Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-07-08
xzcN.NOsD, VzRGE.s1.s, TUESDAY,, JUAYs 1884.

ranking privilege membes Of Congress- during The
whole year; which privilege obtained by clause in.
iroduced by way OF amendment the general sppropa
ton law, passed The OF the last session Congress
aau which secures the privilege not only TO members
elect but also TO those whose have expired Tor
months after they have gone Of office The great
abuse OF the ranking privilege among members OF Con
gress WINE IN session. Is undenabc, and from the
nous amount OF expenccs for the delivery Tree letters
II is highly probable that the abuse is continued during
Tue recess The exercise oil this privilege not only
Prves the Department oil the postage letters thus sent
but costs the Department two CENTS allow by law TO
Posmasers for The delivery of each free letter Ii ha,
happened that post Office which before yielded reve-
nue. TO the Department OF fifty sixty dollars year. has
since the extension Of this privilege the
upwards Of hundred dollars Tor the delivery of free lei,
teis within quarter and it would be but moderate
calculation 10 estimate the loss the Department. ty its
extension, at 100000 year.
In receiving proposals Tor transporting the mail il an
pears always TO have been the the former Post
master Generals to consider oil propositions for
mens beyond VIVA, have been called for in the
mens, and IL deemed more eligible, to accept em
ter accepting the bids for performing according TO
semeni to adopt the improved bids The benefits re.
sung from the custom, often great 10 be fused
Contracts are ordinarily made for term Of tour wears
During heir pendency. such changes take place in the
country, especially in the new States render ex-
ensive alterations and Improvements absolutely neces-
sary Places unknown in the ginning wi bin half that
period spiug up into importance. Oher places reuuir
Ing butlght weekly mails in the beginuing become so
improved in point OF trade aud populations as c require
frequent and heavy mails. ln such cases. the original
contracts are made the basis of allowance for the ati-
uonal service, and the improvements in conur-
nifty with the earnest wishes Of tie people. expressed by
theH pellons aud by the pressing opportunities of
hers oi Congress The connexion OF all. n their null
utude OF branches, is matter oil great importance TO
their hsrmony and it frequently happens, that an in
creased expedition, or change in the times Of arrival
and departure OF mall requires change schedule
IN twenty others and il will sometimes happen that some
one among the mber, order 10 keen proper con-
hecuon between very important mail routes will be re-
CURED 10 run with such increased expedition and at such
times, will subject the contractor 20 great adi,ons
expense The law gives TO the Postmaste full
power TO provide for such cases. condition s,ip
,a,eu IN al contracts as well those which made by
former Postmaster Generals those of modern date that
by the Department.
The correctness of the method of keeping the accounts
whch exhibited The annualexpense OF transportation had
never suspected 1t natural 10 take il for o. an ed
'ha' system which had been adopted from the earliest
existence oil the Department, and had continued I'M
changed to the present lime, correct Had il not
proved detective, the expenses OF the department would
not have been permitted To abso,b all its revenues TIE
arrangement supernducsd by this erroneous
aud ihe consequent embarrassment created The ne cessy
oil resorng to temporary loans. The first loan vas OBJ
tanned Ia anticparn OF tue be collected be-
fore suspicion existed OF the impeec the system
The subsequent loans essential to keep the mail
In operation These loans effected upon nv own
apphcsnon, on the credit and responsibility OF the De-
Partment he authority vested in by the Post Office
Law under which acted, was deemed sufficient JUS
MY the course in legal pon, OF view the eAisen-
ces oil The rendered necessary. The legal righ
Of The Postmaster General incur debt upon the credit
oil The Department. has been denied by the majority of
the Committee They state, that tlhe Pos master.
