Southern telegraph., January 22, 1836, Image 1

About Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
THE SOUTHERN TELEGRAPH
U KDITED AND ttJIUMIKD tTKV WMT IT
THIIXAI B. FJtLMEH,
At FIVE DOLLARS per year, in adctnct, or
M. t the expiration ol the jeer.
.Vo Suktenptiont rttriced for a ikorterpe
rW Man oyc year.
ml tdvertialaa-.
Per squu
i ol' tea line or lea, for the flht in
nertion, One Dollar; for each additional inser
tion, r il'ty Cants.
Longer ones, ten cents per line for the first,
, ami five cents per line lor each additional inser
tion.
(ty-To those who advertise by the year, a
liberal tiisceuni pin do intuit.
FOETBV.
ar is tot , e
II. rSIKTICI.
Thy liTa is in ils day-spring lines,
And joy nnd dope are round thee;
And hVnntv'a dowry coronal
With light mid love hits crowned thee:
There is no cloud upon (lie slc ,
That bends uhovc thy path the nir
With kindest touch Iv-eathes gently hy
Thy cheek, and Bhvcs its incense there.
Aud lady bright bo ever bright
Thy promise oftlie tuorrow ;
Thine be the daf'tpting of the heart,
Without its night ol' sorrow:
And, it the storms of lite shall shroud
Thy skies, so beautiful and fair,
May love's bright sun but touch the cloud,
And leave the rainbow glittering there.
ui; vth.
Y may twine young flowsrs round the sunny
AjAuh'ck for the festal day brow
liirHk is the shadow that w ave-o'er tliciu now,
AmTtlit'i: bcaiuv nai vviinereii away.
ic may gainer uriiim gems iui giuij a mmm-,
Afar from their cavern hpme-jf ,
Ye may gather the gfms bat the pride is iuuic,
They will li thodark cold tomb.
Thy warrior's heart beats high and proud,
1 have laid my cold hand on him;
And the stately form hath before aie bowed,
And the flushing eye is dim.
I have trod ihe banquet room alone
And the crowded halls of mirth, .
And the low deep wail of the stricken one
Went u) from the festal hearth.
1 have stood by the pillared domes of old,
And breathed on each classic shrine
And desolation gray and cold
ft ow marks the ruins mine.
I have met young Genius, and breathed en the
That bore his mystic trace brow
Aud the cheek where passion was wont to glow
tl wfapt Jn py dark embrace.
They tell of a land where no blight can fall,
Wheie my ruthless reign is o'er
Where the ghostly shroud, ami the shadowy pall
Shall wither the soul uo more.
They sny there's a home in yon blue sphere,
A region of life divine;
But I reck not since nil that is lovely here,
The beauty of .earth is mine.
, STEAM-BOAT RACING.
How much is Raid of steam-boat racing!
How ninny Bard Words are spoken and long
faces put on against the Captain who may
lie no unfortunate as to have a 4 blow-up' jn
consequence of a trial of speed. He is
considered by some a murdorer, by others
as Worse than mortal for say these, he who
Can risk the lives of so many fellow beings
to gratify a feeling of revenge or to sustain
nti uaworthy pride, is almost a demon.
Does nn accident happen from racing! the
press conies down musse upQjjjsthe roor
wretch who may chance to be wiptuin, and
were he to bericd bye jury of his eoun
incn, Fie would he condemned, to be hung
without benefit, ol clergy. ,
And yet lh most instances ucaptuin 1
"the most innocent man on boBjiw-tne one
who wields the weapon f his judgment to
I very st, nnd givesnot the mastery to
his feelings until sympathy ahd excitement
have hjunted the sword of the before-mentioned
counsellor. Wo will relate an an
ecdote in which wo were concerned, to
slww the ignorant how a race is got up and
4b whom flic blame belongs.
