I
rc‘e t?eWspap‘i:'r‘=s employed by the governinent
r publishing the laws of the Union, in this state,
and these consisted of the Argus, National Advo-
cate, and Ontario Messenger, until within a few
weeks, when the business was iaken from the last
paper, and committed to the Times, in Batavia, a
Gazette of recent date, of comparatively limited
rirculatiotr, and hostile to the state administra-
' -lion-.
There are, I believe, 674 postmasters in this
state, and I should estimate the aggregate patron-
age of the ‘department in the state at large, at
$100,000 annually. During the impartial admin-
istration oftlie predecessor ofthe present post-
master general, these oliiceswere conferred with-
out reference to state politics. Attempts have been
made, at difietent times, to cause the removal of
post-masters friendly. to the state administration,
and I am sorry to say that in several instances
they have succeeded. The papers marked Z.wtll
exhibit the case of llezekiah Granger, who, in
the spring of 1819, was removed from the ollice
,of post-master at Manlius. The papers marked
AA. are an expose of the removal ofAlplieus Do-
ty from the Post-Office at Sandy-I-Iill. 'l‘_his re-
moval it appears was effectecl through the instru-
mentality of Mr. Roger Skinner, who resided in
the same village. Mr. Doty, who has since died,
had incurred the resentment of Mr. Skinner, for
his support of the state administration, and he was
accordingly marked for a victim,-and in December
]8l8, his removal was solicited by Mr. Skinner
in the city of VVasbingtou. To effect this pur-
pose it would appear that the good offices of Mr.
Henry Meigs were employed to operate on his
uncle, the post-master general. It appears that
the post-master general had determined to make
the removal on Mr.Skinuer’srepresentation alone.
'l‘he petition was signed by violent partisans, and
the reasons assigned in it were only ostensible.—
And there is this singular circumstance attending
this transaction——the papers directing the dis-
placenicnt, were enclosed to Mr. Skinner; and
it was not, it appears, in his estimation, a will-
Cltllt punishment to effect the removal of a good
citizen and faitliliil ofiicer, under false pretenses,
but his humiliation must be witnessed by his po-
1',;j¢,,[ adv/¢_-rgarjcs, who were apprised of the event,
and were called in to exalt over his fall. The
papers marked BB. will shew the removal of the
post-master at Caldwell. This was was also prin-
cipally accomplished tliroggh the agency of Mr.
Skinner, and upon the same grounds of party ex-
citement. His letter to the post-master general
on this subject, could not be found. _'_l'he paper
marked CC. refers to the removal of Mr. Brown,
the post- master at llartford, in V"'ashington coun-
ty. which was also the result of the same spirit.
In «March, 1819, Mr. Jacob Van Ness was retrie-
red from the oflice of clerk of Dutchess county;
and Mr. Peter R. Livingston, a senator from the
southern district, publicly declared, as I am cred-
ibly informed, that the then post-master at Pougli-
keepsie should be removed from office, and Mr.
Van Ness appointed in his place. This event ac-
tually took place, and indicates an understanding
and co-operation between a department, at least,
lat Washington, and a political party in this state.
Although these measures were unequivocal in
demonstration, and reprehensible in character,
yet they were not deemed sufficiently energetic
‘I £.I. -1‘
v j -J‘ '_ _ A L t't~r\I-A:-new-I1‘ "" " '
§2j)l’tl1f,e twenjiy-ogne days before the general
election, Mr. Martin Van Buren, chairman of the
meeting which nominated Mr.Tompkins for gov-
ernor, addressed the following letter to Mr. Hen-
ry fvleigs, the nephew, before alluded to, of the
post-master general. 1 My dear sir—Our suffer‘-
iugs, owing to the rascality ofdeputy post-mas-
tcrs, is intolerable, and cries aloud for relief.--
'We find it absolutely impossible to penetrate the
interior with our papers, and unless we can attain
‘them by two or three prompt removals, there is
no limiting the injurious consequences that may
result from it, let me therefore eritreat the post
master general to do an act ofjusticc, and render
‘us a partial service, by the removal of Holt, of
Hcrkimcr, and the appointment of Jabcz Fox,
Esq.~—Also of Howell, of Bath, and the appoint-
ment ofaii excellent friend, VV.B.l’tocliester, Esq.
