Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-29
'rces of Canal Stock Ia England, taken from The Eu-
roPedn Magdsins Of l820-page 567.

During the administration of the former Pos,mas-
ter General, twas customary to publish monthly, a
st oil the appointments OF the Postmasters and of
the establishment Of Post Offices The custom was
omitted, because we found that it gave us and the
Department some trouble withouta corresponde nj
advantage to eier or To our readers. Far the greater
proportion OF the appointments of Postmaster are OF
littl: value 10 the receivers and in not few ofthe
whole number oil cases, the Department soIicts the
person to take the Office, rather than he the Depart
meni 10 give it TO him. We have not therefore been
lately Ia the habit of announcing appointments of this
desc, upton.
There has been one recently made however winch
has been the topic of so much remark, that to
notice II would he an useless aiTec taon of indfer-
ence about IT. We allude 10 the appointment of
Solomon Fan Renssefaer--to supercede Solomon South
Uick, as Postmaster Of the city of Albany
HIS appointment has produced an excitement in
the State of New York, at which we are not greatly
surprised, under all the circumstances The reno
val OF MIR. Souhwick is not acceptable TO the Re-
publican party in Albany, as far as we can iuIge
bat The appointment of Gen. Van Rensselaer, TO the
vacant office appears to be very generally isrels
ed by the republicans II is justified, however, on
the ground OF his patriotic department during the late
war; III the capacity OF citizen soldier, bravelv fac
ing the enemies of his country at a time when bv
the political code of the majority of the pary 10
which he belonged, it was Unconstitutional to cross
the line. During that very engagement in which he
was so severely wounded, his fellow milita-men re
fused to cross, and stood cool spectators of the com
bat In all this there is undeniable merit But
MI Van Rensselaer, is icderaIist as he has always
party man. We think, therefore, he ought NOT TO
have been preferred TO republican but we do not
see how, when recommended to The Office by two
and twenty Representatives from the state of ~ York
republicans we'll federalists The Postmaster e
neral could well avoid appointing him Much AS we
regret the removal of MIR. Souihwok since Mr. Van
RENSSELAER, has been appointed to The Office, we hope
he will so discharge lis duties, rs to give 10 cause
Tor complaint against him.
There is ground of objection to the appoint-
men OF MIR. Van Rensselaer,, which has been strongly
a Al. NJ.
pers, and we think justly. Ills, that MIR. " r. was
nj the time Of his appointment, n Representative in
Congress. The practice Of appointing members of
Congress to public Offices tends destroy the inde-
pendent action OF the two bodies, and TO divert the
attention OF the members from the seduous pu suit
ol their particular duties, with view tothc appro-
bliion Of their constituents To other Objects and to
other ends Our objection 10 the practice il intend
ed, however, 10 apply particularly 10 the appointment
OF Members Of Congress TO petty Offices or those Of
inferior dignity for there are Offices of higher
character, in the discharge Of which the knowledge
AMI experiences in public affairs, acquired In
the Legislative branch, caDnbt but be Of essential
advantage.
The responsibility s too great which rests on the
POSTMASTER General under the present system, giving
To him the sole power Of appointment--which power
we believe he solely exercises. In exercising It. he
must bc guided by the information Of others and
partial representations must sometimes induce unfit
appointments, such as the Postmaster General him
self would afterwards regret. He IS in the throne
of his arduOus duties, and amidst the distractions OF
\ thousand opportunities, liable to the danger which
he would perhaps desire to avoid OF npistkirg
public opinion. Is there way 10 remedy this In
our minds there is very ready one, which would
be conducive TO the public interest! and also emf
Gendy so 10 tie convenience Of the General Post
Office, and To tho comfort Of whoever s placed ut the
head Of IT,
Let Tie Postmasiers be appointed hereafter in
different from that now provided by law
that is TO say
Let every appointment to the charge Of Post or.
ice, Of which the income for the foregoing year
has exceeded Five Hundred dollars, he made by the
President of the y. States, with the advice and
Consent Of the Senate or, if deemed more expedi-
ent, and burdensome To the Senate, let the
appointment Of al Deputy Postmasters be submitted
10 that body.
The effect ofthis would I've, NOT TO take the busi-
from the hands Of the Postmaster General lhro
whom al coNmuacations that ssbject must STILL
us now, bo addressed but such course would |
have advantages which appear TO Us too Obvious to
need to be enumerated. Nd. Int |
Ave learn from Albany that meeting Of the Re- |
pubIicaus Of tlst place (which will probably he at
cndcd by f,e members Of the IegsIaiure) is 10 De
held lIis evening, express their opinions 70 the
,pposnpeot OF MrsVan Ressseiscrr and the condact