The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-10-21
l.. G. ALEXANDER,
From Tie Charleston .ureur,
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Special Agent P. o Department

JHE POS OffICE DEPARTM MIN i.
There has been much discussion ia the New York
papers Of late, Of circular from the Postmaster
General, designed 10 enforce rigid supervision
over the transmission Of papers, and TO prevent con-
tractors from making private bargains to carry pack
ages Of newspapers, freight, cut Of The mail The
pres. 10 whom II j. great gain 10 send their papers
IN thu, way cry on, ,chemenily against the dongs Of
the Department, espoinsge, tyranny, vexstous 10.
reference with private rights, and designate II by
whatever scardslOus epthets will best inform the
world that they are much Of temper at the pros
pect Of oeing out Of pocket They rely upon pro.
vision Of the Post Office law, which gives the Depart,
meu, discretionary power to allow contractors 20
carry newspaper. other than ia the mad, only provi
ding that be shall not discriminate IN favor Of any
particular publicston The press SOY this provision
does authorize the Department To grant this pri
yilegs a. contract but gift 10 the mail cOutrsc-
lyrs tie whole avail. Of which to 20 to the lot.
ter. The Postmaster General on the other hand re-
gard. j only authority 70 make contracts, allowing
the privilege 81 carry ing package, Of paper ont Of
Tie mail, for consideration 20 The United sls,es--
AID he hss accordingly pvt IN tram to stop
al forwarding of papers except by contract with the
Department We are bound TO .ay we think Mr.
Wicklhg'. construction 81 tie law the true one
and ti. While st the time We r. gard the mono
poly by the United Sistes Of tie Transmission Of all
letters and psper a. grievance, and burden that
will not very long be borne BY the people.
u there j. anything clear beyond 81 Others m the
legislation Of tbs country, 1t j. that Me Federal Co
vernment from ,s origin, has regarded the clause Of
the Constitution gyn, Congress tie pwer &" 10 estsb-
lish post Offices and post roads, grant of ALSO
lutte monopoly Of tie conveyance Of letters and pa
per, for consideration II seems 10 u. very small
foundation for such extensive power and We do
not and never could assent 20 the Constitutional con-
strucion thsi iusthes II but il has ever been prsc-
tced upon and the country bas almost without qles-
ton sanctioned IT, The Department is therefore
bound by 1t, and must interpret al laws by this fun.
dsmeotol pe--ba, the Post Office has an ALSO
lutte monopoly Of the conveyance Of letter, and new
papers. Unless the Department then Is c1prcssly
authorized TO CIR, array the privilege, We see not bow
II can doit
ln the discussion on the Post Office law project in
the Senate last winter, VIC do not remember that 4
single Of the distinguished Senators who debated
the provisions OF that BILL called 10 question. to the
smallest extent, the monopoly Of the Post Office De
/ parmen,-it seems to have been regarded as th,nr
settled beyond argument and clear beyond ca,l thai
the right wa, conferred by the Constitution. and hac
limits They even went farther, and BY the proyi
sions Of that bill undertook 10 settle the legal SIZE o.
newspaper, For, while, under the head Of 81 malta
be matter" they determined that everything in tb,
shape Of newspaper must B, earied in the mails
under another head they decreed that sheets over
certain size should not be carried in the mails excep
at rate Of postage that amounted to a penalty an,
would have operated as an absolute exclusion Sucl
was the view which the Senate took Of the extent O
this power.
The fault we consider TO lie in the assumption OF
which Congress has ever egislated foI the Post Oe,
Department But Of the meaning Of their laws
there IS little room 10 doubt, and Mr. wickiae SEEM
to have acted only according TO their intent as h,
was boyd to act, We do not see that the counir,