The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-18

IL occurred to me that could, in part, furnish re-
medy with but little additional expense by adding
to the duties of the agents already in service, and
thereby furnish to the business community the facility
of sending, by the agents of the Department, at the
legal postage, their letters if delivered to them at any
time before the mail left.
therefore directed them receive all letters, paid
and unpaid any time before starting to rate the
postage, keep account pay the money over to the
posmasters the end Of their respective routes take
their receipts, and make to the Department weekly
ports. This is "the Express mail" These are the
duties which the agents required to discharge for
the Department The whole of these agents are SUI
pervised generally by the special agents and postmas-
tiers on the routes, and by principal charged with
personal daily supervision.
This Department has established ''no new BUSH
ness" 1t has engaged to carry nothing in the mail,
by its agents, which, of right and by law, it not
bound to carry in the mail
Nothing is carried, or permitted to be carried by
these expresses agents at the risk of the Depart
ment Nor has the Department authorized these
agents to transport any mail matter out of the mail
unless it is money packages, which am in no ways
anxious shall be entrusted TO the United States
mail.
Neither has this Department desired to interfere
with the legitimate business of any individual engaged
in the transportation of packages other matter
which by law is not nailable. No man will be INFER
rupted who is not violating the act of Congress and
should be unworthy the trust reposed in me if l
could sit still and see the laws made by Congress for
the protection of the Department violated with mpu-
nifty.
feel the obligation to furnish, through the United
States mail and its agents. all the facilities which lis
means can afford, and l shall endeavor to dis
charge it.
If it were wise in the trainers of the Federal Con
stiuton to grant to Congress the exclusive power of
establishing post Offices and post roads; if 1t we've
wise in Congress to impose penalty upon all who shall
invade this right and carry opposition mail,
no matter by what name all will admit that
becomes the duty of him placed at the head of the
Post Office Department to enforce the laws passed
by the representatives of the People for its protec
ton and support. | am not prepared to admit and
certainly am unwilling to believe that the public APP
proves the suggestions which have been recently
avowed in of the public journals upon the sub
ject of the General Post Office, that it should be
abolished and the business given up to individual en-
terprse which would perform all its functions better
and cheaper than they now performed by the
| General Government" This may suit the region O
populous towns and cities connected by links OF
pd REORGANIZATION, but it would be system
| badly adapted to the Union whole. Individual
enterprise would not penetrate the mountains and
forests of the East and West and the plains of the
more distant and less favored regions of wide
spread confederacy and bear to the door almost OF
every citizen the rapid regular intelligence of bust
ness and the blessings of private episolary
pondence, which it is the purpose and business of the
| present United States Mail system to do.
The senseless cry of monopoly by the United
States Government in the business Of carrying let
ters," is raised by those whose vocation it is to find
fault with the wise institutions Of our fathers They
| exclam, -" Abolish the United States Mail estab.
lishment, and let all who will engage in the business
of transporting letters do So" The spirit
would wage war upon every necessary power Of
government.
All can promise is faithful devotion of my time
and energies to the administration of the laws of Con
gress regulating this Department. so as to produce
the greatest good to the largest possible number
if violations of these laws continue to be made,
shall feel myself bound by the consideration of pub
lie Duty to invoke the tribunals of Justice to enforce
their observance. 1t is not designed to interfere
with the legitimate carrying trade of individuals or
companies but to prohibit the transportation of Mai
matter for pay by public private expresses, unit
it shall please Congress to alter the existing laws for
the government of this Department. You will please
to say to Messrs. Pomeroy and Company, that | am
compelled to decline their offer.
| am, respectfully,
| Your obedient servant,
| c. A. WlCKLIFFE.