Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-23
RICH MONDE:
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Postmaster Gsn,rors Report.

L
| Postmaster Gen.rsrs Report
This document has two virtues not common TO
State papers Of the present day-brevi,y and di-
rectness. We might single out some other virtues
pertaining TO il, but we are spprehensive that any
praise we might bestow upon it, might do more harm
| than good. The Msdisonian would catch i, M
forthwith, and bear it to the White House as con
elusive evidence that Mr. Tyler is the creates,
who ever lived uron the tide oTtmc This IS the dis
position made Of every compliment to any member OF
the adnnistration-all is Appropriated TO the chief.
This may be all right enough in itself-bu, under
exist ng eircumsianee,, II might be attended with
dangerous consequence. The Nlsdisonian is such
an uneonsc enable rentilator, that he might in,,.
u" ESeeIIcncy TO a fatal excess; aud no power il,
nature could prevent an explosion. An apprehcn.
ZION OF some such result prevented us from kin,
W Judge opshurs Report in the terms OF com
menuatioa, which we thought il merited. We re
any ueemed that the best document, which has
emanaied i'om the Navy Department for twelve
years. we would say as much now, il we had rs
sursnee that the compliment, would no, be emplov,d
Tor mischievous effects
pu' 10 the POSTMASTER Generals Report There
IS one subject Incidentally recommended tn which
VIC mnst take decided exceptions The mr.. .pos,,r
on ne~spapers-L e. requiring the Ed, RS TO nav
postage in advance upon all papers which thew mn,
into the mall This is recommended with 4, v;.w
| 10 increase the revenue Of the Department. I, -,
quifes no ghost to tell, that it will have m Eff,
directly the reverse. Il would dmi,,sb ,b ,;..,,-
'a''oh OF papers tull one half. Only the rich and
we-estab shed papers could Withstand IN. ,.x
which would fall but little below the s,an,n d,., j.,
England. The uneharitab!e Editor Of m. NJ,
York Courier, conjectures that the design of ,bs
recommendation is to diminish the number nj -,
pers, to prevent the people from seeing the str,o
lures upon Ms rylers conduct. Tbi, is uucb,,,,,.
oie-and we refer II 10 mistaken notion of i,S >.
suns ~ Is not now pretended that the postage il
"o' pau upon papers Ii such be the case i; mus,
oe 10 limited extent, and is entirely reitraLie to
'"e "e"'ee' OF fo''m's;ers Whose privilege !; is T.
exact r"> 'neni IN advance, aud IN ease of refusal
10 ~"hho'd the paper. But Mr. Wickliffs DOES not
1--WE" upon the su5iect-and we presume threw
out the suggestion without much consideration.
i"s most important m,tlcr IN the Report, is N,
recommendation relating 10 soma psrnaucnt con
track with the leading Railroad CSmpa mics Tor the
transportation OF the mail. This matter i, wo,,hv
"i srave consideration. As we un4s.,iand il tho
Government, without p'yug any more than il now
Does viii obtain a healthful control oyer IN. Com,
p'nes aud secure regularity IN the tr, nsmisson of
the Mails. |: will free itself f-oa, the ex,ctiop,
which the Companies may bc disposed make. and
settle upon liked BASIS, ques ion which, At every
le'InS Oi contracts is ate nded viii. perpexiry and
difficulty. II will do more. Il will diyest III. De,
partment OF the power of showing fayortism in the
conIraots-and by that means diminish. To f, s,e,,
oH en', vast patronage capable Of being corrun,lv
used In this point OF view It has a decided adv.n
tase over tie scheme, sugg s,ed in the ENQUIRER Of
The States 20 amending the Charters of the Comma
les, rs 10 require them TO submit 10 wh,t,vcr
terms the Post Office Department may impo,.
IRIS would be TO place all these important State
institutions at the mercy of the Fedegnl Govern
ment, and make them the crouching and submissive
TOOLS VI the Federal authOrities To any such mr.
ransement, we are utterly opposed. But hcsises
this, and the permitting the Government TO remain
as at present. exposed to the Expectations Of these
Companies, there Is no other safe and reasonable
alternative yet suggested, except that of the p. NJ
GENERAL This wall settle the question on M eoui
table basis and on terms bcI scial both 10 The Co
vernmeE, and the Companies. For willis, the De.
parment will only pay its present annuity. and r.
su'ate the arrivals aud Departures # the Mails,
amount, Gestos an invaluable assistance upo, ,Ios.
Companies. As State Rights men, we cnnno, OH.
ject to such aid TO State Ins i,u,ions, when give, in
eontrayention Of no provision Ct the Constitute,
when 1t creates no Federal patronage, but, ON the
contrary, dminishes it, and when il NAV nrovo
highly beneficial TO all parties.
We infer, from the Report of the Secretary os
War, hat i; is in contemplation to make some con-
dI'ionii contract with r. Road Companies, TOR the
transportation of troops and munitions Of war in
time OF ~nf-on terms somewhat similar. 'rhi,
however, has NJ direct connection with the Pos,
Office arrangement But it is not Iess important.
For, in the event of War, without the aid of IN.
Rail Roads from Charleston to New York, il would
be impossible 10 concentrate a sufficient fore. in
time 10 repel the aggressOns Of the English War
Steamers. But by menrs Of them, the country
could be placed in position of defence, n. onv
point, in few hours notice.