Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-11-06
TO TIE HON. ALEX. BARROW.

peare be hGf p'rligh from aDtVe--
JuE EARLY WOOD AM WON.
TO TIE HON. ALIEN BARROW.
East Baton Rouge, Nor. |, 1871.
SIR You are a servant Of the people, oc-
cupying one of the most elevated posts in their
gift, and enjoying an enviab|c share OF public
confidence and esteem. Your influence in
Congress, as in your W state, is believed to
be inferior to that Of few men in the nation /;
and. withal your requirements and taients en-
courage your fellow citizens in the opinion
that you are capable of welding a mighty
power for the good otthe country at large.
Do no. misunderstood me, sir my object
is not to inyeigle your attention by ~flattery.
I expressIhere opinions by no means original,
but such as / have found generally prevalent
among your fellow citizens OF Lonislan7.
You will be SO kind then as to excuse the
! intrusion if | venture to press upon yoar con-
| sheraton certain views respecting the admir-
nigtration of one department of the general
government, the ineficiency of which las be-
come proyerbial, ard the abuses and vices Of
which are as old as the government itself.
| do not imagine, sir, the suggestions | am
about to make will be- at all new to you |
advocate no /. vel, but welL-established usa-
ges, practised by more experienced nations,
but yet new to the United States.
It will be almost superfuous to remark that
the Post Office department is the branch OF
government to which | refer.
There is something radically detective IN
the organization Of this arm of the federal 60
vernment. As it exists, it not only fails to
supply tie exigencics for which it was created
but it has become the fecund fo~stcr-usother Of
the most serious abuses upon, and d,sappoint-
nents to the people.
You have had some little experience in
Washington, and are better acquainted with
the Grand buyeau--tie source OF the evils nn-
der complaint, than am |. You know the cor
ruptfng power of the ranking privilege, the
shameful extent to which it is p~ractised there,
and that the mails leaving that city are q grIe-
vous charge and burthen to the country. o.
ten crowded with objects altogether foreign
to those contemplated by the post office laws,
AS locks of hair, miniatures, hose, shoes,
uouchoirs, dresses, &c, for " sveethearts and
wives" and occasionally a shirt or pair Of
} stockings belonging to SOM economical! man
har Of Congress-, sent home to ae washed and
mepiel--tha legitimate articles of transport,
letters On business, commercial drafts, news
/, napers etc. ETC., are pressed aside to mouidel
3 in the obscure corners Of country post Offices
: or detained until their value to the owner is
i lost,
would not wish to annul the ranking pr.
Il lere as enjoyed by members of Congress 5uf
!, lean there be a douDt-do you, sir, cherish thf
shadow ola doubt-that the good of the coun
s try, the honor Of the government, nay, JUSTICE
TO TIE PEOPLE, loudly demand a revision an
restriction Of that privilege? ] believe ther'
i is no d;ssjdenca Of opinion on this bead. Ih'
laws should define boundaries thereto and pc
l. na1ti s for him WHO oversteps those bounda
RES. All members of Congress do not lee
re constrained to acts of rigid justice by the TIT
= of honorable attached to their names ; an
were it even so, it is the province of law
hear in it's own bosom a balm for all invasion
re of its s~anctity, regardless Of the wealth or pc
OF vertv, the obsculrity or distinction of the agrees
!. sor. I specify no method of redressing tn
If grievance: 7 but entreat for it your attent OF
n fully sensible of your superior qualification
o. to devise and apply the remedy.
But tie tnain object OF my letter IS to Ia
before you the defective system of charge
Q, pursued by the post Office department. | a
n persuaded the United States will never kno
Ps the benefit of weIl-administered posts, unit
n letters shall be carried BY areight, and the pa'
he fishers of newspapers, pamphlets and mag
til zines, be required 10 paythe postage oaaH 81
~ singular of said article in nduance.
Under the present system, SO long as Il
weight of a letter does not exceed ninetet
: pennyWeighfs, twenty-three grains, the tar
is the same on all. A letter weighing Fl
~pennyweights pays as high as one weighil
nineteen--an injustice 50 manifest to tho
who make up bags Of letters, that am asst
nished if has not become q common subject
remonstrance to Congress in the yearly T
a ports Of the Postmaster General. It IS t
ii weight Of the mail bags, and not their volun
or the number Of documents they contain, Il
= 1, h ears;ieaaeesseaa n thairA cnaVe.Earee "a
laws relative to this subject Should be mod
all led with an eye to .tthe greatest good OF !
9Th greatest number providing such neasnf
% al viii hest secure the most speedy and g
I'd tain Transportation. have no doubt that
tariff Of charges based upon the principle n
md posed would, in the space Ct two or TN
years reduce one half the average weight
matter carried BY mail, thus diminishing
: nn~peaiments 10, and expenses O, it's transp