I YVowere to go from New York to Albany,
i in the summer of 183H, and in the morning
Wii mof beautiful day we stepped on board
he North America. Competition had ra
ced the price of a passage, and of course
increased the number of passengers, nnd
our boat was crowded. Soontfre noble ves
sel, that skims tho waters like a flouting
unlace, departed majestically it'om the
wharf. At almost the same moment, the
ns. f i l i i. : l
img ui uuuai bum uiiu uuuui iuu a iiviuu-
jVe went rapidly up tho river, ir ua&sen
gcrs were engaged in watching the pro
gressro our majestic competitor, as a little
IHJI III" Pli I lA'UHU lll k3UtllU lUU10
k I :. . I 1 .1 w. 4
astern or us, she , proudly cut through the
41UI.P, IIOI "initio iiiti nii iit;niliu muni II
. . . . A. . 1. . I 1 ! 1 . I
r hue ol loam and troubled waters, her
pipe oeicning out hitch diiick smoke, and
her decks covered with a dense multitude.
Soon she perceptibly gained on us, and she
was only half her length in our rear. Now
the curiosity of the thronging crow d around
US began to he somewhat excitedftmd qucs-
able comparative speed ol the boats and
what would bo the result should there be a
trial of speed. When almost abreast of us
thi interest grew stronger we began to
ii""" - - 7 j-
rl njiMnlirAfl rnnr.prnnd in the hnimr ufthn
boat in which we were, a vague sensation
that weshould be disgraced if she Were bea
ten made our eyes more intent on our com
petitor, and a glow of excitement to crimson
ourcneens.
AJI this while, our Captain was quietly
. upied in bis duties. Occasionally he
Fjuwveda glance from the corner of his eye
at the Ohio, but halted not an instant from
his occupations. A battery was soon open
ed upon bitn from the now excited passeu-
"Captain," cried one, she's going ahead '
"Can't help it sir I've nothing to do with
her."
' "Captain," says another, "don't for hea
ven's sake let her beat. Put on the steam.
"Cau't sir, and won't sir. I've responsi
bility enough now on my shoulders without
ruuiung anv risk.
"Captain," scieams one from the upper
deck, the Ohio'il beat adii ahead ! rut on
the steam!"
"Captain," comes a voice from the bows
"on v ith her! on with her! Hurrah for
the North America! Put on the steam!
Creation-how they go a-head !"
A' .UdfaJMNMWi-u i'jiid echoing "Hurrah !"
came toottrenrsTrom the other boat utid a
hundred hats were waving in the air. The
Captain could'nt quite sufiid that, and
he winked to the engineer. Our speed sud
denly increased, and us we gained on our
adversa. v,a loud, long shout burst Irom our
anxious crowd!
"That's il ! that's it ! go a-head ! On with
her! Mjow we're even with her we're a
heod! give her another pealer?" And
thereupon our deck resounded with another
shout.
11'his was not lost on the Ohio. She cvi-
dePly put on more steam, and pulling and
blow ing, began to regain her advantage.
Mho battery INo. '2 was opened on the Cap
tain, lie withstood it mauliillv for a time.
We fell fast in the rear vexation and dis
appointment were visihlffou the countenan-
ccimh all and a sedbnd shout runs like a
eal of victory from the other boat. Even
this, however, m jved not our commander
though it was a hard shot to withstand; but
soon after, a stentorian voice through u-spea-
ing trumpet, crossed the waters--"Captain
, when shall .we say you'il
be in at Albany?" and we could hear the
rascals lauirh.
Our veteran's calmness was altogether
annihilated by this tniyit he disappeared
for a moment, and the cause was soon ex
plained by a more violent dashing of (he
wheels then he raised his own trumpet,
and inoun'ing the wheel-house, roaredjout,
prefacing his speech by an oath that would
have sunk a moderate sized steamer
"Don't cry before you're hurt. When 1
;et in I'll tell 'em 'spoke the Ohio about ten
miles below !', then turuining round, he
doubled his fist aud exclaimed "Bt
we'll beat 'em !"
