Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-13
THE GENERAL POST OFFICE.

We publish I'd No. from n Corrcspondent nm the
subject OF abuses in the General Post Office. Isir
true that the Head of the Department has roeciv.
cd presents of carriages and horses from n l,rue
Contradictions large Contractors? We never
heard of it before. 1t is mentioned by p rs re
port One can feel particular surprize at it, af
ter looking at the extra allowances, and hearing
the manner in which contracts are disposed of
Congress will look narrowly into these matters.
The General Post Office is suffering under load
of suspicion. If unfoundcd, Justice to its head
and to the Government, compromised with it, de-
mands public exculpation.
FoR THE WIG
Messrs. Editors-Sincc | wrote Won last IN Post
Office affairs, and particularly about the extra al
lowance on the baltimore Road, the snow has fall :
en- and left me within DOORS SO as to afford a bet
ter opportunity of examining the Report of the
Committee. The extra pay of $4,000, on vol
untary contract of $500 for thirty six miles ma
king for that distance, 5000 per annum is am ,in-
examPled instance of extravaganza in the Post
Office Department, and can only be accounted for
by surprising the information of the Washington
Correspondent of the New York Commercial To
he correct. And since the report of pre-
sents of splendid carriages and fine horses by
large contractors to the heads of that Dcpart
ment is ABROAD will relate By way of contrast an
anccdote told me many years since of Abram
bradley, then Assistant Post Master General. An
old schoolmate of his had become a manufacturer
OF broadcloths, and was also mail contractor
The manufactures succeeding well in bringing his
fabric as he supposed TO great perfection and recol-
Letting former friendship, concluded to take spe-
cimen of his best TO Washington, and present
suit of it to his old friend A. b. On his arrival at
the city lie waited upon Mr.. b. on contract bust
ness, and availed himself Of that opportunity to
present the cloth. Mr.. b. at first accepted it, but
recollcctng the relation they stood in to ach O.
government. told Old
he must excuse him-that he doomed it improper
TO accept Il present from who was connected
with the department as he was, and being of that
opinion, he could not accept his kind and friendly
offer. This was told me by gentleman then
connected with the department, and before that
hydraheaded monster party spirit had disturbed the
harmony of society. Such honesty was then
common, and it was that kind of rigid Principle
that justified the confidence in the senior assistant
by which he was authosised to .treceve and dis
burse all the funds Of the department." .'without
any check upon his TRANSACTIONS" But eulogy
upon the character of Mr. b. is not intended
My object is to notice the manner of accept
ing bids at contract letting exhibited by the re-
port. have little or no knowledge of the course
pursued on such occasions, but by the report it
would seem there is nothing like system observed,
| and L should conclude that, according to the old
| adage, kissing goes there by favor. Some of our
very best contractors, we find, are excluded by an
under bid of few dollars, say 10 to 90 whilst
others, that are known to be BETTER retain
ed, though under bid from to two thousand
dollars per annum. Why is such the case2-is it
that there is Il spirit of favoritsm partiaity
indulged?-or does the Washington correspond
ent hit the nail upon the head? With such
an exhibit from the department itself does
it not become the proper anthority-the Con
gress of the U. S. to take the subject into con-
sideration, and remedy the defects, if any, in the
| existing law, by laying down some rule by which
the department shall be governed in letting con
tracts? Such rule, should think could be adopt
ed, and still leave sufficient discretion to the de-
| partment. And now, as 10 mail routes, some
sanctioned by law, some not, some pressed with
all the energy>of the department, and soma afford
ed other accommodation than the strict letter OF
the contract will allow-such seems to be the tall;
of the times In our section of country, new
line is INDUCED extending it is said 500 to 1000
miles or more, not touching in its way single, or
not more than one, commercial town of any i'm.
portance, and part of it already increased to a
daily ma-what can be the object?-te favor the
contractor, who have doubt is a very deserving
one-or what? And told of Atlantic
line-the favorite of one of the principals in the
departmcnt-for what that established? But
about that there or two anecdotes that may
be told some other snowy day. P.