Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-12-31
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lion efpape-s calculated 10 produce domestic vio-
lcn.e: wien il would ri tie time. be one Of
;llrr ,nosi important constitutional duties 30 pro-
&c, ihr Statys against the natural, mot necessary,
eopseoaenc.s- pro cd bs thai very sgcnoy.
The position assumed By this Department is he
lcved TO have prcduced the eileci of withholding
II. AGENCY, generally, in giving circulation to the
obnoxiou, uaprrs in the Southern States. Nbcth-
or /, he necessary more eilectuale 10 prevent. by
legislative enacimcnts, the Of the mails, as u
mean. ofevaJins olaliug the constitutional laws
OF the States in reference Ia this portion OF their
reserved rights, Isl question which,, appears 10 tho
undersigned. may he subm tied IL Congress, upon
a statement oil the facts. and their own knowiedge
Of the pablo necessities.
The experience Of the undersigned has con-
6rn,ed his prior impressions, that the Post Once
Department requires Reorganization. The ar
rangemenr of the admins, alive branch Of the De-
parment is not particularly Objectionable bur
the Organization OF It's financial branch IS neIther
convenient nor sair and it may be doubted whcth-
or il be Constitutional
ltis not convenient, Leeau.c /, imposes on the
postmaster General, whose administrative duties
are sufficient for any man, the responsibility
OF settling near fifty thousand accounts annually,
and Jishursinc upwards Of two millions Of dollars.
Il is nni SAFE, because the entire nett revenue Of
the Department, which new exceeds $1,000, COO
annually. is by law put Al the disposition Of h.
Postmaster General, subject 10 be paid over
TO his check, draft. or order, without other safe
guards than those he choose, 10 impose Oh him-
sell.
Its Of doubtful eons,i,ulonality, because the
constitution requires that no money shall b.
drawn from the Treasury, bnt in consequence OF
appropriation made BY law thereby pre-suppo.
sing that HE revenues OF the Government are FIRST
paid INTO tle Treasury whereas, no part Of the tax
collected from the p"opl. in postsges, amounting
nov 10 mote than $4,000 100 annually, ever APP
pears upon the Treasury books /. and It is all
pended without appropriations Il NJ large
venue may b. properly raised and appended, with
0ut going into the Treasury, BY one department or
the Government, II Is eol perceived why the other
departments may not be authorized 10 sustain them
selves in a snillarway thus evading entirely the
constitutional provision Tltmore sale construction
would seem To be, r'at al moneys collected by III,
Government, whatever NAV be the mode shall IN
the Legal aeeeptation Of The phrase, be pad into the
Treasury, 10 be expended in conformity Nnh ap.
preparations made hy Congress
TinIe would he nothing impracicable or
riousy nconvenienr, IN the application Of this
principle 10 the revenues Of the Post Oihco De
partmen. To effect this Object, il Is not pcccssa-
~ tina, tire moneys he collected and deposited ia
BANKS or any other designated place, OF that the
eAlslh system OF collection should be derangcd.
Almost a lhrd otho gloss resenue Is absorbed in
commissions to PoStma>ers, aad the expenses OF
their offices. Upon scttlrmcn Of the Po,tmaster,
accounts, tlsr sums thus expended nay be- csrIir
10 the dehi, and credit oithe posi- Office appropra-
non al tie same tune. lhe amounts rccrlvcdht
contractors iroW po,imasief., NAY b. disposed
IN a milH way. Tie r",el "oe'l he, t'r i
though the ireasufcrwduld have open accounts only
with Tie pspe>Ilo Banks OF lie Post Otcc, ms
books world exhibit tic whole amount received
from the people, and expended hS the Governments
on account OF the mAu establishment.
lhrre !. another TEXTURE, III which the present
oTcanz 'tlonoi the PoS' oher Department is dcicc-
tive and unsafe. II - believed 10 be sound
principle, hat pu6Dic officers elio have an accne,
IN originating accounts, should have none in then
sei'i"'neai. Ihs var AID Navy Departments are
IN general organized upon tbs principle. la the
orders, contracts, and tie regulations of the head,
vi those departments, or their ministerial suhord-
mates, issued and made IN conformity with law, ac.
counts originate. The moneys are ganrtall, paid
BY another srt of agents, hui partly dependent on
the heads of The departments and the accounts
are finally settled 10y third SCI. who are who'll,
independent Of them. Ii, from any cause. an il.
legal expenditure be directed by toe head Of the
department, II IS the dWy Of lhe discussing agent
not To pay the money; and II he does pay il, it is
the duts Of the Auditors & Comptrurr. 10 rricc,
the item in the Srttlemcn, Of, hi, account. But the
Post Master General practically untcs these three
functions in his own person. lie issues order,
and makes contract. and ra.p,ations rr,l,,;na