Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-08

ind themselves laboring under cmbarrass-
ments and difficulties; which the aid of the
General Government, applied in the way
would effuctually remove. and at
the same time secure to the United States
the advantage and the ample equivalent of
the mail upon these roads.
The credit Of the United States to an
amount not greater than the sum necessary
TO produce at five per cent. interest, the
amount paid by the Post Office Depart
ment to these companies annually, would,
| have no doubt be sufficient to accomplish
this desirable end. The prompt and favor
able action of Congress upon this subject
at the present time, would effectuaily secure
the Government against the danger OF be-
ing called upon for occasional and large ap-
preparations to meet the balances due by
the Department.
DO | ask the United States to do more for
the Post Office Department than usticc
would seem to demand, especially when it
is remembered that the whole expense of
the official correspondence Of the Govern
ment and the public. and private correspon-
dence of those entitled by law to the frank
ing privilege, is sustained and paid by tax
upon the correspondence of the commnni-
tyl If by this arrangement the Depart
ment is relieved from the heavy and annual
charge rs now rated, land it has neither
the power to lessen it nor to prevent its in
crcase,) it may be hoped that the object so
much demanded BY considerations of pub
lie Justice Chat of reducing the tax upon
the friendly and business correspondence
of Individuals will be attained, and, al the
same time, the usefulness of the public mail
greatly enlarged and extended to those por
lions of the Union hitherto measurablv de-
MED the necessary mail facilities.
If the Government was required to pay
postage upon official correspondence, and
if the franking privilege was abolished or
reduced to proper limits, the revenue Of the
Department would be increased to an
amount sufficient of itself to pay the inter-
est upon the debt to be incurred by the
proposed arrangement, and liquidate the
principal in less than thirty years.
respectfully submit to the President the
propriety of communicating to Congress
the views which ! entertain and have here
expressed upon this subject.
Some embarrassments to the free transit
of the United States mail coaches over that
part of the Cumberland road W ich lies
within the limits of the State of Virginia
have been experienced during the present
year. incident to right assumed by the au-
thorities Of that State to impose tax upon
the coach Transporting the mail.
| In the act of Congress proposing ces-
sion of all right which the United States
claimed over said road, upon certain condi-
tons, to the States through which il pass.
ed. it was expressly provided that no toll
upon the stages, coaches, &c, conveying
tn. United States mail should be imposed
With this, among other reservations and
exceptions, the States Of Maryland, Penn
sylvania, Virginia and Ohio, accepted the
ccsson and assumed the control over SC
much of the road as is within their respec.
tive territories. 1t appears that, by sub
sequent act of the Virginia Legislature SC
much of the act, by which she accepted
the road, exempting the stage, coach, &c.
conveying the United States mail from the
payment of tolls, was repealed, and a ia,
was authorized TO be, and was, imposed up
on the same. Without OBTAINING you with
a further narrative upon this subject, sub
+ nit the letters and correspondence of The
Department in relation thereto, and dOcu
mcnts accompanying the same. Though
the amount charged and exacted at the sin
Gle gate in Virginia is inconsiderable, yet
if she has the right to impose the TOLL tn
other States have an equal right, and will
most unquestionably, assert il; and thus n
additional annual burden Of near $4,000
will be added to the transportation Of 'h
United States mail over that road, whicl
is already the most expensive mail coaci
service in the United States.
, 1t is proper should inform you that tn,
4 prosecution Instituted against the agent o
I Virginia, before | was called t. The dis
! charge of the duties Of this Department;
! for obstructing the passage Of the United
} States mail on said road, by closing the tol
= gate against the free passage of the coacf
: conveying the mail, has, upon my suggos
J ton, been suspended for the present, undo
: hope that upon full representation O
this subject, by the proper authority, to tn
State Of Virginia, all cause of difficult
might be removed, without the necessity 0
J a penal prosecution.
/ submit, for your information, the repor
: Of the chief clerk Of the Post Office Depart
Q ment, in reference to the expenditure Of ap
' preparation, made at the extra session q
i Congress, to pay the debt due to contract
f ors and others, for services rendered prio
: to the 3lst Of March, 1871.
= There are other matters of detail, con
nected with the service Of this Department
: which by law are required 10 be reporte
: to Congress; and it is therefore deemed in
to hVin no 10 III