Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-16

with an Official born and bred a genue-
man. As 1t stands. their negouan1nS
have been carried on with ons whose
asinine stubbornness IL surpassed cniy
by an imperious assumption OF rights
never for once placed into his power
To tho withholding OF these prlvts
leges from the people is added faisliy.
ing OF the true state OF affairs in references
to the matter. The department. has msae
Il an excuse ever since In tho incep'lon
OF this injury that no petition asking Tor
the return OF the old name a, the oatues
field has been submitted by the citizens
OF the county, ani that no action could Do
taken until such petition be received. THO
blame was thus fixed upon the inme.
date patrons Of the offices In dispute. ~
did not properly belong there. petition
signed by seventy influential citizens os
AppOmattox and accompanied BY PM
vate letter OF the County Judge was tor-
warded 10 the department urging too
desired action. The postma5terN at BON
the old AMI ew Appomattox sdded thssp
signature 10 the list The Judge again
reinforced this by another private letter,
IN which he said that the expression %
the people on the subject was unanimous
and that he could, II necessary. get such
expression in written form. An acknOw.
ledgment OF the receipt or these forcibis
appeals is as mucn trouble as tho depa.ts
ment has gone 10. No retracing of Of
fenslve steps; no manly admission OK an
unmistakable wrong: ameiicrafion, no
amends, but a freezing refusal TO lse y
finger 10 rescind the most odlous and
arbitrary act OF United States oniciai
since the days OF Reconstruction. on
Monday OF last week the name Apo
mattox' was officially substituted for
fhns
the department has sanctioned its own
action and stamped II a. final. We qnss-
ton whether this enactment can stant
II the people press Il further and through
proper channels. While II Is true thas
Il is the duty OF the Postrn tster-Ceneral
10 establish ana discontinue pOst-ofiices.
.'he is assigned this duty under the eye
of Congress and for the greater faclli.a-
tion and expedition OF business" In ar
tlcle |, section OF tho consu.
tuition II IS expressly stated thas
"the Congress shall have power 10 estab.
lish post-offices and post roads" Ana
If 80, the implication is that co-ordinap
power is granted IL OF naming such roads
or offices. IL ~ furthermore stated IN
the conclusion Of the section named that
"the Congress shall have power to
make all laws which shall be necessary
and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers" The Postmaster
General has already submitted bio annual
report. yet even after the acceptance oe
IL Congress can repeal or modify as ie
sees III by virtue Of It's powers or re-
vision and supervision. Tho action &c
the Postmaster-General or his suhordi-
mates is merely Departmental. faclliia-
tive. Congress. therefore. can repair this
wrong. and should be urged 10 do 70.
We trust that Mr.. Tucker. In whoab
province Initiative action falls. will enter
a resolution condemnlng the course taken
by the department, and asking for justice
on behalf Of the people. Hs will be sup
ported warmly North and South
IL IS gratifying TO see with what energy
this subject is being handled by tho press
both Of this state and OF the South. Tho
Richmond Dispatch has kept up The hsht
with perhaps greater vIgor than any
other OF our contemporaries, AMI wo
think II may BE- counted on to continue
II until the grievance Is redressed Should
the press b. able TO do no more, u VIII,
at least. have clothed the Post-Ofice De-
partment OF this administration IN robes
and colors not too pleasing to the minds
anl memories OF the people.