"Now came the tug of war." Oar ex
citement amounted almost to aironv. To
beat was all we thought of. The boilers'
bursting we should have laughed at we
actually counted tne revolutions ot the
Ohio's wheels. Away way wo went,
both the boats coining nearer and nearer
oach other. Soon we were within speaking
distance, and taunts and sarcasms were han-
114 ll.il -&.
(icu irom ocuk to deck. iow it seemed as
if we might navo jumped from one boat to
the other. The foaming eddies froitTie
wheels met and mingled in mad tumult, as
if they participated in tho struggle now
one boat applauded a w itty speech from one
of ill own party now a roar issued from its
rival at the" answer. But Ihe vessels kept
side by side.
We were both to slop at ,and our
Captain swore he'd gei in first, for that he
considered ethe point of victory. He was
on the outside, and therefore had disadvan
sxes to contend vvlth but still he was resol
ved When within a few miles, he stood
off front the Ohio to obtain wider space for
if-ciiou. His aim was observed, and the
Ohio steered closer to the shore We came
jicar the tpwn intensity of interest now
ufaile the parties still as death almost the
breathing was suspended nothing could be
heard, but the creakimrof the heavy machi-
aUHU'y ami the dashing of the wheels. A
ewRnvd of curious citizens soon lined the
wharv
ves, and this added fuel to the flame.
Jhio began tiLilaekcu, sure of victory.
"Now Engineer, cried our Captain, "put
on all she'll bear." ' .
We went liko lightning towards the same
point with our rival. Nearer nearer we
came toher closer closer!
"You,ll strike us," shouthedour rival Cap
tain "bear off!"
It was too late crack wo oame together
our prow struck her wheel bouse before
we turned at all. . jflbm there was a crash
of wood, nnd screamTand outcries and mad
shouts. All the wheel house of the Ohio
won torn away, n we went up triumph
antly to the wharf.
The noxt day the papers were unanim
ous that Captain ought to be tried for
endangering the lives of his passengers.
From the Natchez (Miss.) Courier, of Jan. 8.
TEXAS.
Seventeen emigrants from Nashville,
Tenn. left here yesterday, on their way to
Texas. The Texas committee of this city,
presented them with the balance offunds in
their hands, $100. The names of the emi
grants follow: Hugh M. Swift, II M. Den
ham, John Smith, Daniel Smith, Jacob Ru
der, John W. Robinson, Wm. C. Sypert,
Wm. A. Ravcy, Geo. M. Dendrick, Jnme
B. Buttersworth, Stillford C.Edwards, Heth
uel B. Bradley, Andrew J. Bosworth, John
Rood, George Lang, Simon Ford, Fielding
Deadrick from Nashville to Texas.
Hints to Parents. A modern writer has
remarked, that a child that is much danced
about und talked to by a lively nnrse, has
many more ideas than one that is kept by a
silent and indolent person. A nurse should
be abla to talk nonsense in abundanco.
For a fit of passion walk out into the open air :
you may speak your mind to the winds, with
out hurting any one, or proclaiming yourself a
simpleton.
DOCUMENTS
lOOHfJMIv, TIIK n.: ,!. i ' (WjVOK AT TSt
or en iv. or thk rmt ikhiom or i ii i.
TWrsiTV-FOCTlTH COX..RE.
COKCLCOKO.
The multiplication of Riilroadi will form
a new era i n the mail establishment. They
must soon become the moans by which the
mails will be transported on m st of the great
lines ot mtercoiiimiinicationjuiid the under
signed has devoted some attention to the
devising of u system w hich shall render the
change most useful to the country.
The cities and large towns on the 'great
lines constitute centres from which the
mails diverge to pervade and supply the
sut rounding country. All these points,
generally, are thcdis.ributtng qtiiccs. The
great w hole w iU evidently be most speedily
and effcctuall ycrvcd, by causing tho mails
to pass w ith all possible expedition, by night
and by day, along the main lines, through
these nitmerous centres, stepping for no lo
cal objects, and pausing at the distributing
othcCs only long enough to exchange mails.
