American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-15
Our Next Post Master.

A short time since, a call appeared IN
all the papers of this place, inviting all
the citizens to meet on Saturday, the
18th instant, for the purpose of express
ing their preferences, by secret ballot, as
TO who should be presented to the De-
partment, as their choice for Post Master
of the Office in this Borough, for the next
four years. This call is in accordance
with the general usage here. The pres
ent incumbent, Mr.. Sedwick, was chosen
in this way, Mr.. Lennon was once SO
chosen-indeed we believe, so far as our
party is concerned, the custom has been
quite uniform. Already snch elections
have been held elsewhere, for similar pur-
poses. ii was, therefore, to be expected
that all would cheerfully acluie5co in
this Democratic mode of deciding this
matter,-indeel that they would much
prefer it, to that most unpleasant one of
canvassing for signatures; for letters and
for influence all of which are so unmean-
ing and uncertain. So far, as at present,
advised, the aspirants are Mr.. Sedwick,
Mr. Miller, and Major Anderson As
was seen by a card from Mr. Sedwick, he
declines submitting his claims to his
neighbors in this way. Mr. Miller has
submitted freely to this method of dccid-
ing the matter, as has been seen by his
card, also published in this paper. While
Major Anderson, who is absent from home
has consented to have his name used by
his friends, and, like Mr.. Miller, agrees
if chosen, to Gil the Office satisfactorily
We wish now to cali the attention of our
readers, and all others, who obtain their
mail at this office, to this matter. The
election will be opened at one clock, and
will close at o'clock, p. m, of Satur-
day, the 18th inst We trust they will
30 far consult their interest, as to be pres
cnt, and cast free ballot, expressive of
their judgment as to who they believe
will make the best officer, for the public.
who will most inteligently discharge his
duty. There are about forty Post Offices
in this county; The office in this place is
the distributing one for them all. 1t re-
quires great presence of mind to avoid
mistakes. When this matter commenced,
we determined not to take any part in it.
We believed that all would cheerfully 90
into an election and we know well that
the people would act intelligcntly at the
ballot-box, at least. But Mr. Sodwick
having construed our reticencc into hos.
tiiity to him, and having repeatedly com
planned of it, VIC came to the conclusion
that we would express publicly our con-
victions and feelings in the premises
And we will here say that all Mr. Sed-
wick's ayerments, doubtless honestly en-
tertained by him, are mere inauguration.
We were not aware that he had ever op-
posed us when we were before the people,
although he may have done so. We hold
that political positions are the gifts of the
people--that candidate has no right to
demand the support of any one. 1t is
gift, and should be voluntary, and no man
who adheres to the fundamental principle
upon which our Government is founded,
the will of the people--should desire
to control that freedom. And now, SO
that there can be no misunderstanding as
to our position, we wish frankly to avow
it. And first, we would say tha we al
ways have entertained the best of feelings
towards Mr.. Sedwick, personally and po-
litically, that we still entertain those feel
ings. This fact, however, has not led us
to believe that he sh ould hold the posi-
tion of Post Master, indefinitely. He has
already had it eight years. He carries
ON shop from which he realizes hand
somely, we have no doubt, and he is not
therefore, dependant upon the position
for a living. Gen. Cameron said last fall
that there would be a disposition on the
part of the various departments to make
changes. We think it would be nothing
more than generous for Mr.. Sedwick to
give way; but as he declines to do so, the
people have right to decide for them
selves whether change would not be
desirable. For ourself, we prefer change,
first, because the present location Of the
Office is a bad one, situate as it is just on
the point where the children from the
two large schools reach main streetin the
afternoon, Just in time to be great nui-
sanee at the Office at the opening Of the
mail in the evening. We're the Office 10,