The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-12-31

bears testimony 10 the zeal and good cor
duet OF his officers and men; and it
but justice to that officer to state that h
appears to have performed the duties as
signed him with ardor, ability and perse
verance, which give every assurance {
an honorable issue 90 the undertaking,
Post-o6fce.
The report Of the postmaster general
herewith transmitted, will exhibit tn
service of that department the last wear
and its present condition. The transpor
ta,ion has been maintained during tn,
year to the full extent authorized by thu
existing laws; some improvements hav,
been effected, which the public interes
seemed urgently to demand, but not in
volving any material additional expen
dl'ure; the contractors having generally
performed their engagements with fdeli
ty; the postmasters, with few exceptions
have rendered their accounts and pait
their quarterly balances with prompt.
tude; and the whole service of the depart
ment has maintained the efficiency 70,
which it has for several years been distin
gulshed.
The acts of Congress establishing new
mail routes, and requiring more expen.
sive services on others, and the increas
ing wants of the country, have, for three
years past, carried the expenditures some
thing beyond the accruing revenues; the
excess having been met, until the pas,
year, by the surplus which had previous
ly accumulated. That surplus having
been exhausted, and the anticipated in.
crease IN the revenue not having been re-
allied owing to the depression in the com
merclal business of the country, the fnan-
ces of the department exhibit small de-
tlclency at the close of the fiscal year.
Its resources, however, are ample; and
the reduced rates of compensation for the
transportation service, which may be ex-
pected on the future lettings, from the
general reduction of prices, with the in
crease of revenue that may reasonably be
anticipated from the revival of CONNER.
clal activity, must soon place the finan.
ces of the department in prosperous
condition.
Considering the unfavorable circum-
stances which have existed during the
past year, it is gratifying result that the
revenue has not declined, as compared
with the preceding year, but on the con-
trary, it exhibits a small increase; the
circumstances referred to having had no
other effect than to check the expected
income.
1t will be seen that the post master
general suggests certain Improvements in
the establishment, designed to reduce the
weight of the mails, cheaper the trans.
portation, insure greater regularity in the
service, and secure considerable reduc.
ton in the rates of letter postage-an
object highly desirable. The subject is
one of general interest to the community
and is respectfully recommended to your
consideration.
Slaue-trade.
The suppression of the African slave
trade has received the continued attention
of the government. The brig Dolphin
and schooner Grampus have been en-
pIoyed during the last season on the coas
of Africa, for the purpose of preventing
such portions of that trade as was said &c
be prosecuted under the American flag
After cruising off those parts of the coas
most usually resorted to by slaves unit
the commencement of the rainy season
these vessels returned to the u. States fo,
supplies, and have since been dispatch
ed on similar service.
From the reports of the commanding
officers, it appears that the trade is nov
principally carried on under Portuguese
colors; and they express the opinion tina
the apprehension of their presence on thu
slave-coast has in great degree, arrested
the prostitution of the American flag t.
this inhuman purpose. 1t is hoped that
by continuing to maintain this force il
that quarter, and by the exer,ions of tn,
officers in command, much will be don,
to put stop to whatever portion o
this traffic may have been carried or
under the American flag, and to proven
its use in trade which, while it violates
the laws, is equally an outrage on thu
rights of others and the feeling of human
itv. The efforts of the several govern
ments who are anxiously seeking to sup
press this traffic must, however, be di
rec,ed against the facilities afforded By
what are now recognized as Legitimate
commercial pursuits, before that obiec
can be fully accomplished.
Supplies Of provisions, water casks
merchandise and articles connected viii
the prosecution of the slave trade, are,
is understood, freely carried by vessels o
different nations to these slave factories
and the effects of the factors are transport
ed openly from one slave station to anoth
er, without interruption or punishment b,
either of the nations to which they belong
engaged in the commerce of that region
submit to your judgments whether thi
government, having been the first to pro
hibit, by adequate penalties, the slav
trade-,he first to declare it piracy
should not be the first, also, to forbid Il
its citizens all trade with the slave facto
ries on the coast of Africa; giving an ex
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