a young man of the first respectability and worth
in the state ;—-and the removal of Smith at Little
Falls, and the appointment of Hnllister ;—and
the removal of Chamberlain, in Oxford, and the
appointment of Lot Clark, Esq. I am in extreme
haste, and can thc.refo.re add no more. Use the
enclosed papers according to your discretion, and
if any thing is done, let it be quickly done, and
you may rely upon it, much good will result from
it. Yours‘, affectionately, M. Van Bureu. April
4th, 1820. The Hon. l-leriry Meigs.’ The os-
tensible object of this letter is the displacement of
certain post-masters on account of alledged mal-
practices‘, but, the real design was to subserve
the purposes of party. The removal of a few dis‘-
tinguislierl post-masters would serve as a monition
to the 674 post-masters in the state to come out
as electionet-ring partizans against the state ad-
ministration. or to maintain silence. The im-
proper andjcorrupt practices imputed to postmas-
ters by Mr. Van Buren, are, no doubt, entirely
unfounded. The private characters of these gen-
tlemen are perfectly respectable, and their ollicial
conduct had never, as I understand,bcen impeach-
ed before that period. ‘ lfany thing is done, let
it be quickly done, and you may rely upon it,mucli
good will result from it.’ That is, let it be‘done
b'efo_r_e;,the election, and many votes will be acqui-
';:'d- I 1
The letter of Mr. Van Buren produced the re-
moval of Messrs. Chamberlain and Smith, two of
the post masters mentioned in it. lt seems that
Mr. J. R. Drake, then a member of Congress, in-
terfered very officiously against a post master liv-
ing out of his district. And it is believed thattbe
removal of Mr. Leonard, whose case will be here-
after nientioned, was accomplished throughliis
instrxrmentaliry. It appears that Mr. Drake cul-
tivated an influence when in '\Vasliington, suffi-
cient not only to injure men much more respect-
able than himself, but to secure a coritr-act with
the government which he considered of some
consequence. We Howell was kept in his ofiice,
by a personal acquaintance with Dr. Bradley of
the general post-ollice, who very properly exerted
himself to continue the services of this excellent
officer for the benefit of the department. Mr.
Holt was not removed until the 7th of Dec. last,
after the resolutions of a party meeting, marked
DD held on the 30tli Oct. last_were forwarded to
the Postmaster General. It W1-15 said by the post-
imaster general thtit Mr. Holt was considerably
delinquent, and failed for a number of quarters to
render his accounts according to law. In order
to establish the reality of this reason, the applica-
tion of removal ought to exist in every similar
«case : but an intimation has been publicly and re-
peatedly made of a great delinquency‘, and no no-
tice has been taken of it ; and I am greatly mista-
ken if many cases do not exist where the returns
required by law have not been duly made, and
whi'ch have, notwithstanding, been passed over
without animadversion.
The papers marked EE, probably contain the
true statement of the case. The papers marked
GG, relate to the removal of the postmaster at
Little Falls ; and the affidavits ofthe Hon..ltobei't
Mimell and J. S. Lyman, marked FF, will illus-
trate the general character of the transactions.——
On the 15th April, 1820, Mr. Stephen B. Leonard
‘was removed from the office of postmaster at O5.-
wego. The letter announcing this is in the words
following, to wit : ‘ Post Office Department, 15th
April, 1820-A-Sir, your being a mail contractor,
and the only printer_uio the place tvliere you reside,
it is considered that your holding the ollice of post-
master gives you an unduepreference over other
citizens and printers, not justified by the usual
practice of this dc-partnicnt. VViIh your COfl(lUCt
as postmaster lam well satisfied, Respectfully
yours, Sec. R. J. Meigs, jr.—-S. B. Leonard, Esq.’
Tlicreportoftlic postmaster general, marked ll
made at the present session of congress, shows
that there are 58 postmasters who are at the same
time contractors for carrying’ the mail ; and it is
well known that in the three important cities, the
postmasters are at the same time proprietors and
editors of newspapers; and it cannot be presumed
that the circumstance of Mr. Lc0nartl’s being the
only printer in Oswego, would increase the furc-:
of the general objection. In this case there would
be no irnniediate rival establishment which he.-
would be interested in injuring the virtue of his
official situation. The case of Mr. Leoriard is
particularly mentioned in the paper marked II.
