The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-07-14
MIR. EDuoR: Il ask the use Of your

MIR. EDrToR: I ask the use of your
columns TO make a statement relative TO
my recent connection With the post Office
of this city, - one lof the employees.
As its affairs hnye heeniso publicly dis
GUESSED since the appointments ofthepre
sent Incumbent, It is due to myself and
friends that should define my position
there. A few days previous to my enter
ing upon my duties, Mr. Wilder called
on me and rendered me the position of
his chief clerk, stating that he wished
me to take charge, of the books, the
'tmoney order business" and the ''regis-
tered letter" department.; also stating
that he had engaged his other assistants.
AS this was the first intimation he had
given me of his intention to proffer me
employment, was not prepared to give
him an answer at the time, but in day
or two afterwards signifed my accept
ance of the situation and entered upon
it's duties on 1st June. Finding the ne
cessity very great for my services at diff
ferent times in other departments than
my own, rendered them cheerfully and
believe they were available, and endea-
vored in all respects to perform my Ia
bors promptly and faithfully in the inte-
rest of the postmaster an / courteously
and obligingly towards all whom served.
The labors, trials and embarrassments of
the Office were increased towards the
middle of the month by the sickness of
one Of the assistants, and hence heavier
duties devolved ON the others; but they
were then performed with less trouble
and annoyance than previously, as all
had become more familiar with their re-
spective duties in the Office. That mis-
takes were made in the delivery of letters
and papers at first, as we'll as in other
respects, was unavoidable; the same mis-
takes, however, might have happened
and really, to some extent, have occurred
at the hands of the most experienced in
that department. of the Government.
But after the month Of June had passed
and all were prepared to continue their
duties with less confusion and embarrass-
Inent than at first, and after the ''reports"
and returns" for the quarter ending
3Oth June, had all been made and rem
dered to the department at Washington,
and We had more time to systematize the
operations of the Office for the quarter
upon which we had entered, I was sur
prised on the morning of the Sd of July,
by the announcement of the postmaster,
that he had, on the night previous, after
he had parted from me, made another
arrangement for the conduct Of the office,
stating that ii aods for no fault acih me, but
he felt compelled to act as he had adding,
that the anxiety of mind he suffered was
too great for him to bear, and he hoped
that he would be relieved by having those
who had for long time been familiar
with the Office in their old places The
announcement, relieving me, was as sud-
den and unexpected as the offer made to
me. In the course of the same day, 1
delivered my books, and so forth, into
the hands of my successor, who received
them, saying, after examination, that
they were correct The postmaster also
expressed himself entirely satisfied with
the manner in which I had discharged
my duties. AS to the cause of my super
cession and the reinstatement of Mr..
Leaphart, absolutely none was assigned,
for the simple reason, that none could
be, SO far as my full efficiency and de-
pertinent were to be regarded. If cum
ming. self-seeking, artful approaches or
mischievous inuendoes have deceived the
postmaster and advanced the temporary
convenience of my successor, am per-
fectly willing that the reward and the
honor shall be enjoyed by him. In regard
to the incumbent, willsay that believe
he is more than anxious to give satisfac-
tion to the public, and that his assistants
in the Office with me, so far as could
Judge, performed their duties faithfully.
I would not have permitted so long a
time to elapse before making this state
ment, but that I had reason to expect,
from day to day, that it would be made
by the postmaster himself
Respectfully, &C., P. B. GLASS.