The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-12
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMAS-
TER GENERAL.

/ Before entering upon brief consideration of
some Of the topics connected with this report,
We cannot refrain from repeating our admira-
ton of its style and structure. The Postmaster
General is a man OF business. There is, in the
paper before us, not word said for mere effect ;
no rhetorical Aourishes no redundancy but.
assuming that brevity is the soul of business, as
of wit, he places before the reader, in lucid
and compact form, the results of vast labor and
reflection in style OF composition pure and vigor-
Gus, indicative alike of good taste and good
sense.
tory notice of the Postmaster General, but mainly
to invoke the attention OF members of Congress to
the suggestions presented in the Report, and,
while we do so, we feel great satisfaction in re-
aecting that this one subject, at least, all can
unite in promoting the convenience, happin .ss,
and true interest of their constituents, without
encountering that array of sectional a.d polit-
cal jealousies which surround and embarrass
other great subjects of legislation. The bene-
fits of the post Office establishment are univer-
sal in their application the inhabitants of each
village and hamlet-ay, of every lone house in
the country, and of each solitary log cabin in the
newly tanned MISUNDERSTANDING as deep an
of crowded cities. And will not Congress, by
speedy legislation, come 10 the aid of the Post
master General in carrying out his views for
increasing the efficiency and usefulness of an
establishment which is not only indispensable
to the business of the country, but which is
one of the most important instruments of civil
cation, and with the schoolmaster and mission
airy, aids in diffusing useful knowledge, end in
ministering to the moral and intellectual wants
of the whole community
For the vigilant, sagacious, and economical
administration of the Post Office Department,
high degree Of talent and industry are requir-
ed. To appoint or to continue in service near
ly $4,000 faithful and competent postmasters-
to prevent frauds and evasions in the transmits
sion of letters, and to enforce proper accounta-
bility, and exact payments, are among the diff
cult and indispensable functions pertaining to
one branch of that administration. To distri-
butte the large revenue the Department among
|
partially TO wards the business and exigencies
of every portion Of the country and in such
manner as to secure the greatest possible degree
of accommodation to the public, completes The
enormous sum of the duties of an able Postmas-
ter General
| Comparing these general objects and views
with the present condition of the Department,
as exhibited in the report, we find the most sat-
isfactory evidence of The peculiar fitness of Mr..
Wickliffe for the important station he fills, and
of the discriminating judgment evinced in his
appointment TO that station. From state OF
embarrassment which threatened TO render this
Department an annual charge upou the Trea-
sury, and seriously to impair its usefulness, i,
has been raised to the prosperous condition ex-
hibited in the report economy and energy have
been diffused into the various branches of its
service, and It's means of usefuness enlarged
Little can be judged from glanciny al the re-
suits shown in the report, of the labor involv, d
! in producing them some idea Of this may,
however, be gathered by reference to a report
made TO committee of Congress in August
last, from which il appeared that, since March,
ls4l, to that period, 1891 postnasters' ac-
counts-many of which had run on for twenty
years-had been adjusted. The Labor requisite
TO these settlements, and the correspondence in
cdept 10 them, is but one item of that come cted
with the business of the Department for the
same period.
But We have already exceeded the space in
our columns allotted to this subject, and close
our remarks with congratuating the country up
on the Aourshing and promising coalition of
the Department, and an appeal 10 Congress, in