Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-12-30

thus. WAS communicated 10 u committee Of the Sen.
ate near tho eosH Of thr last session bur too late y,
II arp'afed' To he acted upon, Ii will be brought ID
,onf notice 10y the proper department. with addition
aleomhnnie atiens nom other sources.
Tue latest account. from the Exploring Expe1i-
lion represent II rs protecting successful, ~ its
Objects aud promising results no less useful 10 iradc
aud navigation than Ia science
lhe extent al posi- roads covered bv mail service
on The hlsi OF July last was about 1913. 800 miles
and The tate OF annual transportation upon them
34,a9tS's nies. The number OF post Offices IN
thai day was ESQ. aud the sOlh uli,mo II OPS
The revenue OF the Post oniec Department Tor
the year ending with the 3oh oi June last " ny
Si,4'6 o3s-eNlnbllinc an increase oy-t the PR ce.
ding Near Of S2ll 900 The engagements aud liza.
bIIlncs OF the Department for the same period arc
Sl,624 III.
The eAccss &C liabilities over the revenue for the
last Two years has been met OF tie surplus he,
had previously eeumulated. The cs,, on baud on
the 3Oth uli WAS about S2o6,70l % and the current
income OF tie Department ,aties ver, lulr from the
rate Of current expenditures. Mos, of The service
suspended LAST year has been restored and most OF
TIE nc" routes established by the act of 9Th July.
lH5e nave bttn set III operation AT annual cost OF
Sl36 963. Notwithstanding the pceuniay Difficult.
ties Of The country, the revenue of the Department
appears 10 be increasing; and unless IT shall be Sc
nousy checked by the recent suspension Of payment
ny 50 many OF the banks. II will be able not onl,
MAINTAIN the present mail service, but in short time
to extendli 1t gratifying to witness the pfon pli-
lnde and fidelity with which The agents OF tins De-
paiimeni IN general perform their public duties.
Some difficulties have arisen in relation To con
tracts tor The transportation of tie mails by railroad
ana Steamboat companies. 1t appears thai the MAY
ihnm ol compensation provided b, Congress lur The
transportation OF the mails upon railroads is rot sui
hclenl 10 induce some Of the companies 10 convey
them nj such hours rs are required Tor the accom-
mediation ol the Public. Ii Is one 81 The most I'M
porlan duties of the General Government 10 provide
,tafs,t a. a.
the best practicable establishment. To arrive NJ
that end, II IL indispensable that HE Post Ofiec De-
paflment shall be enabled To eonnp the hou,s at
winch the mails shall be carried OVER RAILROADS. $ it
now does over all othcri Dads Should serious neon
venlesCe atlse from the made uacv oi tie tompen-
sanon no" provided by law. ar from unreasonable
demands by any OF tile railroad companies, the snb
Jrc is o. such general importance rs 10 require the
Ffamp attention of Congress-
In relation To steamboat lines, the most Efficient
remedy Is obvious, and has been suggested by the
Postmaster General The War aud Navy Depart
menls already employ steamboats, IN their seIytce
rnd although II is by TO meas desirable that Tie
Government should undertake the nans portaion Of
passengers OF freight a business. heie can be no
objection 10 running boats, tenn oraiily,
may be necessary to put down attempts
ut eXtorton, 10 be discontinued as feas
bic contracts can be Obtained.
The suegcstlsns Of the Postmaster General i.la-
tive To the nadequacy of the legal allowance 10 wit
'eses IN eases OF prosecutions FOR mail dcpredaIiors
merit youf serious consideration. The safety OF the
mails requires that such prosecutions shnll be eff
eenI, aud Justice 10 the clrlzen whose time tcqui-
red To be ven 10 tie Public demands not only that
ms expenses slall be paid but that he shall receive
reasonable compensation,
l he reports nom the War. Navy aud Post Office
Departments will acco npauy tins communication.
and Que from the Ireansu1y Department will be pre-
scented to Congress IN 4 few days.
or various details IN respect TO the matters in
charge OF these Departments, | would cier you 10
hose important documents satisfied that You viii find
IN them many valuable Suggestions. which will be
found well deserving the attention of The Legisla
lure.
From report made in December Of last wear by
The Secretary of State, to the Senate, showing the
trial docket Of each OF the Cifcut Courts, and the
number OF miles each Judge has 10 travel in the per
,otmancc OF hls duties, great inequality appears IN
the amount of labor assigned TO each Judge. The
number OF terms to be held IN each Of the courts
composing the ninth chcuil, the distances between
the places Which they sill. and from thence 10 Tie
seat Of Government, represented to be such
render impossible for the Judge of that circui,
perform, in u manner corresponding with the public
.xigences his term aud circuit dnIies. A revision.
Of The present arrangement OF the circuits
seems 10 be called for, and is recommended to your
Dollce.
think it proper to call your attention to the ow-
er assumed by Territorial Legislatures TO authorize
the issue of bonds by corporate companies on the
guaranty Of The Territory. Congress passed law
IN $50, providing that no act Of Territorial Legs
laiurc incorporating banks should have the force Of
law until approved by Congress; but acts ola very
exceptlonable character, previously passed by The
Legislature OF Florida, were suffered 10 remain in
force, by virtue of which bonds may be issued TO
very large amount by tn sc institutions upon the
f-ilh OF the Territory. resolution, intending 10
he Joint one passed the Senate Al the session.
expressing the sense oil Congress that the laws III
question ugh not 10 be permitted 10 remain IN force
unless amended IN many material respects, but 1t
failed IN the House Of Representatives for want of
time, and tEe desired amendments have not been
made. The interests involved OF great impor-
lance, and the subject deserves your early aud Gaze
iul attention.
The continued agitation ofhe question relative to
the best mode Of keeping and discussing the public
money still inuriously affects the business of Tire
country The suspension OF specie payments III
1897 rendered the OF deposte banks, as prescr-
bed by the act Of 1896, source rather Of cmbar
than aid, and Of necessity placed the
dy Of mos, OF the public money afterwards collected
in charge OF the public officers. The new securities
for its safety which this required, principal
grcss bur, IN consequence of a disagreement be-
tween the two Houses, neither then, a. any sub
segment period has there been any legislation the
subject. The effort made The last session 10 OH
tain the authority Of Congress TO punish the OF
public money for private purposes as crme-a
measure attended under other Governments with sig
nal advantageous also unsuccessful, from dversi-
ties of opuon in that body. uotwiths aiding the
anxiety doubtless fell by it to aiford every practicable
security The result of this is slill to leave The
tody OF the public money without those safeguards