The docariicnts iiiarked JJ, KK, LL, MM, and
NN, are corroborative of the other proofs,and ex-
hibit snme iiiteresting views of this Stll)j€Cl.
There are in all probability scenes of r-qt-ial if
not greater turpitude, which cannot be t‘.".j>OSc‘(l on
account ofthe peculiar Sll'.lall0l‘l ofi2irlirii;lttals, de-
pendent fortheir livelihood in iri¢.tin'aini:‘.g silence,
inter ested in coriceaiirip; abuses, de.~.iroc.-.i)i':scr'ecn-
lug PU-snlltll or political friends, avei‘.<.c to encoun-
ter the vituperation ‘.’v’l.ll(.l1 will cnsuc---appi'elicn-
sive of personal injury front the desperation of
detected malcfactors, or looking to a particular
quarter for favors to themselves or connexions.
Under these circumstances it would he impossi-
ble for any department ofthe government, even if
armed with the power of compelling testimony,
to attain a fill] knowledge of the abuses complain-
cd of in the present case, it was rendered still
more diliicult from the want of official authority
to take cognizance of the investigation. And
when it was instituted with a view t6 the obtain-
ment of documentary testimony, the offenders
were forewarned, and had ample time to take
measures for the supression of the truth.
It is, I conceive, impossible to resist the unfa-
the body of testimony now submitted to y0u4
....I -_ 4.‘..n uxsunauuv fur exaggefallan OI‘ €l‘l‘O|‘
for the influence of prejudice, and the operation
ofimproper motives. And admitting thata con-
siderable portion of the allegations may be suc-
oessfully refuted. yet still there will remain asuf-
ficient number of strong and established facts, to
prove a concert of exertions on the part of the
officers ofthe national goverrirnent-in the Navy
Yard, the Custom House, the Gt:nc‘.":!l Post Ulllfitf,
and in the Judicial and some other institutions of
that governnient, ope» sting in our local elections :
and it hat demonstraze.-i the existence of an organ-
ized and disciplined corps, and the obtrusion of
extraneous influence for the piirposo of promoting
the aspirations of ambiiion—ot securing the pos-
session ol authority, or of breaking down the pow-
er of the state, by the encouragement of intestine
divisions : and this is a case in which the maxim
--He orders the c'mzmz'ssz'o7z Q/'a crime: wlm does not
for.’iz'a’ it, =w/rm it is in Iris jzoawr-—riiay be justly
and emphatically applied. The least intimation
from the proper quarter, would have effectually
prevented these notorious and alarming evils.
To all sincere friends of Republican Govern-
ment, and such, gentlemen, l believe you all to
be, this statement mtist present subjects for scri-
ous reflection. \Vi'thout the existence of state
governments, it is impossible for us to enjoy the
blessings of a free government. And without a
national government,, we would be involved in
wars at home, and have but feeble security against
attacks from abroad. Both are essential to the
freedom, the safety, the prosperity, and the hon-
or of our country. The national government is
from the necessity oftlie case, armed with cori-
trolling authority over the revenue and physical
force of the country. In its military and naval
establislimeuts—-in the arrangement of the nation-
al domains-—in the disposition of its diplomatic
intercourse--in" the collection of taxes—-in the
immense patronage which it (lCl‘l"<Z$ from the nu-
merous and lucrative offices in its ;;.;,ift——and in the
allurements which are coriseqrieritly held forth to
ambition and cupidity, we perceive the foundation
of an influence which may be arrayed with a force
almost irresistible against the stability ofthe state
governments. It may be truly observed that in
proportion to the population of the U. States, no
government has more numerous and efficient
means of directing and controlling public opinion.
