The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-26

newspapers thrown of, many public spirIeu anu
faithful contractors are liable to be conounded WIN
the few indoent and faithess ones employed on tue
same line Of service where the abuses occur. Affect
ing inuriously as This practice Of leaving the newsna-
per mail must do the interests of the conductors 81 INC
public press you will often gain through that chan
mel, information not otherwise TO be had ana pro
pretors of papers may thus efficiently cooperate win
the regular agents Of the Department by frankly ex-
posing, well the difficulties the malfeasance oil
contractors la this view of the case their represen
tations are to be respected and encouraged 1t VIII,
however, be well for you to suggest when oppohuni
ties offer, that such representations of the press VIII
always be more useful when made, after some inquiry
into facts, and accompanied with particulars 81 places
dates, and names ocontractors and drtpers Tor men
the Investigations which am instructed to say VIII
not fail to ensue may be conducted with precision
and every hope Of some practical results while
mere general complaint that the mails are Irregular
for instance 'easl of Columbus, in Georgia, or west
Oft the Ohio" though it to give expression to
sense of individual grievance, affords clue to dis
cover the precise source of the evil it denounces-
Confidence is felt that appeal to the obligation oil
contractors TO make especially at this season, frequent
personal inspection ofheir routes would not fail OF ITS
effect.
have il in special charge sir, to impress you WIN
the wish of the Postmaster General TO prevent rather
than rely fines to the evils of irregular and
unfaithul transportation. II is but too manifest that
in the eagemess of competition, contracts are often
entered into which no vigilance or energy can hope
to fulfil with punctuaty. In such cases the lmpo-
sition of fines necessary but disgracous alterna-
tive, affords but poor retrbution to the public and
hence, the Postmaster General would have 1t well
understood that above all things he values punctuah-
ty in the delivery Of every portion of the mail and
that while is forced persuaded to enter int
engagements to perform particular service; wher
such engagements are formed and announced, a
those on which the public must depend for the
conveyance of its correspondence, he will ex
ert the utmost power of his Office to have them cx
ecuted with exactness | should fail in what know
to be his particular desire were not, in this letter
to enoin further upon YOU and IN every way upon TN
Postmasters throughout the country that all instance
of any portion Of mail being len amy ichere on The cdy
after having been once taken from an Office, b
specially and Immediately reported TO the Inspection office
to be thence submitted to the Postmaster General
for such exemplary action as he may deem prope
and eectua to restrain abuses of trust so unworth,
Of those who practice or permit them. No agent 0
the Department much less any Special Agent, SHOULD
rank any duty higher than that of diligence to disco
YER and fearless vigilance in presenting all such cases
If, under any emergency, mails so accumulate at an,
point to render inadequate the conveyance Prov
ded for their transportation beyond IT. the contractor
must his inability to take the whole and thu
surplus must be left with the Postmaster, whose dut
it will be 10 report all The facts and, when drive
against the orders of his employers takes upon him
self to leave any portion of it on the way, the eas
that can be expected is his instantaneous dismissal
with report of his name, TO be registered in tn
Department, to the end that he be forever after ex
cluded from employment in its service. .
Very respectfully, sir
I Your obi sery't,
q