January 12, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
Probably the most arbitrary act of despotism that can be perpetrated by a Government, next to the punishment of men by execution, imprisonment or otherwise, without trial, is the violation of private rights of confidence in the supervision of the mails, by the breaking private seals and the seizing private documents by public authorities. This has ever been charged as the most despotic and tyrannous act of LOUIS NAPOLEON, the present Emperor of the French. Yet it is not surprising that he should have exercised this power, when we reflect upon the condition of that country at that time–when anarchy was imminent–Red Republicanism running riot–plots and conspiracies ripening everywhere–his life in jeopardy–and the stability of his throne involved. Yet the action of LOUIS NAPOLEON was open and declared. All men understood that the mail was under the supervision of the Prefect.
It has been reserved for the free, enlightened, constitutional, limited Government of the United States to pilfer the mails in secret, and to violate private rights and confidence by stealth. We speak by the card.
During the last three weeks we have reason to suppose no less than eight consecutive letters upon public matters, addressed to the Editor of this paper from Washington, have been stolen in that post office. They have not come to hand. To suppose that the Postmaster at Washington should thus deliberately and systematically rob the public mails, without direct authority or secret countenance, is hardly admissible. For he would scarcely undertake, upon his own account, thus to forfeit his liberty and his life. He must have been aware (if the act was committed by him at all) that both were entirely secure. The same thing has happened to us in regard to letters from New York, in a few instances, of late. They have never arrived.
Nor is this all. It is not confined to the Editor of this paper alone. We have positive knowledge that the same system of pilfering has been enacted towards officers in the army of the United States, from this State, now stationed in the West. We know that many letters have been sent to some of them, and that not one has been allowed to reach its destination. The thing is, therefore, systematic–not occasional, or accidental.
And this is the constitutional, model Republic, of limited powers, law and liberty! A more lawless, unscrupulous political organization does not exist. Without the personality, or individuality, of a European despotism, to which odium, responsibility, or disgrace may attach, it has become but a drifting mass of consolidated power, unscrupulous corruption, sectional selfishness, avarice and hate.
That we have escaped from its clutches at the very last moment, is a matter of profound gratulation.