Alexandria Gazette

ANOTHER SCORCHER.
Reply of Mr. B. Fohl, Postmaster at Rocky
Spring, Franklin Co, Pa., to Kendall's
Circular.

Rocky Spring, July, 1840.

Amos Kendall, Esq., Sir: Your letter dated
28th May, enclosing "an address and prospec-
tus for the Extra Globe," has been received.
in which you express a hope that it may not
be incompatible with my inclination and sense
of duty to use them for the purpose of procur-
ing and returning subscribers."

I regret that candor obliges me to inform
you that the task you would impose upon me
neither harmonizes with my inclination nor
comports with my sense of duty. It is con-
trary to my inclination because one of the last
things of which I could be guilty would be to aid
in traducing and defaming, with all the ferocity
of a hyena, a man who has done as much for
his country as Gen. Harrison—and who is so
well suited to the wants of a people who are
seeking to regain the blessings of good gov-
vernment. It is further opposed to my inclina-
tion, because I recognise in you, sir, a man
whose character I cannot admire and whose
interest I am not inclined to promote. The very
first page of your history that ever came un-
der my observation, stamps your name with
the crime of black treachery and ingratitude
towards your "friend in need," Mr. Clay—
and in every chapter and verse of the record
of your somewhat conspicuous progress since.
are to be discovered signals and beacon
lights, warning all honest and honorable men
not to "follow in your foot-steps." and ad-
monishing the people of the danger of placing
power in the hands of men who are influenc-
ed entirely by the seven principles, whose en-
tire grasp is for the "loaves and fishes," or
the spoils of victory. I also find reason for
declining to contribute to your charity box, in
my utter disbelief that you speak the truth
when you say, in your address, that you are
not rich—for I cannot see how a man as fond
of money as you evidently are, could let six
thousand dollars a year (and hard money
too.) slip through his fingers without laying
up some for "rainy days," such as will be up
on you and the rest of the herd about the 4th
of March next Besides your fifty thousand
dollars interest in the stock of the American
Land Company, I should think ought. itself.
to save you from the humiliation of begging
upon so extensive a scale. And in addition
to this, I cannot help doubting you state-
ment in your address, where you talk about your
children being frightened out of their beds at
the noise made near your house by the Whigs.
This everybody about Rocky Spring laughs
at—they all believe that it was you and not
your children. that was frightened, They all
know that children are fond of noise, whilst
old men are not, and consider it childish in
you attempt to throw the panic of your own
mind, procured by a ghost like shadow of
coming events, upon your innocent children.
So much in regard to my "inclination,"—
my sense of duty in connection with your re-
quest, still more imperatively enjoins upon me
the necessity of declining to comply with your
wishes. I find in the instructions issued
from the Post office Department but three
days previous to the date of your hand-bill,
that deputy postmasters are required not to
permit any person to address "handbills." to
Postmasters, the object of which is to obtain
for them an extensive circulation free of por-
tage." This practice is pronounced an "abuse.
which must be corrected" by the deputy post.
masters putting such handbills in a new enve-
lope and returning it to the person. who sent
it, charged with letter postage This, sir, I
hold to be sufficient to govern my conduct in
reference to your "handbill," and I feel the
more ready to obey the legal "instructions,"
of the department of this instance, as I am
in principle opposed to any one enjoying "ex-
clusive privileges" in this country, whether
he be a citizen in the common walks of life, or
one grown proud, arrogant, presumptuous, in-
solent and daring by a long career of public
plunder and conspiracy, "unwhipt of justice."
I am, sir, one of your late deputies,
But not your "hireling.

B. FOHL. P.M.

N. B.—If you are not satisfied with the can-
dor of this letter, and my aversion to making
the Post-office an instrument to subserve the
interests of the party, I hereby inform you
that my office is at your command; but you
must first direct Mr. Niles to "hand it over to
some friends of the Administration, who may
be inclined to use it for that purpose."—though
in making the change some difficulty will be
experienced in finding a person whom to be-
stow the office, as the people hereabouts are
mostly substantial farmers, who want no of-
fice, who, but seldom turn out at elections.
but who are now satisfied that there is some-
thing wrong, and are determined to do their
part towards effecting a change in the hope
that Old Tip, who delivered the West from
the scourge of British and Indian warfare
will be able to rescue the country from the
far more injurious warfare of an army of of-
fice holders who, instead of being the servants
of the People, have become their masters. I
know of but one individual within two miles
of Rocky Spring, who still passes for a Loco-
foco, and who might, perhaps, answer to su-
percede me, though, (as I do not wish to de-
ceive you.) I must add that he has said he will
not vote for Mr. Van Buren.

B. F.