The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-19

Mr.. Niles report is much longer than the re-
ports Of his " illustrious predecessor" although
he has been in Office moi year. II exhibits
considerable degree Of industry and ingenuity,
with not little impracticability.
We learn from il thatthe extent of post routes
in the United States is 155,739 miles, and the
annual transpo tation on them, 36, 370,776 miles,
at cost Of S3296,s76. The number Of con
tractors is about 1000; post Offices, 1858 Of
which 951 have been established within the pre-
sent year. Within the same period 27i have
been discontinued, Postmasters appointed with
in the year, 1921, Of whom $50 were for new
Offices
The receipts of the Department for the year
ending Both June last, were $780, 76. Expen-
ditures, S4,75e,lll Excess of Expenditures,
$2l9,s45
The Post Master General mentions as among
the causes for this excess, or rather Of the def
cheney Of the revenue, the embanassments Of
the times, the practice extensively adopted of
carrying newspapers outside of the mails, and
the abuse Of the ranking privilege
During the Weeks ending the I'd NAV, I'd
ShhS anu ftn July idSts tneft were EE,UOD Tree
letters and packets sent from the Executive De
partments, 20,263 free letters from members OF
Congress, and 392,26s public documents and
other franked packets, making, in all, 434, 900
The public documents and packets from Con
gress weighed 1860 lbs. The Executive off
GERS, il seems, have beaten the members of Con
gress in Thanking letters all hollow We sus
/ psefpt no Vnuch tba t.,Io
when we endeavored TO call public attention tc
the electoneerng abuses of these officers.
Mr.. Niles recommends the abolition of the al
lowance TO postmasters of cents on free letters
and of the ranking privilege, except to the
Heads OF Departments; limitation by law, o.
compensation for all Steamboats, Railroads, ant
coach service; the equalization Of postage or
newspapers and other printed matter, Nth a,
adrance Of one hundred per cent; and a,revi
sion of the tariff of letter postage, apih re
duction Of 25 per cent.
We consider this proposition TO advance ion
per cent. on printed matter true characteristic
of Van Buren, federalism. Where the peopl,
are most ignorant-where knowledge is leas
diffused, there Van Buren, federalism succeeds
the best Ignorance is the prolific soil in which
il flourshes Like the tyrannical and priestly
powers of the more benighted portions Of Eu
rope, it would impose tar on knoioledge.
would obstruct its diffusion fy tariff amounting
nearly 10 prohibition. Ii knows that in educa
ton, christianity, the dissemination of know
ledge, lies the safety of the republic against thu
insidious marches Of power--that they are thu
lights of the people. Would Mr.. Niles pu
them OUT Yet he proposes to make an advanc
Of 100 per cent upon the healthful pabulum 0
the popular mind He substantially proposes I
destroy the circulation Of central newspapers
and confne all 10 the localities where they ar
printed The people, we apprehend, are no
quite ready for this Besides, instead of increas
ing, it would, in our opinion, diminish the reve
nues of the Department
We will publish the report next week.