General has, without OF law, borrowed from
banks large Of money interest for the purpose
OF sustaining IL, Qhe Department) The Post Office
Department is required TO act upon its resources;
and these resources are, by law, placed the disposal
Of the Postmaster General independent, Of any other
Department of the Government. He is required on
hese resources 10 provide Tor the carriage OF the
on all post roads that are may be established by law
ne Is required from these resources pay all expenses
which may arise in conducting the Post Office con-
veyiug the mall aud all other necessary expenses arising
~ he CORRECTION oil The revenue, and of the
General Post Office. law 10 passed by Congress- Great
ing more than $4,000 miles OF new post roads. The law
requires the Postmaster General TO provide for the con-
and 10 lie T.
pences. lie has not the money on hand Tor doing il
ne resources OF his department are all the az
lorued MN, and these at his entire disposal. He
obeys the law, by anticipating these obtains The
money by loan upon the credit of his Department alone
lie does not comprom the Treasury He pledges nothing
but what the law has placed his posal and he does
this TO fulfil the lazy. In this case what law il yioJsted2
us were IKE o'her departments, dependent upon the
treasury, drawing Its funds iiom that in virtue
oil annual appropriations by law, il would present diff
ierent aspect But its aud its wants are within
itsel Ii developes and ahsorbs its own resources Ii
can touch nothing but what creates; and is indie pendent
in the application OF what creates except the re tic
lions imposedby law. If body corporate iurnoike or
canal company, obtains loan upon its credit slipu
laing nothing but its tolls for the redempton no law is
violated aud no exception is taken to the legality of the
loan SO, II loan is obtained by the Postmaster ene
rail- on the credit OF the of the Department. tor
The ulhlment of the law lie is performing duty which
me Ia" imposes upon him Such was the in obtain
ing these loans as soon as the discovery made tina
ne expenses were greater Than hat the counts had
hibited rerenched the expenses by curtaing the mail
facilities, which had extended far the public conve
nience would admit, and hundred ard twenty. five
thousand dollars ln loan have been paid The law under
winch acted, did not authofise look to Congress
nor 10 ihe treasury Tor relief; but depend upon The
resources OF the Department alone. There was there
Tore, no other resource but that Of rerenchment The
iaets are Within tie knowledge OF Congress; and IL the
should prefer continuance OF all the mail facilities now
enjoyed by temporary restoration TO the Department of
part oil The monies which the Department has paid into
he treasury they have the power make the prov son
but the Departments not warranted in asking or RELYING
upon such relief its is sole dependence
such farther refreshments in the mower of the
Postmaslef-GeBeraI will place the finances in state of
perfect q1ieade and IL will be his duty make the ap-
piicaou
The character Of The times Is understood. The bitter
ness oil party sninosly, the of unreeniug
ton, are al wi with the liberal spirit Of The sqe in which
we i've All tis have iet aud borne without muir.
nur. la the extension OF the mail facilities | have
known no person OF partyl have had sectional preiu
dices 70 grdny-uo selfish incres, 10 consult NJ cole
object has Oeen the accommodation Of the pbic in ac
celebrating the mail, extending The Of intelligence
ADD the frequency OF correspondence, aud fActstng The
traveller IN his transitions. But political spirit of
the times, Is without parallel ia or history NV al.
achnehi 10 ne INDUSTRIOUS patriot and hero Who presIes
over our public councils Is known have aiYr.I 10
bin Ia al his lucssufes end am proud in lie heiet
That The bitterness sgas arises in small degree
tOm my devotion 10 him and the PRINCIPLES Of bis adj
ninsirsion lie confidence which he has ever reposed
~ me, The Kindness which have UNIFORMLY experienced
fom hun u"der az The clsnges which have taken place
during his eventual administration; our coincidence of
sentiment on all The leading principles Of national policy
have con inued 10 strengthen that devotion; Wide he
- made The object Of tie bitter oppotfuin have
80 rea Oh 70 look Tor Kindness candor fon, his enc
ibies but ne dignlhed character OF the Senate, or
gAniZed by tie Federal Constitution 10 represent he so
rcghy o. ne Stsies might be regarded a pledge for
lie magnan'my Of ile Committee einansfng hou1 that
cody. HE hOpes however winch migtlt have been IN
"u'ged rom ms consideration, bot the illusion Of