Thus has the country lost one of the most able, eloquent, and fearless of its defenders.
John Creswell
The Public Record
John Andrew Jackson Creswell was an American politician and abolitionist from Maryland, who served as United States Representative, United States Senator, and as Postmaster General of the United States appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant. Creswell is considered to be one of the ablest, if not the best, Postmaster General in United States history. Creswell modernized the U.S. postal system to adapt to an expanding demand for increased postal routes throughout the Western states and remain competitive worldwide. Creswell also integrated the U.S. postal system, appointing both male and female African American postmasters throughout the United States, giving them significant positions of federal authority. Sweeping and constructive reforms of the U.S. postal system took place during Creswell's tenure, including securing fair competition among Star Route carriages, and the abolition of the franking system. Creswell developed a codified classification system of offenses against postal laws. Creswell streamlined and reduced postal costs, making the United States postal system run efficiently creating a fair pricing system domestically, and reducing international mailing prices. Creswell developed and implemented the United States first penny postcard.
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Ah! the man who works and suffers for his opinions' sake places his own flesh and blood in pledge for his integrity.
How many of those who have since charged him with being selfish and reckless in his advocacy of emancipation would have shown equal devotion to principle?
He never would hold any of his slaves under his authority, never would accept a cent of their wages, and tendered each and all of them a deed of absolute manumission whenever the law would allow.
Theology as a grave topic of historic and metaphysical investigation I delighted to pursue, but for the ministry I had no calling.
My father had dedicated me to the ministry, but the day had gone when such dedications determined the lives of young men.
I knew something of books, nothing of men, and I went forth like Adam among the wild beasts of the unknown wilderness of the world.
The regular studies were prosecuted with diligence, and from them he derived great profit, not merely in knowledge, but in what is of vastly more account, the habit and power of mental labor.
I do not recommend the example to those who are independently situated, for learning must fall like the rain in such gentle showers as to sink in if it is to be fruitful; when poured on the richest soil in torrents, it not only runs off…
They were far from indifferent to their condition; they felt wronged and sighed for freedom.
They spoke with freedom before a boy what they would have repressed before a man.
But in the presence of the Omnipotent how insignificant is the proudest and the noblest of men!
For him unfading laurels are secure, so long as letters shall survive and history shall continue to be the guide and teacher of civilized men.
Among all nations and in every clime the richest treasures of language have been exhausted in the effort to transmit to posterity a faithful record of his deeds.
Combining within himself the better qualities of the soldier, sage, statesman, and patriot, alike brave, wise, discreet, and incorruptible, the common consent of mankind has awarded him the incomparable title of Father of his Country.
But there is a courage of Statesmen, besides; and nobly was it illustrated by the statesman whose national services we commemorate to-day.
Politicians like John Creswell
