New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-24
SOUTHERN MAIL FACILITIES.

1
livery in the country were thrown aside, and
thus never reached the subscribers. If we
remember Alright our contemporary attribu-
ted this conduct to some prejudice against the
French language, on the part of the country
postmasters. This explanation may be imme-
diately, but it is not ultimately correct. Hon
est officials would consider themselves bound
to deliver paper printed in the French Ian
guage, as promptly as q paper printed in the
English language. No amount of ignorance
or prejudice would prevent them from dis
charging the duties which are confded to
them and which they are paid to perform.
A little reflection will, we are sure, convince
the Renaissance that the cause of its well
founded complaint lies deeper than mere
prejudice or ignorance on the part Of the
postmasters. 1t is to be found in the PERM
cious system which controls the appointment
of federal office-holders in the Southern
States Indeed the consequences of this sys-
tenn are just those which any reasonable man
might have predicted in advance; just those
which all rational thinkers have argued of a
method which places political opinion, and
Poii'1e'ti ''o'1o - Az 'il0o VI LUZ
es5y' integrity ana eapaeloy, as qualincaUlohs
for Office.
The tendency of party organizations to
i,llil9 'he range q seieetloh 70 members OF
/ the dominant party has been considered a
fruitful source of official corruption; but at
leas9 ne Jaw never required any Ponacai
rests even ~neh polltlcal anllnoslties We're
hlose pltset' ~ was reserved loF the party
OF gtea0 moral IDEAS, the party OF hoerty
ana progress 70 aftl& a legal sanctlon TO
| system Wlllen y noG Only oalous ana VyFan-
i,ieal = l'seli, guy "iieii p eerotailzlns' A.
H. IisnesS oe8Eee, g anS community M
Miiicii - y enforced. - = no5 too nlueh 70
~ 'hae' as long as ehe tesV oath Jaw ols-
5faoes eile statute -oook OF me United states,
Ohe .peone business VIII never oe properly
e ,.l 1ha' aet IS a standing old lor
e'isnoies1y' II Is y perpetual 1naucelnehV'
neia QUITO Eoou'hern people % PeElufe them-
se1FeS' I hoS u tne forum q the law atleas1
u ehe forum q conscience. very 1eW nave
yleidea 70 the temptatlon' u IS true; out
thence IT follows that the public business is
| necessarily conhded to class OF men VINO do
not enjoy the confidence OF the communities
winch they serve and many OF whom, in the
4 very act Of taking the oath, have proved them
| selves unworthy Of trust. There are exceptions,
| q course. There are afew genuine Union men
who could conscientiously and truly take the
test oath and, against these, we have no
wish to urge any objection. But, throughout
the rural districts OF the South there cannot
be found number Of really respectable,
honest ana eHlclent men, to ill the federal
Offices.
Ihere Is really not one man IN thousand
VINO dld not IN some way voluntarily render
opedlence OF allegiance to the Confederate
government, and all such are excluded by the
htefal terms OF the oath. Hence 1t has hap
peheo that either the pubic business IS en-
tlreiy neglected. Or u falls INTO the hands o.
u 7 persons. Ihe President and
e4e heaas OF departments at Washington
nave feit.tne embarrassing effects Of this state
OIL analrs, Inc secretary OF the treasury has
urged on congress the abolition OF the test
oatn' ana the late postmaster general admitted
14la0 TINS requirement. would prevent any
ell1cielo fe e q inc southern mail
system congress, however reused to fur-
n n any fellef. Inc test oath is still in
lofce' ana ene consequence IS that a large
number OF eou'herh postofhces are closed,
been made
How this difficulty is to be remedied we
cannot perceive unless the government will
select good and competent men at the North
to fill the public Offices and to enter into
mail contracts So far as the Southern peo-
pie are concerned there would be no objection
to such an expedient. They know that the
public business would be far better transac-
ted BY men who could conscientiously take
the test oath, than by those who falsify their