheville to be
similarly punished?
have made single statement Of the facts ac-
cording to my information, and hope have misrep'
resented nothing.
Now, Mr. Editor, will you not aid an injured COM
munity and urge consideration of this matter up.
on Gov Vance and the authorities at Richmond2
j. Yours, &C., CLAY.