State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-16
For The state Journal.
THE POST OFFICE REPORT.

OF lnc lepOft OF the iOSL master General,
not one of them has, in all respects, cx-
pressed our views in relation to said doc
ument Mr.. Kendall is justly entitled to
great credit, for restoring the department
over which he presides, in so short time,
from the chaotic and embarrassed condi-
ton, in which he found it, to the prosper
GUS state indicated by the report, We will
frankly confess that we could not have
believed, that so much could have been
done in so short time, towards relieving
the department from its fiscal embarrass-
ments. 1t also strikes us that the sugges-
tions in relation to some notifications in
the organization of the Department, are
judicious, and we wonder that the propo-
siion to make the rates ofpostage conform
able TO the denominations Of tho national
coin, has never been thought of before and
adopted.
II is evident at the first glance, that this
alteration alone would exceedingly smpli-
fly and tighten the lahors ofthe many thou
sands connected with this Department. it
would also tend some to encourage pre-
ference for American coin, which no tri-
fling consideration, rs the general substi-
tuition of American small coin for Spanish,
would facilitate the period when federal
money will entirely supercede the different
state currencies; it will greatly simplify
the small, everyday money transactions of
life it will prevent in a considerable degree
the iluctuaton Of the amount of small coin
in circulation, as, not being sought for
abroad like the Spanish coinage, it viii
always remain in circulation at home.
We are too well apprzed of the condi-
ton of the old account books of the Gencr-
al Post Off e to be either surprised or
dispeascd at Mr.. Kcndall's procuring
new set. An administration commmittee
of Congress informed us that the old
books were unintelligiblc, and disfgured
with marginal notes and memoranda, both
pcnned and penciled, which, however, as
it regarded the magnitude of the contracts
and transactions of which they--the mar
ginal notes--wero the only record, made
no mean figure.
The ground Mr.. Kendall has taken in
relation TO the transmission by mail, Of
publications of certain character, espe-
cally obnoxious to the South, is untcnable.
If the publishers here or those who receive
and circulate them at the South, violate in
so doing, the laws OF their respective states,
to those laws let them answer it, If they
have infringcd upon no law, by what pro-
cess Of reasoning, or sophistry either, can
it be made to appear that they have for
feitcd their right to privileges common to
all? Ifthe laws arc defective, let them be
so amended, if it can be conslitutionally
DONE as to reach the case in question:
Ifthis cannot be done, why, then it is far
better to submit to an evil of uncertain
extent, and of so ambiguous character, that
the law does not and cannot be made 10
bear upon it, than with view to remedy
it, inhict upon the country a certain injury
and establish Il precedent which will be
appealed to in all after times, to justify the
exercise, under every form, of arbitrary OF
undelegated power. If the Transmission
by mail Of printed papers be refused, may
not written papers of the same tendency be
also rejected? Suppose the prescribed
papers be sealed in an envelope, aud mail
ed rs letters, may not the Postmaster breal
the seal on suspicion? and if so, where il
the much Landed security of mail convey
ance--where the benefit TO the communi
ty, Of the Post Office establishment?
Though totally dissenting from the view
OF Mr. Kendall, in relation to the last men
toned subject, yet seeinr such were hi
opinions, their expression was not perhap
misplaced in the Annual Report. But wha
business has the culogium-thc unmerito,
eulogium of his immediate predecessor, il
an official document? Without any per
sona knowledge of Mr. Barry, we never
theless have sufficient knowledge of him, {
be able to say, unhesitatngly, that as far a
it related to his public career, the eulogiur
is n burlesque. Even Mr.. Kondall's ingo
nuty could contriye no other way to scree
Mr. Barry from the implication of the mos
notorious and unblushing mismanagemer
Of his department and wanton waste Of th
public money, as well as those who loiste
him into office, from the charge of sacr
fcing the public good to personal and part
predictions, than by declaring him to b