Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-22

eaton TO the circulation ofincend1ry papers have been
enacted Without claiming for the General Government
The power to pass laws prohibiting ofany sort
as means OF protecting States from domestic violence,
may safely be assumed that the United States haze
right, through their officers departments knowingly t.
be instrumental in producing within the raj States
the mischief which the constitution commands them
to reprcss IL would be extraordinary construct
Of the powers of the General Government to maintain
that they bound to afford The agency Of their mails
and pos; Offices To conneract the laws of the States in
the circulation of papers calculated produce domestic
violence; when IL would, at the umc, be Of
their most important constitutional duties to protect the
States against the natura not necessary consequences
produced by that very agency.
The position assumed by this Department is believed
TO have produced the effect of withholding its agency,
generally in giving circulation to the obnoxious papers
in the Southern States Whether il be necessary
efectuay prevent, by Legislative enccncnts the
of the mails, Of evadng violating the
stitutona laws of the States in reference TO this portion
of their reserved rights is question which, appears
TO the Undersigned may be submitted Congress- upon
statement of the facts, and their knowledge of
the public necessities.
The experience of the undersigned has confirmed bis
prior Impressions that the Post Office Department
quires reorganization The arrangement of the admin
islrayc branch of the Department. is not particularly
Objectionable; but the organization of its financial branch
is neither convenient Safe and it may be doubted
whether II be constitutional.
1t is not convenient because il imposes the Post
master General, whose administrative duties suth
Gent for any the responsibility of settling
fifty thousand accounts annually and discussing up
wards OF two millions of dollars
1t is safe, because the entire nett OF tho
by law put at The disposition OF the Postmaster General
subject TO be paid his check draft order, with
out other safeguards than those he chooses to impose on
himself
It is of doubtful constutiouality because the Con-
stituon requires that "no money shall be drawn from
the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made
by laws thereby pre-supposing that the of the
Government first paid the Treasury; whereas
part of the collected from the People in pos,ages
amounting 10 more than 50 600 600 annually,
appears upon the Treasury books and is all expended
without appropriation. II large may be
properly raised and expended without going into the
Treasury, by department of the Government il is
not perceived why the other departments may not be
thorized to sustain themselves in similar way; thus
cvading. entirely the constitutional provision The
more safe construction would TO be, that all mo-
neys collected by the Government whatever may be e
mode SHALL in the legal acceptance of the phrase be paid
into the Treasury to be expendedm conformity with APP
propriations made by Congress.
There would be nothing impracticable seriously in
convenient the application of this principle to the re.
Of the Post Office Department. To effect this
object is not necessary that the moneys be collected
and deposited in banks any other designated place
that the existing system of collection should be dcrang
ed. Almost third of the gross is absorbed in
commissions TO PostmaseTs and the expenses of their
Offices. Upon settlement of the Postmas,ers accounts
the sums thuscxpended may be carried To The debit and
credit of the Post Office appropriations at Tic time
The amounts received by contractors from
may be disposed of in similar way The result would
be- that although the treasurer would have open
only with the deposite banks of the Post Office his
would exhibit the whole received from the Peo-
pie, and expended by the Government account of
The mail establishment.
There is another feature in which the present organi-
2ation of the Post Office Department detective and
safe. 1t is believed to be sound principle, that public
officers who have agency in originating accounts
should have none in their settlement. The War and
Navy Departments in general organized upon this
principle. In the orders, contracts and regulations of
the heads of those Departments, their
ordinatcs, issued and made in conformity with law
counts originate. The moneys generally paid by
another of agents, but partially dependent on the
heads of the Departments; and the are finally
settled by third SET who wholly independent Of
them. IT, from any cause, illegal expenditure be d.
cd hy The hon iof 1anar fet
dsbursng agent not to pay the money; and if he does
pay it, ii is the duty of the Auditors and Comptrollcrs
to reject the item in the settlement of his account But
the Postmaster. General practically unitcs these three
functions in his person. lie issues orders and
makes contracts and regulations, producing the expen
dturc of money settles the accounts and the mo-
ncy. Although he is required TO render quarterly ac-
count to the Treasury, to be settled other public
counts are this requsiton has long ceased constitute
anypractcal check upon him, it be other
wise under the existing system.
Herewith is submitted a printed pamphlet exhibiting
the interior organization of the Post Office Department
it now exists The most important Improvement re.
qurcd is 20 separate the settlement of entirely
from the Post Office Department, and vest it in an Au-
dor, appointed by the President with the advice and
of the Senate, whose duties shall in general cor
respond with those assigned to the Accountant the
present organization.
The Postmaster General would then be placed on a
similar footing with the other heads of Deparments-
His power over the funds of the Department should
tend only to suPenendence the rendition of ac
counts, TO prescribing the in which postmasters
shall pay over eirbaances to makin drafts for the col
lection and transfer postoce funds ossung warrants
onhe treasury for the purpose paying balances
be due by the Auditor and making advances in spe-
cal cases The remaining portion OF his duties would
be those of ministerial character, performed upon
his responsibility modified by sautay restrictions upon
his discretion.
10 enable him to exercise an effcctua superv;so,,
postmaseTs and contractors third should
be given 10 the Department. These services have al
most doubled since second Assistant added and
have been recently extended, making them oncrous
to be performed by Two Assistants however
for their industry and devotion the service More
over these duties constantly increasing and will be
greatly enlarged by the extension Of mail service which
IS anticipated within the coming year. If the United
States werc for this purpose divided into lee divisions
be among the most aborous and responsible in the Co
vernmcnt.
Three Assistants the footing Of auditors as to sala
RES, with eight clerks each; chief clerk the footing
Of chief clerks in the other Departments twelve clerks
for other eaneous duties including the dead letter
service; agent 20 superinlend the Post Office build
ing and property, and attend TO purchases Of stationary
furniture, &C; messengers assistant messenger,
aborer, and two wachuien; would constitute force
could he performed with comfort prompttude and eff
cheney.
The Auditors Office would be the most extensive
and laborous accounting Office in the Government
lnerting corresponding provision in clerks salaries
Like other auditors, lie should have chief clerk for
general duties. The examination Of pOstmas ers ac-
counts amounting to about ~ 900 annually sending ont
errors and other attendant services constitute severe
duty, and requires eighteen clerks The registration Of
postmasters accounts, after examinations and keeping
The lcgers OF the Department, requires eight clerks. 10
keep the pay books that postmasers pay over their
balances and return the receipts and prepare
accounts for settlement, requires nine clerks. 10 col