Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-05-26

| oil the way the cOast was tOlcraDly cledr Inr
| the operations OF his enemies. There re-
manned q fact upon the ground, to plead for
hin, only his papers. Let our readers mark
the means by which these were neutralized.
Mr.. Benedict had, by the advice of three
of his friends In the Vermont delegation, who
thought 1t impolitic for him to show soy
distrust or jealousy Of Mr.. Baxter, ieft his
| papers in Mr. Baxter's hands 10 file in the
/ p. o. Department TheY were taken by
Mr.. Baxter, not 70 the CHIT Clerk Of The
Appointment Bureau, who IS the proper per
son 10 reoars them, bat 10 a Corresponding
| Clerk, ,cho had no business ruth them. By
,oaom fhey ,rere filed array, iriftom thar
{ presence, o. eIisteHoe ereH, bing kHoiCn 10 the
heads Of the appointment O6oe-fhe Bureau
ichose duty Il IS 10 consider such cases, and
| prepare "5rietS' IA regard 10 than, upon
trhich final action IS based. For any efect
upon this case, the papers might as reH hare
been dropped into the Potomac or o. fire.
| This could not have leen done in igno-
rance, Mr.. Baxter being nnquestionably ia
miliar with the proper course, but must
have been a deliberate scheme to keep
the papers from receiving consideration
by the proper officers OF the Department,
where Mr. Benedict was known, stood well,
and would have been sure Of fair and gener-
Gus treatment. The papers thus disposed Of,
/ Mr. Baxter, in direct violation OF his under
standing with Mr.. Foot, went directly to the
Postmaster General, urged with very earnest,
not 10 say violent, solicitation and demand,
the appointment; Of Mr. Huntington, and Sc
cured from the Postmaster General T, com
men alton OF Mr.. H., which was followed in
due course by an order for his appointment
from the President, VINO. OF course, cannot
investigate individual cases, and who signs
the orders for such appointments in catches
off hundred or more az time, solely upon
the Postmaster Generals recommendations.
The Postmaster General subsequently as,ur-
ed Mr.. Benedict 40 Mr. F,ot's Ire.eucc,
thar bis decision Was mad, ,r,fiow har,ng
san yayrr 90 tis case. with little snawl-
edge %! ,.e facts. and tlaf ,uch ns 10 induce
him 90 prefer personally 60 re-aTroint Mr..
Ben,d.c- and that h.- rsc mmcudation was
given solely 90 the urgent demand Of the
Congressman oi ,lc ns,riet, who must take
the responsibility Of tIe change
The surprise and Indignation Of senator
Foot on returning 20 Washington to find the
affair 10 such position, was very great, and
he at once st h!m>ei; earnestly to attempt a
redress OF the wrong. An order delaying for
a short time the issue of Mr. huntington {,
commission was obtained from the p VI. Gene
ril and as that ficcr alter once concerning,
finally appeared reluctant 60 take the case
back To the Prcsii,u, for a more intelligent
consideration. Mr.. Foot decided TO take it
up 20 the President himself Mr. LincJln's
long stay AT City PORT, and absorption with
wcighty national affair, Immediately after
his return, afforded Do opportunity for an
interview till April 18th, when the case was.
/ by appointment. 90 have hccn laid before him.
He was assassinated the night before, and
| when the hour for an interview arrived was
a corpse. OF course, what the result Of such
an application would have been, it Is impos-
sihie 60 say. BY those, however, who know
the high regard OF President Lincoln tor the
honorable Senator hy whom 1t was TO have
been made the Presidents expressed unwil-
llngness to make changes in office simply to
give places to new applicants and his well
known adherence Of trickery and ofHce-ret-
ting intrigue, it viii not he deemed unrea-
-onahlc 90 suppose that be would have
promptly reversed the action in the Gaze.
In the terrible time which Immediately
followed the Presidents murder. of course
such matter as tui, could have little fur
ther consideration, nor proper Opportunity
be bad for @ reference Of it to the new Pre-
,idcut And Mr. Foot's most reasonable re-
quest Tor a short further delay in the issuing
OF the commission, till the case could proper
ly again receive attention, was declined by
the z. NJ. General, who felt compelled |
as he said. to such refusal, by the urgency
Of Mr.. Baxter. And so at last the commits
sion came and Mr.. Huntington is postmaster.
We do not care TO Comment at present on
the transactions we have narrated. Our OBJ
ject has been to explain by plain statement
Of facts how it was that against the wishes
o. tie great majority Of our community, ard
without a solitary positive request from any
citizen 'cr he appointment which wac final
ly made, and against the wishes OF the Vt.
delegation and the heads of the Post Office
Department, a change was made in the Bur
lington Post Office. 1t IS, however. one OF
the tacts OI the case, that Mr.. Baxter course
in It Is very widely considered by those who
know most about the case here and in
W asbington, as surprising exhibition Of
duplieity and caprice Ifcx-
PLANTATION OF us motives IL desired. We
ind it IN the tact that the FREE PREss, after
hearty support OF Mr.. Baxter tor two eiec-
ions to Congress, upon his third appearance
IS candidate ventured TO recall the two
ERIN rule. 20 rigidly applied by him and his
riends to his predecessor, and to favor fel-
ow townsman, Mr.. Eimunds, for the nomi-
iation. Our support Of Mr.. Edmunds was,
however, without a word Of disparagement
II discourtesy towards Mr.. Baxter, and when
'lr. Edmunds withdrew from the canvass.
he FREE Pass again gave Mr. Baxter its
unqualified support. The occurrence had t
hown, however, that the Postmaster had !
ONE will OF bis own. lie had dared to ques- !
ion the absolute and permanent claim of Mr. :
'axter to0fhce. and his offence must be pun I