The Wilmingtonian., 1823-12-04

pioJSu mas oSc' "ioSo'c'eu, anu There /,
good reason to believe that our fiag il m"
seldom, fiat all. disgraced by that traa,
1t is a source of great satisfaction II.
we are always enabled to recur to Il.
conduct of our navy with pride and CON-
mendation. AS means Of national a,
fence, it enjoys the public confidence, an
is steadily assuming additional mpon
ance. 1t is submitted whether more "a
cient and equally economical organizatia
of it might not, in several respects be d
fected. lti supposed that higher srsds,
than now exists by law, would be us.GI
They would afford we'll mcrited rcwatj,F
to those who have long and faithfully ur
we'd their country; present the best incer
.ives to good conduct, and the best mean,t I
of ensuring a proper discipline; destro,E
the inequality in that respect between NH
military and naval services, and reley,
our officers from many Inconvenience and /
notifications, which occur when our We, !
sells meet those of other nations-ourshs b.
ing the only seryics in which such grade,
do not exist.
report of the Postmaster General, which A.
companies this communication, will shcw the prp
sent state OF the Post Office Department, and il,
general operations for some years past
There is established by law eighty eight thou
and six hundred miles OF post-roads, on which
the mail is now transported eighty five thousan
seven hundred miles; and contracts have BEEN
made for its transportation on all the established
routes, with one or two exceptions. There are
five thousand two hundred and forty post Officer
in the United States, and as many post masters
The gross amount ofpostage which accrued from
the first of July, one thousand eight hundred AMI
twenty-five, to the first of July, one thuusaN
Eight hundred and twenty.three, was Sl,ll4,Ss|
Il2 cents. During the same period the expend.
lures of the Post Office Department amounted a|
l69, ,885 dollars and 81 cents; and consisted al
the following items compensation to postmas
tiers, 353,995 dollars and 90 cents; incidehnI
lexpenses, so $50 dollars and 81 cents; transpor.
taton Of the mail, 784,600 dollars and 8 cents,
payments into the treasury, 423 dollars and eight
cents. On the first of July last, there was du,
to the department, from postmasters, l55,25
dollars and % cents from late postmasters add
contract 256,749 dollars and 81 cents mai
ling total amount of balances due to the Depart
ment of 3ol, 1894 dollars and SO cents. These b,
ances embrace all the delinquencies Of postmlt
tiers and contractors. which have taken pla.
since the organization Of the Department. Then
was due by the Department to contractors on tb,
first day of July last 26, 5a8 dollars and "a cent,
| The transportation ot the mail within five year
past has been greatly extended, and the e1peN.
iitures of the department proportionably ly incrcr
sed. Although the postage, which has accrued
within the last three years, has fallen short Of
THE expenditures 262, ,s2l dollars and 46 cent,
lit appears that collections have been made from
the outstanding balances, to meet The principl
part Of the current demands.
II is estimated, that not more than 250, 0doA
lars of the above balances can be collected, aud
that considerable part Of this sum can only b
realised by resort to legal process. Some In
provement in the receipts for postage, Is expect
ed A prompt attention to the collection Of mo
lneys received by postmasters, it is believed, viii
lenahle the department to continue its Operations
without aid from the Treasury, unless the en
Ipenditure shall be increased by the establSAmen
Iof new mail routes.
l A revision ofsome parts ofthe post office h
lnay be necessary; and It is submitted, whells
I, IT would not be proper to provide for the appoa
: ment OF post masters. where the compensaio
exceeds certain amount, by nomination to th
Senate. as other Ulcers of the general govsI
: lment are appointed.
1 Having communicated my views to Congr
lat the commencement of the last session, re
Ipecting the encouragement which ought to b
lgiven to our manufactures, and the principle .
which it should be founded, have only to id
7lthst those views remain unchanged, and that tf
! ,lpresent state OF those countries with which v
|, have the most immediate political relations, an
greatest commercial intercourse, tends to conir
them Under this impression, recommend 81
view Of the tariff for the purpose Of affordr
] such additional protection to those articles whit
2 we are prepared to manufacture, or which q
: more Immediately connected with the deien
!, snd independence of the country
The actual state of the public accounts furnr
additional evidence of the efficiency of the Pr
: sent system Of accountability, in relation to t
-Ipublic expenditure. OF the moneys drawn fro
|, he Treasury since the fourth of March 1917, Ii
sum remaining unaccounted for, on. the thirte
I, |of September last, is more than a million and
half Of dollars less than on the Both Of Septemb
nlpreceding and during the same period redn
Ition of nearly million Of dollars has been MAJ
D in the amount Of the unsettled accounts for IN
Ineys advanced previously to the 4th OF Mari
,,Il9l7. Il will be obvious that, in proportion
the mass OF accounts of the latter description
diminished by settlement, the difficulty Of settlT
the residue is increased from the considerable
that in msny instances, it can be obtained only
legal process. For more precise details on ii
: Subject, refer to report from the first Com
J ltroller OF the treasury.
i The sum which was appropriated at the !
e session, for the repair of the Cumberland roa
y has been applied with good effect to thst obJs
J A final report has not yet been received from
'..agent who WAS appointed to superntend it.
soon as it is received, it shall be communicated
= Congress.
n Many patriotic and enlightened citizens
.lhaYe made the subject an object of particular