New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-30


tained IN such mails but know OF no law which
would authorize postnasters TO deliver sealed packages
or mail matter to Collectors OF the Customs or 70 with
hold the delivery to the addressed OF any such
package OF mail matter in their official custody except
as expressly provided by postal law regulations En-
PERTAINING this view Of the subject am of the opinion
that the instructions contained In Section "a Of the Post
Office Regulations above referred to- should continue
TO govern posmastcrs respect ali packages of mail
matter received from foreign countries which, exam
very respectfully your obedient servant.
JNo. A. J. CREswELL- Postmaster General
The Hon. WIN. A. Richardson, Secretary OF the Treas
ury.
THE SECRETARY ARGUES HIS POSITION
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON, d. G.. Oct a. 1873
The suggestions made in the letter Of ths Department
OF the oath u 10 the Postmaster at NewYOrk soc 10
to be in entire harmony with Section 90 of the rega
lations of your Department. except upon point not
mentioned in said regulation viz, that any dutlaoie
arucies found IN letter OF package sIer 'o Seivered
by the post officers IL the customs officers Tor examn
ton Of said regulations and the Collector Of Customs
instructed upon being notified by tne fostnaS,
be present at the opening OF suoh letters packages
and 10 take possession Of any dutiable contents A.,
auaSe arces eTP through the
letters which, by the aforesaid regulation, Yonr
regulation provides that letters packages VIII be re-
tanned reasonable time suppose 1hat pAa,y bip
reasonable te what then shall be done mth he letter
packagei Or suppose that letter arrives n
To John smith, at IeonardtOwn, New YORK, wnch upon
such examination be gwen IT, without its oe eng
opened seems TO contain articles OF some nu WHICH y
or NAV not be dutabe II is manifest that In ordinary
cases the party would not 90 to Newfork 10 Do poes
the opening, and even when addressed 70 pary
the City OF NewYo he may decline 10 appear q. VIC
Post-OfHce to open tho letter What action shouu DE
taken by the post officers In sucn cases caSe m p
occurred not long since at New-fo ORR where etter Was
received in the foreign mail suspected OF c9h n
peared at the Posoice and admitted that II cohliheu
diamonds and produced the invoice theieol, p1t uo
clnod to open for fear that the contents would be at
| once seized by the customs officers
The Importance of wen settled rule for the protee-
when IL is understood that the United States Court OF
the Southern District OF New-York as well as the re-
the introduction of dutiable merchandise through the
mails is illegal, and that goods 90 introduced are SUBJECT
have only further to add that the correspondence by
this Department direct with the Postmaster al New
III the sending letter OF inquiry as TO what Steps
taken by him to protect the Government In sueh
ment, and TO which this Department again replied by
letter making certain suggestions but wiSout assun,
ing 10 give him instructions in the IL woud un-
doubtedly been in harmony with the propri-
ETY. o. official intercourse TO have addressed the leter
through your Department am, very respectfully,
WILLIAM a. RICHARDSON, Secretary
Hon. j. A j. Creswell, Postmaster General
THE POSTMASTER DECLINES TO VIOLATE THE MAILS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, Oct l. 1873.
SIR: 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
OF your letter of the I'd instant, IN reply TO
mine OF the 30th ultimO. respecting the treat
ment of letters other sealed packages received in
containing articles subject TO import duty and 10 INFORM
YOU reply, that in The instructions to p0stInasters
published regulation 81 of the postal laws ana regn-
mons, this Department has in my Judgment gone as Tar
safely go 10 aiding officers of the customs N
The mails To instruct them 10 do what has been sug
gested wSud require them TO violate the PLAIN statutes
embezzlement" OF letters, either principals or ac
eessories. before delivery to the parry 10 Shoin
of au act 10 revise. consolidate, aud amend
the statutes relating TO the Post-Ofce Department
! lima I w
| obedient servant, JNo. A. J. CREswELL,
PostmasterG General.
Hon WIN. A. RICHARDSON, Sc retsry OF the Treasury
TIE BOSTON POSTMASTER COMPLAINS.
BOSTON, MASS, Nov. 10, 1873.
10 the Postmaster. General Washington, b. g.:
Registered foreign mail for Boston is stopped III New
York under section 50 Of regulations. aud citizens i'll
Boston notified to go New York 10 receive their
have safe transmission through Nev(ork Oar Custom
officers notified and attend here such letters
already detained here more than a week. Please
WILLIAM L. BURT. Postmaster.
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE PosTMAsTER-GENERAL~
PosT-OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
- WAsHNGIoN u " nov ~ ls'J'
Alter giving aSe,ee 20 Cohesion under Postal esua
Gns a et parties %ay have fair to
proceed against him 10 test law. Hereafter until further
advised forward all packages addressed to Boston TO
that point subject to proceedings there. Will advise
You further. JSO A. j. CREswELL Postmaster General.
THE POSTMASTER OF BOSTON PROTESTS.
PosT-OFFICE, BOSTON. MASS, Nov 20. 1873
SIR The citizens of Boston having registered letters
directed to Boston received notices. sged
by the Postmaster and Collector of New York that their
lettars have been detained there aud that hoy must
come TO New-York 70 receive them, aud opeu them IN
the presence Of the Collector -Asa -
What greater possible ont can he committed mon
the citizen what greater vO.on of the Postalla
than this IN, -... .,o o. 49, ,,.o,., ,o,.ou.
nentwhose mails have been forwarded 70 TINS country
under postal convention, when their citizens demand
these letters he returned to them, or proper receipt
registry office in Boston showing their safe ar
f think this is tie first attempt ever made In the United
States deliberately stop letters duly mailed in transit
aud trust you will take at that broad and compfe'
the i Of the United States free even from the
suspicion OF governmental control.
tbe letters Of man may be stopped then those OF
all men, aud shall carry in the mails only snch letters
and NAV think ut 70 be carried: Ihis Is one
step beyond ucennAy publications III the mails IN
the South years ago. They only claimed the right to
stop printed matter.
official IN New-York TO withhold or deain letter IN
transit for Boston Does it help the matter that The
Collector thinks II contains dutiaDe goods This does
not help 1t particle The right 10 seize or delay one OF
these letters precisely the ght to seize or delay The
with Great Britain that we have provided for the col
lection customs duties on matter coming through the
Blackan will recoect, but think suggested the sec
growing out Of actual cases that mad IN Dos
ION. Ii tine Collector OF New-fOrk suspected thai
these letters the medium for introducing goods In
violation OF the laws, he has fun protection FOR
the Government without violating the rights OF single
individual They must go forward to the post-onee Of
their destination aud be delivered 10 the party 10 whom
they addressed and the collector his agents may
lin delay to he had that they may be pres
emf ii there appears then as Iae OF II the Official
that suspects there is intended violation
az the revenue laws may seize either the property
tbe man or both aught know care for the Post
Once DepartIneut has fulfilled full duly and
fnncf,on bu until each forwarded TO Its de
,ination that duty is not performed. $500
Ii cannot be possible that you Will permit, and IL
eouay the Secretary OF the Treasury shold
k that any in the United States mails should
he seized IN ranstu. You both too good LAWYERS
moi TO appreciate how utter violation Of the rights OF
the citizen aud will bOtn perceive that there
ia no limit to the exercise OF this power except
the will or the fancy Of each Government official who
NAV assume its exercise. In other words, might
a. well have stopped the whole mail for Boston the