The distributions through the country arouud
must be made after the great mail has pass
ed on by means of coaches, stages, or o her
vehicles, and horses, as the interests of the
Department and the country may mutually
require. Or, if any iutermediHtoofhce be
supplied by the railroads, it should be only
where the cars stop, unless a rnwh: of ex
changing mail-b igs, without stopping can
he introduued for the accommodation of
others. a "J
The means of transportation between
Washington nnd Boston, are now so com
plete, that the system might beadvantage
ously introduced, at least during the season
of steamboat navigation. Th; titro occupi
ed in passing-from Washington to Baltimore,
by the railroad, is biit two and a half hours.
To pass from Baltimore' to Philadelphia by
steamboats and the Newcastle and French-
town railroad, requires about nine hours.--Pfom
Philadelphia to New York, bjjhe
Camden nnd Ambov Railroad and TsBm-
limits occupies about eight hours, from Now
York nnd Providence about jifiecn hours;
andlrom Providenre to B wton, IwoandlJ
holT hours. The travelling hours Irom
Washington toB iston, nre abuutthirty-sev-
i i r i. . -L' .!'
en. Al owmur Halt an liwr at uiiumore,
Philadelphia, New York imd Providence,
each, fot exchange of mails, the time occu
pied in transmitting a mail from Washington
to B ton would be 33 hours
This isthe speed of present conveyance.
In the counts of next year it is expected that
Baltimore and Philadelphia will be connec
ted by railroad, when the time 'occupied in
passing from city to city will not exceed six
hours-. New York will soon be conuccvcd
with Bjston by- similar roads, whe th?
time occupied between them w iH not exceed
fifteen hours. So that when a railroad line
rom Washington to B joii shall be comple
ted a mail m.iv pass from the one to tho oth
er in : thirty four hours at most, and probably
in a feW years, from tho progressive im
provements of locomotives in less than 30
m.M-
hours. - . . . te,
Within the quarter of the UnioiPcmbrnc
ed in the recent letting of connncts, there
are several railroads. Someoflhein made
no offers and the rest demanded prices far be
yond the usual cwstof transporting the mails
on the same routes heretofore, and beyond
what was usked by individual citizens.
Anxious, to give the mails the greatest pos
sible expedition between Washington and
New York, tho undersigned made an effort
to bring the companies, in whose hands are
means of conveyance on tlhvgreat hne, to
set ui dDneedbitb each other, and with the
7eparlinegt,"Ty which means two daily
mails might be run through that line, per
forming tho trip each way, and conveying
passengers from city Jo city, in about twenty-three
hours. The effort failed in conse
quence of the very hoav compensation as
ked by them.
L Not despairing of befng abfb to induce
the companies to take a mgre enlarged view
of their own nnd the pabltc interests, and to
abate materially in the amount of their de
tnaqdSi the undersinged sent his chief clerk
to confer with the managcuof all the railroads
on the lino whether finished or not, with a
view to ascertain whether any reasonable
arrangements could be made with them,
present or prospective, for tho conveyance
of this important mail. Although the agent
performed the service with distinguished
zeal und ability, his efforts were almost
wholly fruitless.
The company owning the rail road be
tween Washington and Baltimore, demand
ed $10,000, dt about $250 per mile, merely
to haul ono daily male from depot, to depot,
without other responsibility, and $14,000
for two daily mails.
The companies owning tho several rail
roads now constructing from Baltimore to
Philadelphia, demanded $30,000 or up
wards of $320 per mile, to haul one daily
from city to city.
The company owning the Camden and
Amboy road, demanded $20,000, or near
$300 per mile, for one daily mail, and
$3,000 for a second.
The companies composing the upper line
through New Jersey, demanded $23,000 for
about $250 per mile, fur the conveyance ol
one daily mail, and $8,000 for a second.
