New-York tribune., 1876-12-22
norsE ON REPREsENrATWEs.

Mr.. PLATT (Rep., n. " offered resolution
recipg that AbIam $ Hewitt has asserted this door
An speech that his letters passing through the PostOnce
at New-York have Illegally opened before delivery
and while In charge Of the postal officers or employees
of the United States, and providing for comnittee
OF 1--WE 10 investigate such charge, and nGung whether
be true or false and by whom II by any pers9n
said criminal acts we're committed In connection win
t he the clerks desk and had read Telegram
received to-day from Postmaster James, at New York
prOnOuncng Dir Hewitts accusation utterly and absO-
iutely false and requesting an Investigation.
Mr.. HEWITT Dem, y. " objected 20 the preamble
as guage which hc hud not used and asked
that his actual language be quoted
Mr.. PLATT modified the preamble accordingly,
quoting in II the following from Mr.. HswtPs
remarks Yesterday: -" wish 10 say that during the last
passing tiroug gh the HewYork Post Office, and accord
Ing TO the best Judgment can form and the best Judg
are apparently not nfroqucnty opened in the Post
Office and reelosed by the use Of mnclage which Is so
which has puckered appearance"
Mr.. HEWITT proceeded 10 state the circumstance
under which he made tho charge. He said about month
ago he received an Anonymous etler stating tbai thg
that he felt bound % communicate tbs fact that
slades little kettle at work on bis letters. Tie
iy Iettr was To- oserye ciaseiy tbe l"ters
which he received. lie had found that considerable
been opened tbr flaps OF the envelopes presenting
puckcred or corrugated appea ance; He called the
ana they had been able to pick out two classes
opened and those that had not been When he had come
20 Washington ne struck with the fact that letters
received from Boston, Chicago, and other points had
perfectly smooth surface the Hap Of the enyelOne,
while frequently Letters from New York presented that
srs sd Sda friend d of me S sS8s ops Of
these envelopes aud asked him u had not been opened
Mr.. Goodwin looked at it and said that II looked go He
had then asked Mr. Goodwin to Mr. James, In whose
integrity he (Mr. HOwitD had entire confidence and
whose valuable services should bo retained through all
mutations Ia politics. and mention the HIM
He (lr Hewu wished tine House TO understand that he
party 10 any tampeIing with letters. He had shown
lmo lstiers ono morning e tho grnem9n from Maine
snce OF The cnvolores and M Hale had told him that he
ought call the attention OF the House " the matter q
ba readily that Il would De hardly possible to bring
auy other evidence than fact the letters
had this appearance. He had therefore stated 1t
tact nor did he now state II as fact but he had that
suspicion which amounted TO belief that his letters had
been opened and be had acted that belief by send
ing by express special letters and requesting goneInnn
who had such special otters 90 forward them by
II may bc that in doing he taking unnecessary
prccoutOn lie had no objection Of course 10 commit
Tee but e thought It probable that
OF the gentlemen on the otAoE side W have no
should ehseriuy assent Unfortunately ho Lad thrown
tho wastebaskot the Anonymous letter, he did all
anonymous lettershs resolved from 10 70 20 geek
Therefore its handwriting could not be identied. so
too with ths enyeopes they had been thrown away and
oeiyed by hm to-day presened any appearance OF hav-
Ing been LtDpered with.
NJ; kASSoN rep lowal said he had favored the IN
PRODUCTION OF te resolution not merely bceasr 1t eon
csrned the administration Of an officer or the highest
sspnS Soi bs ae.rSyed Whom sa"e In tbS
Department. During his own connection with that dc-
partnL at tho opening of the late sacred WAS
the rule Of inyOla6iy OF cerrespOndahet that although
repeated representations were made ~ local posfnas-
tors as the Importance OF asoeTtalng h0ste prOceed
ngs through letters deposited In the Postocc, order
issed from the departments pr0hbtng the taiSper-
ing IN any way with such letter. lie did not That
the House could withhold It's assent TO the resolution
Mr. HALE (Rcp, hel said u was very clear TO him
drop The House could do nothing better In the exercise
OF ls highest power than To ferret and probe such inat'
Aiter i,lrthar tlscasslon ON motion OF Mr. SPRINGER
Dem, NIB the committee now In New-fork, of which