Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-17

the nation to acqucscc in renewal u lis charter, and
submit to It's sovereign inr' rrr.
We are grat"d to Perceive, however, hat Tie press
of the Opposition Aims! universally approve the Mes
sarr in regard tie French aiir-and sill
uort pleased ~ find Tie iusit!inus Of the
gers Of the l:i'rncer c"iseHned by their former al
iics-GlObc.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
No Department Of the Executive branch Of the Gu
vcrnmenl has o.. late years engaged OF the public
attention, than the Post Office has any part If the
affairs OF That office been the sab Jet Of more various
Comment than lis inamrcs. Almost every pos j!1
presentation Of them has been made in p:iut and IN
versa!iln. That The Department was in debt, was cen
cetcd u; hands: yet, in The minds ofman if not mos
o tic people, d"uItS prevailed as to the amount Of rs
embarrassment. These dJubs will 5t' removed.
The report Of the Po.tn Cencral to wli va invite
the attention Of readers presents car and sltis;ac
tory account ofl.c financial Condition the F. o. is.
rs such papers should be- plain statement. adapted t.
the comprehension III all. and unvarisird by any Ching
calculated h I!vcr attention from the facts The mist
Gingerbread IN hr sr. Of party, which envrloprd the
aiIrs ri lr Department, has been d;spr!l"d by the sim
pie yet powerful influence Of integrity, ability. and in
dustry lteS", asIuouSy directed TO The discharge 81
the duties Of lis station have enabled the PuSastrr
General, within the brief period of his administration,
toiaom the ntrcaces d" Post Occ accounts, TO devr-
iPc h'r results. and appears By the Rp 'rt t. intro
ducc such improvements II continued operation,
Will secure Tor the future: certainty and system.
1t arpenrslrcm the Report Of the Postmaster General:
thai after his accession 10 the Office: the Isl Of May,
such measures were taken that, the st pf Juy the
balance OF the debts. the Of the Depart
Tent. exc!uLins certain claims which lie Postnas-
ter Genera! did think himself authorized ai!ow)
was reduced 10 $237 100 80. Including these claims,
the balance. the" against the Department. will stand
> coIUD ~ Such was the then improved condition
ol the Department, upon summary OF its debts
and credits, surprising these last all collected in
AS this could not be IuIc and large portion of the
Of the Department. taken into the above estimate,
consisted OF these balances duc TO it, not Immediately
available the Report The adopted, cal
cu!acd most speedily and satisfactorily discharge the
debts Of the Department. The priac pie chiefly and
properly acted upon tr rive preference h payments
iv ssITcrs eGtnrnrd i'll the last quarter. throughout til"
Union, and apply the surplus 10 Tic extinction Of the
old debt.
Having pursued strictly tie system adopted. The Post
MASTER General reports these results:
The payment OF all the contractors throughout the
Union, tor services III the quarter in which ne into
o:::cr, except some suspensions.
The payment OF all such claims for the next quarter,
have been made ready Tor al justincnt.
Tie discharge OF &ic7 cU Of the old deb, Of tie
hostages since July lst, o. which d1, 3vl 80 10 the
banks.
Cash on hand s,1133.,1i7
Claims Tor aTrraIaLrS paid as fast they
Presrntcd and can be adjusted
Only about ): !j1;jw now rrnl;n due to the banks
o! is half vii! be paid in January and the balance
in April
Alter the extinction of the debit and Jcfre the close
of the present session of Congress- The Department vii:
DC IN Inc RECEIPT OF an sn" al y5? ,S ro;ss oC
Various Improvements have been introduced into the
financial operations Of the Department. The CHEF al
these Is tie system of prompt collections from about
1880 Offices quarterly. NJ fail perceive the
benefit TO r:s:iit rn.n this plan 1t keeps the public
n:oI"y ir! lying i. in the hands Of the receivers sub
Jet % The accidents OF death, insolvency, &C., and APP
plies i. At to . payment Of demands against tic
Department. withou, The agency Of third persons, the
nsruncn!ai!ty Of drafts, !abornusly prepared III the
office
Tie subject If the transportation Of the Mail upon
the lsa-"aS is treated in the Report, iii which, and in
the documents accompanying H. several important views
are taken. These views if we mistake not, will be
ouad correct The questions presented are of conSe
qucncr, whether regard the prnc pies involved,
the practical results to flow from their deci$!on
The events of the year hare thrown into the Report
topic Of 4 novel character in such place The Post
rGrn"r has been called to act respecting mat
ter Of the serious public moment He to weigh
wei! the principles Of his aciiun 1 in which he
that fanatics would charge him with the assumption Ct
control OF ta: dearest rights Of irccmrn-
that Of dscnGsinn The without precedent;
and the obligations 81 the principles of secondary law
urged imperative, thor. l evidently It variance
with the requirements of higher code in system.
The conclusion to which the Postmaster General came,
has been doubtless highly satisfactory to the %! Tie
People Of all the States. The Report rests il, and
think safely, on permanent principles Of constitutional
origin The question Of the right Of the bnlltionIsts 10
the OF the mails. stands, it appears, practically
settled by the Department. it remains To be who
Their the P"gtnasttrG General shall be ovcrucd by high.
cr authority
The necessity Of reorganization of the Department,
is suggested The views Of the Postmaster General on
tins subject, characterized by their tendency TO pro-
moe the efficiency Of the service, and introduce into the
Department wholesome, and one would think, consider
ing lis revenue, (nore than $',Uju,MG) ndispc nsabe
chicks in receiving, disbursing and accounting Tor the
public money The organization proposed, whilst would
ntaducc system and rirctuu legal checks in leu Of arb:
tary ani uci"atng executive regulations has also the
ut reducing the number of persons necessary for the
service. This Is small merit when consider that
~