And when we consider that few ofthe states have
any funds or’ resources except what are derived
from taxation : that the compensation of their
public officers is comparatively small ; and that
the heads of their executive and jtidicial depart-
ments have been even sometimes induced to ac-
cept offices under the National Goveriiinent, sub-
ordinate in importance but superior in emolu-
merits; we must at once perceive the difficulties
which the state €ttXth0l‘l1i‘\;s might have in oppo-
sing the improper influence of the national gov-
ernment. And when we further consider that in
all probability there would be no unity of views‘ or
coincidence of exertions operating at the same
time, in the states, while the national authority
might make its approaches by singling out par-
ticular states, and advancing against them with its
combined and consolidated force, we have every
reason to exercise the utmost vigilance, and to
interpose all proper barriers against undue en-
vorable conclusions which must be drawn from_._
croaclirpents. A government of infiueri‘ce_ and
corruption is the worst .possible shape which a
republican government can assume, because un-
der the forms of freedom, it combines the essence
of tyranny. And although I am far from saying,
that this is now the case, yet the first attempts to
give a wrong direction to the authority of govern-
ment, ought to be resisted. Slavery is ever pre-
, ceded by sleep. And the liberties of free states
are more frequently prostrated by fraud than by
force. In the intelligence and patriotism of the
body of our fellow citizens, we may, I trust, rely
for the preservation of our free governments.-—
And with an anxious desire to merit their good
opinion by a faithful and iudependerit discharge of
any-hostility which may arise from any quarter
in consequence of my pursuing this course, 1 sub-
.init this communication to the Representatives of
the people, frilly persuaded that when the person-
al animosities and political atzitations of the times
are buried in oblivion, I shall be considered by
impartial posterity, as having endeavored to do-
serve well of the Republic, by my conduct on
this occasion. DE VVITT CLlNTON.
[§i:_§=" The above Message, with the accompa-
nying documents, were referred to a joint com-
mittee of the two houses, consisting oftl.r.. follow-
ing gentlemen :-—0n the part of the Assembly,
Messrs. Romaine, Fisk, Rose, Kirkland and Ver-
plank. On the part of the Senate Messrs.
Young, Barstow, and 'l‘o\tiiserid.] '
From the following it would appear that Mr.
Clinton’s certificate men, are somewhat like Ma-
jocchi, Dumont 8c Co. for the King of England.
1-"rom t/2: .N'r:7v- York Daily ./1a’-ucrtzscr.
Mr. Dwight—-Among the numerous certifi-
cates which accompany the Governor’s Message
to the House of Assembly on the subject of undue
influence in our State Elections, Iibbserve one
from Israel Ketclium, stating that lie‘ derived part
of the information conttainetl in his certificate from
me. To this I take the liberty to declare the
whole to be a base fabrication, absolutely false and
void of foundation. SAMUEL Coornit.
New-York, Jan. 23,1821.
NORFOLK, Jan. 15.
I.'1tL’T€&'.’f7I5’ J\"arratz'-ue.—Tlie following narrative
was handed us a few days since, for publication,
by Mr. \Villiam Anderson, who is the subject of
it. VVe had a long and interesting conversation
with him, during which be communicated many
facts and circumstances, leaving on our minds an
entire conviction, that he has passed through the
scenes which he (lescribes. He is a man of stron;,_:,
though uncultivated mind, of plain and unsophis-
eicated manners, possesses a very retentive mem-
ory, which has enabled him (though debarred the
privilege of committing any fact to paper) during
this involuntary exile from his country, to keep a
register of events and occurrences so correctly,
as to be willing to give them to the public under
the sanction of an oath—having previously estab-
lished his claims to credibility. He has left this
place for Winchester, and we are in daily expec-
tation of hearing of his safe arrival among his
friends.
