Alexandria Gazette

The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun says: "The late acquittal of W. D. Phillips for violation of law in using the frank of Senator Douglas, was naturally to be expected, since the using of names of M. C's. at all sorts of places, by all sorts of people, for all sorts of purposes, is as common as rain or sunshine. A fact of this sort, having the effect to nullify the laws even in the sanctuaries of justice, speaks volumes in favor of doing away entirely with the odious franking privilege, which is kept up to answer the ends of such officials as depend for public favor not upon high political character and qualifications, but upon such contemptible supports as the flooding of congressional districts with letters or speeches, ministering to the tastes of a blind and bitter partisanship. The cost of this abuse is estimated as amounting to a million or two of dollars annually, if we include in the calculation the cost for extra printing ordered by reason of the facility of transmitting documents by mail."