Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-06-10

!officer charged with its direction, to report
at the usual annual session OF Congress,
the Postmaster General has presented to
me some facts connected with the fnan-
cial condition of the Department, which
are deemed worthy the attention Of Con-
gross. BY the accompanying report of
that officer, it appears that the existing
liabilities OF that Department, beyond the
means of payment at lis command. cannot
be less than 100000. As the laws or
ganizing that branch of the public service
confine the expenditure 10 its own reve-
nues, deficiencies therein cannot be pre-
scented under the usual estimate for the
expens~ Of Government. II must, there
fore, be left to Congress TO determine
whether the moneys now due to contract
ors shall be paid from the public Treasury,
or whether that Department shall continue
under lis present embarrassmen.s. Ii viii
be seen by the report of the Postmaster Ge-
neral, that the recent lettings Of contracts
in several Of the States, have been made
at such reduced rates of compensation, as
TO encourage the belief that if the Depart.
ment was relieved from existing Difficult
ties, its future operations might be conduct
ed without any further call upon the gen.
eral Treasury.
The power of appointing to Office is one
of character the mos, delicate and re-
sponsible. The appointing power is ever
more exposed to be led into error. With
anxious solicitude to select the most trust
worthy for official station, | cannot be
supposed to possess personal knowledge
olthe qualifications orevery applicant.
deem it, therefore, proper, in this most
public manner, to invite, on the part OF the
Senate, a just scrutiny INTO the character
and pretensons Of every person whom |
may bring to their notice in the regular
form Of a nomination for office. Unless
persons every way trustworthy are en-
ployed in the public service, corruption
and rregularity will inevitably follow
shall, with the greatest cheeriulness,
acquiesce in the decision of that body,
and. regarding il as wisely constituted
to aid the Executive Department IN the
performance of this delicate duty, | shall
look 10 its consent and advice" as given
only in furtherance of the best interests
of the country. shall also, at the ear
liest proper occasion, invite the attention
of Congress to such measures as in my
judgement will be best calculated to regu-
late and control the Executive power in
reference to this vitality important SUBJ
ject.
shall also, at the proper season, invite
your attention to the statutory enactments
for the suppression of the slave trade,
which may require to be rendered more eff.
cent in their provisions. There is reason
to believe that the traffic is on the increase.
Whether such increase is to be ascrlbed
to the abolition OF slave labor in the Brit.
sh possessions in our vicinity, and an at
tendant diminution in the supply Of those
articles which enter into the general con.
sumption of tho world, thereby augment
ing the demand from other quarters, and
thus calling for additional labor, it were
needless to inquire. TIE highest consd-
erations of public honor, as well as the
strongest promptngs of humanity, require
resort TO the most vigorous efforts to
suppress the trade.
In conclusion, ! beg to invite your par,
| ttCuiuE dltCDtlOH W TIC HitCINoto VI WHO
District. Nor do doubt that, in liberal
spirit of legislation, you will seek to ad-
vance its commercial as well as its local
interests. Should Congress deem it to be
its duty to repeat the existing Sub Trea'
sury Jaw the necessity of providing suit
able place ofdeposte torthepublc moneys.
which be may required within the District
must be apparent to all.
| | have felt it 10 be due to the country
to present the foregoing topics to your
consideration and reflection. Others,
with which il might not seem proper to
trouble you at an extraordinary session,
will be luid before you at future day.
am happy in committing the important
affairs of tho country into your hands.
The tendency Of public sentiment, am
pleased to believe, is towards the adoption,
in spirit Of union and harmony, of such
measures as will fortify the public inte-
rests. To cherish such tendency Of
public opinion is the task of an elevated
patriotism. That differences Of opinion
as to the means OF accomplishing these
desirable objects should exist, is reasona.
bly, to be expected. Nor can all be made
satisfied with any system of measures.
But hatter myself with the hope that the
great body of the People will readily unite
in support of those whose efforts spring
from disinterested desire to promote
their happiness; to preserve the Federal
and State Governments within their re.
spective orbits to cultivate peace with
all the nations of the earth, on just and
honorable grounds; to exact obedience
to the laws to enirench liberty and prop
erty in full security and, consulting the
most rigid economy, to abolish all useless
expenses.
| JOHN TYLER.