William Anderson, aged 37 years, (son of David
Andi-rson. l'arnier.\ a native of Virginia, W“ l‘“_'"
at Cliesntit Level, Frederick county, near VVin-
cliester. About the 15th January, 1802, having
entered into partnership with George Johnson, -.1
young man about his own age, also residing in
Frederick county, they left the place of their ria-
tivity for Pittsburg, whence they proceeded, with
a number of {lat bottom boats, loaded with veni-
son liams, bear skins, flour, wliiskey, tobacco, and
some cotton, down the Ohio, to New-Orleans.-—
Here, having sold their cargo, they purchased a
brig called the Betsey, of New-Orleans, navigated
by Captain George Edwards, and took in a car-
go of flour dry goods, for account of George
Morgan of New-Orleans, and '\Villiam lllorgan of
New-York, and sailed from that port on the l0-th
October of the same year, on a tradiyg voyage,
for Rio Janeiro, where they disposed of the cargo
for specie; thence they were to proceed up the
Red Sea, and down the Coromandel coast to Can-
ton. About the 10th ofOctolier, 1803, Anderson
and Johnson, with four seamen and two negro
boys, being ashore on a fowling excur'sioti, on the-
Arabian coast, near Maculla, were captured by a
party ofwild Arabs. Anderson and Jdhnson were
separated from their companions and carried to
the Persian Gulf,where they were sold to an Arab,
who was the Scheik of Russikaima, known in that,
country by the name of Schick Abdallali, chief of’
the W'ahabee pirates. \'Vhat became of the sea-
men and negroes he cannot even conjecture.-
After acquiring a tolerably correct knowledge of
the language. and becoming useful in the milita-
ry service, they were treated with great kindness,
and at the expiration of two years and a half, they
were transferred, under strong recomrnendations,
to the Gwicucr, Prince of Guzzerat, residing at
Rrodera,the clrieftown of that principality. They
were now invested with a command in the army
of the Gwicuor. and contended with the forces of
the British East India Company, until the death
oftlie Guicuor ;,on the succession of his son to
the government,lie made peace with the English,
who demanded that Anderson and Johnson should
be delivered up to thein.-—-Tlre demand was not
acceded to. '
At this juncture the Mahratta states were en-
gaged in active hostilities against the English,and
Anderson and Johnson were sent to join the stan-
dard of Pensantrow Holkar, one of their Chiefs.
The Mahratta forces were very successful, until
the general pacification of the European Contin-
ent enabling the English to reinforce their army
very considerably, the Mahrattas were unable lon-
ger to contend with them, and suffered a total de-
feat on the 25th of April, 1817, in a general en-
gagement with thc British ‘under Gen. Malcolm,
on the plains of Meedpoor‘, in which battle John-
son was killed. The Maliratta army being now
completely put to the route, and the English and
their allies in full possession of the country, An-
derson bethouglit himself ofan expedient to make
his escape, and for this purpose disguised liim-
selfin the character ofa Malionietan pilgrim go-
ing to Mecca, and made his escape to Muscat,
where he was seized by the Sultan, put on board
the East India company's brig Vestal, VVat-
son, and carried to Bombay.
1 Not finding any American Consul, or Ameri-
can shipping at Bombay, be was compelled to
work his passage on board the British East India
my important duties, and with an entire disregard _
ship Hertfordshire, capt. Hope, to Canton, and
thence to the port of London, where he arrived
about 17111 Sept.last, and made known his circum-
stances to’ Col. Aspinwall, American Consul at
that port, who treated him with great kindness,
and sent him home in the ship Henry Clay, Capt.
Gantt, which arrived in Hampton Roads on the
3d inst. whence he came up to this place. He
feels filled with gratitude to a kind and merciful
Providerice that he is again permitted to tread his
native soil, aliliougli in a very destitute condition.
It is his intention to proceed immediately to the
place of his birth, and as soon as circumstances
will permit, to publish it correct narrative of the
interesting scenes through whichlie has passed,
during an exile of eighteen years in a country
where civilization is almost a stranger. He has
ample materials for such a history, which in the
hands ofa man of erudiiion, would, he thinks,
yield a volume no less gratifying to the curious
than useful to the historian.
$10}-
Ni-zw-Yoax, Jan. 25.
Great Fire.-—VVe have again to record at ca.
lamitous fire in this city. It broke out yester-
day morning between two and three o’clock, and
has reduced to ashes the block of buildings which
comprized the square between Front and South
Streets, from the upper side of Fulton street to
the fire proofbuildings on Front and South streets
recently built by Gen.Stet-ens and Messrs. Scher-
nierhorns above Crane wharf Allev. One fire
proof store lately built on Front isfrect, by Mr.
Moore, and which was unoccupied, is all tliat re.
mains of the whole _square—0n the opposite, or
west side of Front street, some stores are burnt
down, and others much injured, between the tire.
proof store owned by Bogert and Kneeland, and
the store ofMattliew Howell. The very valuable
stores occupied by Messrs.Horton and VVoodhull,
and Mr. Thomas Bloodgood, it is said have sus-
tained the most damage on that side of the street.
