New-York tribune., 1873-05-16
. soU7U CAROLINA POSTMASTER.

The citizens of Bamberg, i'll Barnwel
County, South Carolina, have their mail mat
ter distributed to them by colored person
who cannot read writing TO casual oD-
server this would seem to be drawback upon
his efficiency as postmaster. The average
postmaster is generally believed to be possessed
of that accomplishment In some places it
has been deemed essential that the man who
has charge of the distribution OF letters should
be able to read the addresses upon them. IL
may be, however, that this is one OF the aD-
surd notions for which the Civil Service ke-
formers are responsible, and that really
il does Mt matter much whether post
master can read writing or not. a
Bamberg correspondent of The Charleston
Netcs seems to have that notion In mia way
though he does not get excited about It, lie
says the people of Bamberg do not object 10
the color of the postmaster, but they raise
questions about his qualifications. The cor
RESPONDENT indeed intimates that there is
suspicion in the neighborhoOd that he is IN
competent. And all because he hasn't the
gift that, according to DOgberry, comes by
mature" The Bamberg citizen asking Tor
letters is referred to the pile and privileged
TO overhaul them for himself and make his
own selections. There are instances on record
during the administration of this official In
which important letters have been mlsdellv-
cred, others been delayed, and still others mis-
sent and the correspondent mentions some OF
these cases. He says it is "an annoyance" TO
have such postmaster.
Well, on the whole, we should think 1t
would be. To be sure, the sender of letters
by mail is safe against any prying curiosity
on the part of the postmaster; there's no
danger of that official breaking open his let
ters-unless there 3 money in them-just to
find out about his business or family affairs.
There Is some consolation in that. But to be
Obliged to overhaul the mail to pick out
your own letters. and then stand the
chance of having your mail missent or
not sent at all, is-well, it IS mild de-
scription of it to call it incOnvenlent.
How many there are of these cOlored
postmasters who cannot read writing we do not
know-but probably Bamberg is not the only
Office that rejoices in one. 1t was Senator
Morton, if we rightly remember, who said not
long ago in Washington that ours was " the
"best civil service on the planet" And it has
been improved even since then for now they
reouire a man to understand decimal fractions
and be able to name the principal lake ports
before he can be appointed to any Office.
Doubtless the Bamberg postmaster knows all
about decimals and has the principal lake ports
at his tongues end. But it seems pity that
he cannot read writing.
We wonder if it ever occurred to any of the
gentlemen who have the making of these ap-
pointments that though they strut before the
world with boasts of magnanimity in never hav-
ing tried Rebel OF hung traitor, they have
done and are doing what is harsher and inf
nitely meaner than any y punishment ever in
ficted by civilized government. To put
such man as this Bamberg negro in such
place is not merely political blunder; it is
an outrage upon common decency.