Aware that the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads of the House of Representa
tives, had the subject of the transportation
of the mails on railroads under consideration
at the last session, and hndjunnimouslv
proposed to restrict the DoparTment to sev
enty five dollars per mile for the service;
nnd moreover, considering the sfP de
manded disproportionate to the service, and
wholly unreasonable, the undersigned de
termined not to accept any of the proposi
tions. To leave no means unessayed, how
ever, to form a satisfactory arrangement, he
offrred t conrrac't for hauling a box contain" f Nor have the people of one state anyjeBu, rf the !,,,.,, jUti mow ex
mg the mall, fwm.depot todftwl, daily, to , ,"re right to interfere with this subject in ,.-t- et iwi mm n i. i. .,
...v. hjiiiiwii nmy " HMinijfWJti nniinmi
w,iimnr, ui a mu per naic, wuicii inev
promptly declined.
The undersigned does not intend lo pay
the price deiaanded by these coniphnies,
unless directed to do so by those w ho have
a right to control him. Ue will sooner put
post coaches, or mail wagons on the old
roads, and run them there until public opia
in, or the voire of superior authority, induc
es the associations, which have been per
mitted to monopolize the means of speedy
conveyance on these routes, to abate in
their items. To enable ynu to present the
whole subject totbe legislative body, a copy
ot the instructions to the agent, and Ins cor
respondence with the companies, and the
subsequent correspondonco of the Depart
ment with them, is herewith aubiiiilted.
The undersigned is happy to state, that
indications of a spirit moro in accordance
with the great object of public accommda
tion, which has induced the Legislature of
he States ti sanction the construction of the
miprovemeits, by private companies, have
tnail'ested themselves in other quarters.
ThBoston and Providence Railroad Com
pany have intimatea willingness to carry
iui daily mails between those cities, em
bracing tne ixew jork staemtoat man, tor
$2000 a year, being at the rate of about
Si2" per mile fra single mail aud a con
tract has been authorized.
Tho NW Jersey Railroad Company,
w hose rottdV when completed will extend
from TersejncSly to New Brunswick have
olfved fo carry the great mair from New
York along their road, one year at $100 per
mile,oi' four years at $150, and to carry two
mails for $200.
The coi-ppany owning the. Portsmouth
und Roanoke road have contracted to carry
the maif three rimes a week, from Norfolk
to Halifax, N. C., distance of ninety miles,
fir the compeof ation paid the former con
Ura
ractor, which 4s about $28- per mile, the
fcail to.be conveyed on their road as far as
Hmnpleled-
f Tl... 1j0i,nmkiii ftnii.tl.iilsl nnd TlAtaffi,.
I I it. I ii,.'. llltl' .1") VI.Ul IIUII,., .111,1 iaviiiui
Rail Road Company, have ottered to carry
the mail, three times a week, on their rotg,
at the low est rate of post coach tranportation
in the Southern States, which amounts to
about $20 per mile.
It is conceded that the mail carried on
all these roids, except the New Jersey
road, aro much less than the great mail be
tween Washington and Neiv York; but they
probably bear a greater proportion to that
mail lhan the compensation asked fir the
former service, does to that offered by the
Uepart6ien tor tbo lattoj.
llererrrmr to tne instructions omen to In
Agent, for His furtherviews in relation to the
railroad companies, the unucrsigued' submits
the question to your disposition, and will a-
wait the instructions of Congress as to the
course herj!ore to be pursued with these
compunicS auu uuioi monopolies oi iihc
character, in: contracting with which tho
DepartnunHs unyble to avail itself of the
spirit ot AMfrniion superinduced oy nn nc
Wve competition. Indeed, the Post Office
law, so fiffas it relates to the advertisingand
making of contrac's, is predicatcd.ipon the
oxpectati .n that there veould be a general
competition for thorn, and does not provide
lor cases where the Departmen' has to deal
with mon opolies, no such state of things hav
ing then been anticipated.
