Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-10-29
THE VIRRGENIAy.
LYNCHBURG. OCTOBER 1929.

ues oil the Department over which he presides,
at the expense of his predecessur-to whom.
before he was transferred TO the Bench of the
Supreme Court, all parties awarded the need
of unqualified applause for bis able and success.
hl administration. They are already putting
the new Postmaster General. on the instant thai
he has concluded but feo oil his yearly coz.
tracts Why did the gentlemen not wait until
the 'ohote ofthem had been completed, when
they would have seen whether he would no,
'ose' IN some other quarter. the % per cent"
which II is alleged he has gained in the South.
ern and Western States ;" This Ceyeri.h anx.
iety to iorestalI public opinion, appears to Us 10
ne rather an uniavorablP sugury OF what We
snail learn when the official Repor, of the De.
padmeni shall be al before the nation II
manifests a consciousness that something is
wrong, the Development of which the public
mind must be prepared to listen to with for
bearance by previous representations of the
advantages by which it has been counierbaan
ced. Admit, however, that this sunposition
mail contractors shall have consented to trans.
port the mails the next year for a less sum than
they demanded the year previously what does
it prove Nothing more than that such saving
is the natural and Inevitable consequence of the
continually progressive improvement in the
condition Of our mail road, whereby, a great
saving accruiag 10 the contractors, they can
afford 10 do II for less money, and the necessa-
~ re suit OF the admirable system which was in.
roduced no all the nl,nltie of the Department
by Mr. NJ Lean and has able ass,s ants. The
truth is, when MIR. Barry entered upon the du
ties of his appointment, he had nothing to do
but TO tread in the path marked out by his pre-
decessor-that path must inevitably continue
to lead, under The administration Of any man.
as it did under that of MI. NJ Lean, to prosper
Gus results. And, whatever improvements in
the revenue may he visible during the presen,
or future years. must, IN fairness and Justice, be
attributed TO him who brought order out Of cha
os, and Fointed out the way in which branch
OF the government which had before been A tar
upon the treasury, light he converted into n
source OF revenue. II, indeed, Maj. Barry can
show that the saving which 1t is said he has effect
ed OF % per cent, in making contracts for the
transportation ofthe mail in the Southern and
Western Sta,es has been the result of a depin.
ion from MIR. M'Lean's system, instead of an
adherence to it. then, Of course, he will deserve
a. the praise which may be due TO sucn yigi
lance and economy. But, if the contrary shall
appear to be the fact, he should dsdsin to wear
the honors which legilima,eIy belong 10 another.
as his friends should disdan to claim them.
Maj Barry, it is well known, has not struck
Out any new plan, by which an imp ovrment in
the system of accountability or economy intro
duced and enforced by Mr.. NJ Lean. could pos.
sibly be effected. All that he has done, varying
from the course Of his predecessor it appears
10 us, has had tendency 10 bring the estab-
llshment into disrepute, or else is wholly nu
gstory in practice But, all doubt on this head
will shortly be dissipated by the appearance Of
his own Report, in which we may look conf.
IDENTIFY for plans of gigantic improvement in fu-
ture. based on the knowledge and experience
which his few mont hs' administration will have
enabled him 10 acquire. Until then, we shall
listen with great pleasure to the anticpations of
his friends, relative to the vast improvements
which he has already effected, and winch he has
in contemplation. We sincerely hope they
may not prove fallac ious--" holding The word
OF promise to the ear, and breaking it to the
hope"-siuce, of all classes OF the community
none are so much interested in the prosperity o.
the Postoffice Establishment, and the commen
snrate increase of posl-routes and offices. rs
that to which we belong
II is also said by a correspondent of the
Richmond Enquirer, who writes from Flashing
ton City, that there has been an Improvement
in the revenue, since the Post Office Depart.
ment came under the dire ction of Mr.. Barry,
Of 1875, 600. This may be very true, and yet
not very wonderful nor very creditable TO the
sagacity or good management OF Mr.. b. We do
not err in saying that erery year since Mr. NJ.
Leans appointment, has exhibited an increase
ofreceipts over the year preceding. This in
crease of revenue necessarily follows from the
increase of population, the multiplication of
newspapers, more extensive correspondence
between individuals and communities &c. &c
Ii is very certain, that the increase in the "a
mount Of receipts at the different Post Offices is
totally independent of the Postmaster General,
be he whom he may, and rests entirely on the
very plain and simple fac, whether there be few
or many letters, papers, &c. confded TO The
mail. Mr.. Barry's real claims to credit must
be very few aud weak indeed, when his friends
resor, 10 such an accidental CIRCUMSTANCES
circumstance which he could not Sontro in any
way,-,o magnify their numbfr and impor-
lance.