New-York tribune., 1873-12-12
yYVJOL1BILTTY or THE MATLs.


Mr.. Dawes offered resolution in the House
of Representatives, on Wednesday to inquire
of the Postmaster-General " whether any Gus
tom house officers or detectives have been
"allowed to examine correspondence passing
s'through the New-YOrk or Boston Post Offices,
"and whether any such officials have opened
"or otherwise tampered with such correspond
"ence for the purpose of ascertaining whether
| the revenue laws have been violated or for
"any other purpose" Coming from stanch
and trusted servant of the Administration an
inquiry like this created no little amazement
perhaps We might even say CONSERVATION
and there has been great deal of curiosity
TO know what it means. We are not in the
confidence of Mr.. Dawes. but there are some
facts within our knowledge which may afford
an explanation of the scandal that bis resolu-
tiOn suggests.
Some weeks ago the Boston postmaster re-
ceiyed a letter from mercantile firm in
Europe informing him that they had mailed
certain number of diamonds to his care for
customer in Boston, and that an invoice had
been sent for the Collector of the Port in order
that the lawful duties might be paid before
thc gems were delivered. The packet of dia-
monds did not come to hand. After inyesti-
cation Postmaster Burt discovered that 1t had
been stopped and opened in the New-York
Post Office and proceedings had been taken
here to conlscate the diamonds under the
revenue laws. Now whatever irregularity. there
NAV have been, if any, i'll the manner of entering
the diamonds il is evident that there was no
intention, and we may say no possibility Of
I,C thn Enunrumppt nf
the shippers was 10 send the goods in the
quickest and safest way, and they were care
full to advise the proper officers of their ar
rival. If any other foImaities were required,
it seemed that the authorities at Boston were
| the proper persons to exact them, and Mr..
| Burt accordingly demanded that the inter
| cepted packet should be released. After an
| appeal to Washington and a long delay. the
New York Office was instructed to replace the
| diamonds in the packet from which they had
| been abstracted and forward both to their
| destination.
With the regulations Of the Treasury we
have not now to do; but we may reasonably
inquire with Mr.. Dawes whether detectives
are allowed to open letters in transitu in or
| der to discover suspected Offcnses against the
|
in one such case, of course they may in Others
The private correspondence of importers may
be subjected to the prying eyes Of Special
Agents eager for chance to seize an invoice.
| Not merchant in the country can have an
assurance that his letters are not systemati-
cally opened and read, in the hope that they
may show something to his discredit. The
| Federal Government arrOgates to itself a
monopoly of carrying the mails, and it is
bound to hold them inyiOlable. In all civil
lzcd countries violation of the secrecy Of pri.
vate correspondence has been held grossly dis
honorable, and we do not believe that any party
which sanctioned it could retain power in the
| United States etrust that Mr.. Creswell will
give Mr. Dawes prompt and comprehensive
answer, and if the alleged outrage has been
committed the people will demand that it be
| signally punished