A new question has arisen in the admin
istration of this' Department. A number of
individuals have established an association
in the Northern and Eastern States, nndrai
sctl a large sum of mooey, Jbr tho purpose
of effecting the immediate abolition of slaves
in the S iuthern4Jtates. One of the means
rcribrted to has been the printing of a large
mass of newspapers, pamphlets, tracts, and
almanacs, containing "exaggerated, aud in
some instances, false account of the treat
ment of slaves, illustrated with cuts calcu
lated to opatnte on the passions of the color
ed men, and produce discontent, assassina
tion, and servile war. These they attemp
ted to disseminate throughout the siavchold-
ing States, by the agency of the public
mails.
Ae soon rs it was ascertain
mails contained these producti
ii cfl
ol trrRPfl
cilcment arose, particularly in
S. . and to ensure the saletv ol
in its progress Southward, the postmastor at
the place agreed to retain them in his office
until he could obtain instructions from the
Postmaster General. In reply to his appeal
he was iufoi ined, that it was a subject upon
which the Postmaster General hod no legal
authority to instruct him. The questmen a
gain came up from the PostinasuiBiOicw
York, who had refused to send tne papers
by the steamboat mail to Charleston S. C.
He was also answered, that tho Postmaster
General possessed no logal authority to give
instructions on Oie subject; but as the under,
signed hud no doubt that ihe circumstances
justified the detention of the papers, he did
not hesitate to say so Important principles
are involved in this question, and it merits
the grave consideration of all departments
oftho Government.
It is universally considered that our stales
are united only for certain purposes There
arc interests in relation to which they are
believed to be as iudopbndt.'iit of each other
as they were beluiqlhe constitution was
formed. The interest which the people of
the States have insAay.es, isone ot thorn.
No state obtained by the union any right
whatsoever, ov er slavery in any other state,
nor did any state lose any of its power over
it. within Its own borders. On this subject,
therefore, if this view be correct, the states
are still independent, and may fence round
and protect their interest in slaves by sjch
laws.and regulations as in their soveriegn
wiDtllcy may deem expedient.
j awaio inwy n unci mi tu
with the internal regulations, right of prop
erty, or domestic police, ol a foreign natiou
If they were to combine and send papers a
nong the laboring populatioa of another
nation, calculated to produce discontent and
rebellion, their conduct would be good ground
for complaint on the part of that nation; and
in case it were nol reoressed bv the United
fl-ates, might be, if persevenngly insisted
r .
ui, just cause ut war. J he mutual oblia
ti uis of hi r several states to suppress attacks
by citizens on each others' reserved rights
and interests, would seem to be greater, be
cause, by entering into the Union, they have
lost the rrd-.r of redress which belongs to
natMMwhnMy independent.
Whatever claim may he set up, or main
tained, to a right of free discussion .within
their own borders, of the institutions and
laws of other communities, over which they
have no rightful contiol, few will maintain
ihat they have a right, unless it be obtained
by compact or treaty, to carry on such dis
cussion within those communities, either
orally, or by the distribution of printed pa
pers, particularly if it be in violation of their
peculiar laws, and at the hazard of their
peace and existence, The constitution of
the United States provides, that "the citizens
of each state shall lie entitled k all the priv
ileges and immunities of citizens in the
several Slates;" but this clause cannot
confer on the citizens of one state,
higher priviliges and immunities in another,
lhan the citizens of the latter themselves
possess. It is not easy, therefore, to per
ceive how the' citizens of the Northern
States can possess, or t laim the privilege
of carrying on discussions within the South
ern states, by the distribution of printed pa
pers, which the citizens of the latter are
forbidden to circulate by their own laws.
