The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-05-27
rConfdentiRl.1 I
PosT-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.

4 .
WAsHINGToN, D. O., April %, 1851
DEAR SIR: The continued illness Of Mr..
Hay will delay his coming for some time
yet to the Department, and think it desir-
able that some action be taken in the way
Of removals, and am impatient to assist our
people in securing relief to which they are
justly entitled from partisan Postmasters.
1 have had a conference with the Virginia
delegation and they will soon bring in their
cases, and 1 shall hope to make the earliest
removals in that State. As soon as they
shall be ready, and I hope within a week,
desire to appoint from three to ten in a
county in Virginia, amounting to several
hundred altogether. had intended to in
vite yourself and the Democratic delegation
from Ohio to meet this week and consider
the plan upon which we should proceed in
making removals in Ohio. But I under
stand it will be inconvsnient for some to
travel hither now, and it occurred TO me
that the same end might be accomplished
by writing. I shall beg you, therefore, to
consider the suggestions l make as to tho
methods of procedure, and if you can adopt
them and get some cases ready within the
next two or three weeks. l think within
the month of May can give substantial re,
! lief that will take away the importantly and
! discomfort. l think that from 10 TO 20 pei
cent. of the fourth class POstmasters in Ohio
might be removed within the next two
months, and great good accomplished there.
| by, if our people will adhere to a proposed
plan.
This is, in short TO pick out tho most OBJ.
noTiOus and offensive partisans in each
county, to the number of a sixth to a quar-.
ter Of all, and choose first class men to take
their places. will require no more proof
of pnrtisanship in these selections than the
affirmation of knowledge on the part of 6
| Representative or Senator that the Post
master has been an active editor or prOpri
etor of a Republican newspaper printing Of
fensive articles, easily shown by slips; o
a stump speaker, or member of a politicN
committee, or officer of a campaign club, o.
organizer of political meetings, or that hi
office has been made the headquarters o
political work, or that his clerks have beef
put into the performance of political duties
Possibly other facts of equal force may b
noted in other cases. If the Representa-
tive does not know the fact it should be eE
tablished by some affidavit Of some persol
whom he can affirm to be Of unquestiOne
credibility, or by some documentary evi
dence.
In recommending for appointment, be-
the Representative will state the age, busi
ness, and description of the busineE char
acter of the applicant, and also Of his habit
and standing in the community. 1t wOul
be well to file evidence showing that he wi
be satisfactory to the community, and whe
, there are various candidates 1 shall b
obliged by any explanation which the Rep
resentative can give.
This necessarily imposes a little trouble
and yet not very great, but it seems to m
reasonable to require very eXtraOrdinRr
{ care and trouble enough to be taken to rel
resent surely the facts. The earliest II
movals and appointments of this kind wi
challenge the ksenest scrutiny. The form
a er must be iustifable and the latter beyOn
criticism. Some mistakes have perhaps o
n CURED, and our Rdyersaries are keenly il
terested to make the most of every faul
3 because they have perceived a strong Gu
k rent of general appreciation Of the purpos
r of the Administration.
II In rendering this justice TO our peOp
which consists of the removal Of and Il
substitution Of our friends, feel that
is very desirable to proceed with eXtren
10 care and that I am correctly representa-
the Presidents wishes and purposes in ca
nestly soliciting that every step may
taken accordingly 4 may Nll Luhb as u
3 common good is infinitely beyond the VI
# fare of any one person, however great
IA place, so appointments, to further me
= personal end should be absolutely fOrbi
:" den, and recommendation on that basis m
i- well expect disfavor.
I shall very willingly take up the case
any district or Of any county, wheney
they are ready and shall be glad if t
Representative can personally attend al
O. 60 over them. Papers should be sent in
Ia soon as possible, aud will be then careful
., briefed in the department and when ma
'0 ready appointments can be made with gr,
mpidity.
It. Should you think it desirable TO have
Ia personal conference before this is begun
shall be very glad to meet the delegation.
But as I have felt il desirable TO relic
them of unnecessary iourneying and
d, ponse, have written a similar letter to ca
a Representative from Ohio, and respectful
solicited responsive action In accOrdaI
with the spirit Of it. Very truly yours,
WM. i. WAS, POstmRster-G General