The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-10
C6)Is s. G..
I Thurslay MoEnihg, Jane 10. 1855.

- 4 Z L.
s It had been currently reported TINT the
post Office embroglfo was fairly settled -
tha sShe former, manager was feinstated
with his. corps iof, experienced clerks in
charge of the postal affairs, and we had
prepared ourselves, to- angratulate the
pubiic on this auspicious ,change. II
WAS sbnr intsntionrto nrtosasspre themI under
the skilifdil administrationlo lof thesG gem
tlemen, chat letters would abandon their
yagrant aud boheniian habits, that The
mail for Greenville pwonld no longer be
shipped TO Greensboro; Tint Monticello
and Winnsboro, though inr the same
District, would not be considered identi.
cal; that the English alphabet would
cease to prove stumbling block" to
the clerks of the post Office. or the pro-
per distribution OF the mails be out of
the range Of human probabilities. ''"!
It is q source of sincere and unfeigned
regret that we are unable to report this
happy revolution. The. information has
proved incorrect, and, us yet, the post
master and his staff have, given, not the
slightest evidence OF a disposition to
place the Office in tha c0mpetant .hahds
referred to; indeed, the story runs that
the negotiations pending for this change,
SO important to the general good, have
been completely broken off by the, ad-
vice aud distractions of the Republican
leaders. The truth Of this rumor we
cannot determine, but it does not appear
and in any event the facts
ptand out in such bold relief that, risk
ing the change of "thrice told tale,"
we feel, as o public Journalist, impelled
to comment on so sore grievance which
affects so nearly every common and in
dividual interest.
There is no lack of material to report
in detail the countless discomforts and
injuries of the ,mal-conduct of the post
Office of Columbia; of private suffering
and commercial damage; of letters tell
ing OF sickness and distress delayed in
delivery until too late for being acted
upon; Of checks and drafts, oblivious of
every principle of punctuality.
Individual anxiety resulting from the
conduct of n public Office commands our
sympathy and compassion, but it is a
lesser evil when compared with the in
jury done to trade and every branch of
business life. It is significant fact that
one of the leading firms OF this city no.
titles correspondents, through our CO.
lumns, TO adopt the express company in
the remittance of money-an example,
judging from the numerous complaints
of the business men, which will be fol-
lowed by other merchants.
The faithful and punctual distribution
of the mails is as ''the breath of his
nostrils" to the man engaged in trade;
the failure of O remittance may SO Sc
riously affect his credit as to impair and
cripple his legitimate operations. And
so intimately connected are his relations
with the postal department that it is o
sacred duty in journalist to use every
effort to protect these relations, and to
make every effort to correct an infamous
abuse. 1t is o wise maxim of the law
which holds that ignorance is no excuse.
And we maintain that it was unpardon-
able aud criminal in the highest degree
that the present postmaster should have
been recommended to position for
which he is 80 entirely untitled. The
manner in which the duties of this de-
partment are discharged is simply mall
fe,asance Of Office. Aud though we may
be powerless to amend, too feeble to re-
form, we may yet reprobate this gross
disregard of private and public welfare,
this qualification of party spite at the
expense of common good.
We have the privilege, and it shall be
faithfully exerted. to scatter broadcast
how illegally and dishonesty we are
used. "a fair price warrants fair arti-
Gle" and surely the emoluments of the
Columbia post Office should warrant us
chief and staff to whom the distribu-
tiOp nf tba rnoi1 10 not Tho Gsr;JJ1a of