Neither does it appear that the United
btatos acquired, by the constitution, any
power whatsoever over this subject, except
a right to prohibit the importation of slaves
after a certain date . On the contrary, that
instrument contains evidences, that one ob
ject of the Southern States, in adopting it,
was to secure to themselves a more perlect
control over this interest, and cause it to be
respected by the sister States. In the exer
cise, of their reserv ed rights, and for the
purpose of protecting this interest, and en
suring the safety of their people, some of
the States have passed laws, prohibiting,
under heavy penalties, the printing or cir
culation of papers, like these in question,
within their respestive territories. It hfu
never been alleged that these laws aro in
compatible with the constitution and laws
ol the l iutea tales. :or does it seem
possible that they can so, because tbey re
late to a subied over which the United
Stales cannot rightfully assume any control
under tha constitution, either Dy law or
otherwise. If these principles be sound, it
will lollow that Ihe State laws on this subject
are within the scope of their jurisdiction,
the supreme laws ot the land, obligatory
alike on all persons, whether prelate citizens,
orlicers ot the S ate, dnuuctuiiarics of the
(jencr.il Government.
The constitution makes it the duty of the
Uuitcd States "to protect each of the States
against.each of tne invasions; and, on np-
ilieation ol the Legislature, or ol the Lxecu-
tive, (when the Legislature cannot be con-
cned,) against domestic violence." I here
is no quarter whence domestic violence is
i ' t . i
so much to he appreneuueu, in some ot tne
States, as Irom the servile population, ope
rated, upon by the mistaken or designing
men. Jt is to obviate danger Irom tins quar
ter, that many of the State laws, in relation
to the circulation of incendiary papers, have
been enacted. Without claiming for the
General Goverment, the power to pass laws
prohibiting discussions ot any sort, as a
means of protecting States 'from domestic
violence, it may safely be assumed, that the
United States have no right, through their
odiccrs or departments, knowingly to be in
strumental in producing, within' the several
States, the very mischief which the consti
tution commands them to repress. It
would be an extraordinary construction of
tho power of the general Government, to
maintain that they are bound to an ird the
agency of their mails and post offices, to
counteract the laws of tho States in the
circulation of papers calculated to produce
domestic violence; when it would at- the
sain time be one of their most important
cotistiutional d.itics to protect the States a
gainst tbo natural, if not necessary conse
quences produced uHiat very agency,
i The position assumed by this Department,
is believed to have produced the effect oi
withholding its agency, generally, in giving
circulation to obnoxious papers in the South
et nutates. Whether it be necessary more
effectually to revent, by the legislative
enactments, the use of the mails, as a moans
of evading or violating the constitutional
laws of the States in reference to this por
tion of their reserved rights, is, a question
which, it appears to the undersigned, may
be submitted to Congrces, upon a statement
of the facts, and their own knewledje of the
public necessities.
The experience of the undersigned has
conlvmed his prior impressions, that the
Post Office Department reqiwes re-organi-zation.
The arrangement of the adminis
trative branch of the Department is not
particularly objectionable; but the organiza
tion of the fiiiau -ial branch is neither conven
ient nor safe; and it may be doubted wheth
er it be constitutional.
It is not convenient, because it imposes
on the Postmaster General, whose adminis
trative duties are sufficient for any one man
tiio responsibility of settling near fifty thou
sand accounts annually, and disbursing up
wards of two million of dollars.
It is u Jt safe, because the entire nett rev
a tne dissiKVMtlon of tlie Pontmi-tor
a I, subject to be paid over to his check, draft,
or order, without other i
ho choose to impose on In rose If.
It is of diHib I'ul constitutionality, i
the constitution requires that "no money
sfueJrbc drawn from the Treasury, bat in
consequence ol 'appropriations made by law,
thereby pre-siippoting that the revenue of
the Government are first paid into the Trea
sury; whereas no part or the tax collected
from the People in pnetre, amounting now
to more than $.1,000,000. ever appears upon
ihe Treasury So An; aud it is all expended
without appropriation. If so (arte a re ven-
ue may be properly raised and expended,
without guimg into the Treaswy, nW
partment of the Government, it is not per
ceived why the other departments may not
oc aumonzoo to sustain themselves in a
similar wav ; thus evading entirahjlfca i
stitutional provision. The morMK
struction would seem to be, that all moneys
collected by the Government, whatever may
lie the mode, shall, in the legal acceptance
of the phrase, be paid into the Treasury, to
be expended in conformity with the appro
priations made by Congress.