The latter contained a great quantity of wines ;
the upper lofts, we understand, were filled was - -
bout 60,000 bottlesof choice quality, nearly all gf
which was destroyed. Mr. Bloodgood is howev-
er partly insured. The whole number of build-
-ings dcstroyetl are twenty-five; they were princi-
pally built of wood, and of no great value, but
some of them contained considerable quantities of
merchandise, the loss of which it is said will ex-
cectl in amount the value of the buildings. The
buildings were three and four stories high, and
the confiagration was extremely rapid, the flames
- illuminating the whole city.
Several vessels lying "in Beekman slip, Crane
‘vVliarf, and Fulton slip, were in imminent dan-
ger, and one or two were on fire several times,
butit was extinguished without much damage.-—
Tlie Hornet sloop of war was in Beekrnan slip,
but hauled out and received no material damage.
Several accidents occurred to the firemen and
others. Mr. Horton, ofthe firm of Woodhull 8:
Hot-ton,was slightly wounded by the fall of a beam.
M13 Leakey son of Capt. Leake, ofthe city watch,
is considerably injured. Mr. Isaac U. Townsend,
belonging to Engine No. 5, was very much burnt
-—lie had to retreat from the third story of the
store of Messrs. Rogers 8: Townsend, and got
hold ofthe shutter of the second story,from which
he was: cxtricaled.
Mr. Thadeus B. Glover, a respectable man, 34.
years of age, attended at the fire at 4 o’clock, and
was seen at the steam boat hotel at 5 in the morn-
ing, from which time his family and friends had.
not received any information of him up to a late
hour last night. It is feared that he fell into the
dock.
The fire is said to have originated in the house
near Crane wharf, occupied as a tavern by Sarah
Smith, who had been ordered to leave the premi-
ses by 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
Jan» 9.7’.-—()n the deposition of Sarah Smith,
occupant ofthe house No. 205 Front street, in
which the late destructive fire commenced, Cor-
nelius VVhi.te, and Catherine his wife, who occu-
pied the adjoining house, have been committed
for trial, by the Police Magistrates, on a charge of
having set fire to the prernises. ‘
State qf our I-Iarbor.—Tl~.c severe weather has
produced ascene in our liarbor which has not
been witnessed since the year 1780. Several pet‘-
sons have actually crossed the entrance into this
port at the Narrows, upon the ice, which it ap-
pears did not remain in that passage longer than
one tide or that memorable year. Great anxiety
is felt for vessels that maybe on the coast.
From the city to Statan Island, thcbay is froz-
en so hard that several persons came up to town
upon the ice.
The North River is frozen over, and rriany per-
sons have crossed on the ice.
During the late severe weather the pilot boat
Grand Canal was fitted out in New-I ork, lafzfl
sent on a cruise to aid vessels in distress. A-
mong the vessels she boarded was the Frances,
86 days from St. Ubes, having been 34 days on
the coast without speaking any thing, and had re-
ceived much damage during several galcs. The
crew had been on an allowance for 25 days. of a
hall a peck of potatoes per day for all hands, and
half a pint of water per man. They- were in a
state of starvation, and unable to do duty, When
the Grand Canal boarded her with supplies of
bread, beef and pork. the hunger of the poor fel-
lows was so great, that they could not wait to have
the meat cooked, but seized it with the greatest
avidity, and eat it raw.
BRIDGEPORT, Jan. 24.
'\Ve learn that on Saturday last, about dusk, a
boat’s crew landed at Black Rock, belonging to a
sloop which had been cut through by the ice and
stmkin-the Sound, while cndeavoring to work to
the westward.--Courz'er.
Mou'riti:AL, Feb. 13.
Hard Times-.—--Two children, (we learn these
facts from an authority that we consider unquest-
ionable) some time ago died. The hour appoint-
ed for their interment arrived; the grave had
been made ; and the clergyman stood in the bu.
rial place, awaiting the arrival of the corpses._
Two hours, however, having elapsed without the
appearance of the funerals, the Reverend gentle.
man withdrew, find afterwards ascertained that
the humane mothers of the deceased had sold
them for anatomical purpos_cs at the price of if-Jar
dollars eatsli !
-2
Norwalk Chronicler