1 here would be nothing impracticable.
or seriously inconvenient in the application
of this principle, to the revenue of the Post
Office Department. To effect this object,
it is not necessary that the moneys be col
lected and deposited in banks, or anv othor
designated place, or that the existing system
of collection should be deranged. Almost
third of the gross revenue is absorbed in
commissions to Postmasters, and the expen
ses of their offices. Upon settlement of the
postmaster's accounts, the sums thus expen
ded, may be earned to the debit and credit
of the post office appropriation at the same
time. The amounts received b? contrac
tors from postmasters, may be disposed of is
a similar way. The result would be, that
although the treasurer would have open ac
counts only, with the deposite bank of the
Post Olhce, his books would exhibit the
whole amount received from the People,
and expended by the Government on ac
count of the mail establishment
. Herewith is submitted a printed pamph
let, exhibiting the interior organization o
the Post Office Department, as it now exists,
The most important improvement required
is to separate the settlement of accounts en
tirely from the PorI Office Department, and
rest it in an Auditor, appointed by the Pres
ident, with the advice and consent of the
Senate, whose duties shall, in general cor
respond with those assigned to the Accoun
tant under the present ura;fMut!ion.
The Postmaster General would then be
placed on ft similar footing with the other
heads of Departments. His power over the
funds of the Department should extend only
to a superintendence ovar the rendition of
accounts, to prescribing the manner in
wlych postmasters shall pay over their bal
ances, to making drafts for the collection
and transfer of post office funds, to issu'ag
warrants on the treasury for the purpose of
paying balances reported to be due by the
Auditor, and making advances in special
cases. I he remaining purtion ot his duties
would be those of a ministerial character.
now peformed upon Ins responsibility, modi
fied by salutary restrictions upon his direc
tion. There is another feature in which the
present org i nizatbn of the Post Office De
partment is defective and unsafe. It is be
lieved to be a sound principle, that public
officers who have an agency in originating
accounts, should have none in their settle-
hen. The War and Navv Departments,
are in genera I organized upon this principle.
In the orders, contracts, and regulations, of
tho heads nf those Departments, or their
ministerial SrTord-n Ues, issued and made
in conformity with law, accounts-originate.
The moneys are generally paid by ano'hef
set of agents, but partially dependnet on
the heads of the Departments: nnd tin
accounts nre finally sett I led by a third set,
who are wholly independent of them. If
from any cause, an illegal expenditure be
directed by the head of a Department, it is
the duty of the disbursing agent not to pay
the money ; arid if he does pay it, it is the
duty of the Auditors and Comptrollers to re-
jeet the item in tho settlement of his account.
Bit the 1'ostmaster General practically
unites these three functions, in his own per
son. He issues orders end makes contracts
and regulations, producing the expenditure
of money, settle the accounts, and pays the
money. Although he is required to render
a quarterly account to the Treasury, to be
settled as other public accounts are, thk
requisition has long censed to constitute any
practical check ujion him, nor can it ever
be otherwise under the existing system.
To enable him to exercise an effectual
supervision over postmasters and contrac
tors, a third Assistant should be given to the
Department. I hese services have almost
bled since a second Assistant was add-
edptndhave been recently extended, ma
king them too onerous to be performed by
two Assistants, however distinguished for
their industry and devotion to the service.
Moreover, these duties are constantly in
creasing and will be greatly enlarged by the
extension of mail service which is anticip
ated within the coming year. If the United
States were, for this purpose, divided into
three divisions, and nn Assistant assigned
to each, the stations would still be among
the most laborious and responsible in th e
Government.
Three assistants, on the footing of Audit
ors as to salaries, with eight clerks each; a
chief clerk on the footiug of chief clerks
in the other Departmenjs ; twevle clerks for
other miscellaneous dutie , including the
dead letter service; an ogeut to superintend