The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-23

hss right ~ complaid Of him. The vast extent,
compile alton and expense Of the operations OF the
Department, render it Of the laborious, diff
6cult and responsible, of tho branches Of Federal
Administration while at the same time. the fact that
every failure on any one of its interminable ramif-
cations raises tempest Of scolding among the editors
who suffer, and under the very best administration
that could result from ths happest combination OF
system energy, industry, and honesty, the mere ne
csasasy imperfection Of anything human, would, in
lis consequences here forever keep the head of the
Department in that uncomfortable element familiarly
known BY the name Of hot water"
The people of the country have demanded one
thing, above all others, in the conveyance Of the
mailhat is speed and, in the present state of the
country we hold it quito impossible 10 combine speed
with certainty. The mail is CONTINUALLY treading on
its own toes One important reason is. that it over
newspapers The monopoly Of this branch, it would
seem, is more burden than profit, and might very
we'll be released. On the railroads it may not much
impede the mail, but even there it probably costs
more than it is worth. Tho excuse Of the Compa-
MES for making high terms is the great weight and
greater bulk Of the mails Il is as nero freight an
Enormous quantity Of stuff to carry back and forth
every day Of the year On The stage routes the case
sisstill stronger Horse power in horses is very
different thingfrom horse power ID locomotives. Add
to this Tho falIibiity Of drivers, the instability Of
coaches, long tracts Of sand deep swamps, rotten
bridges andsa the aceidentsof storm and food, and
who ne tmOrtab weight Of half ton Of
lAaA to escape perpetual hischancel 1t is BY such
IL
gers and troubles, that the mails on tho great route
to New Orleans, go back and FORTH peppersd ip sve-
~ direction by ncessant storm Of editorial squbs
sarcasms, complaints-and. these not against Prov-
dence th;t unbridges the streams foods the swamps
soiens the sand, and alicts the horses with bolts
no! hut against the Postmaster. General, who does
none Of these things and tries his best to remedy
them On the route between Charleston and New
York, great advances toward certainty, combined
with speed, have been made by the recent arrange
ments Of Mr.. Wckliie. Few failures occur now in
Virginia, and the additional time given to the Will
mngton boats has relieved that part the line from
the charge Of delaying the mails. OF the perfect re-
gularity Of the mail conveyance the South Caroli-
ma and the Georgia railroads, we need not speak
It is above all praise. Beyond this clouds and dark
ness, to be sure, are the predominant feature. But
this wilnot last. For whether Southern route by
Mobile, Or Northern by Memphis, be finally adopt
ed fos the New Orleans mail, either of them leads
through country Of vast resources and rapidly grow
ing imPortance-both will, on their resources in
a very few years, sustain sys.em Of transportation
speedy and certain. We need not vex ourselves be-
cause We must wait ltle-because all the arrange.
mens of an old country not found in a new-be-
cause nature has not made bridges and railroads. but
has contented herself with giving to her children
heritage Of boundless capacities for wealth; which
they are themselves to fashion by art and labor to all
the Of noble civilization.
Thus much we have thought it proper to say of the
Post Office Department; and, in conclusion, to give
our opinion that Mr. Wicklile has, in his conduct Of
the Department, done the work of an able ndusri-
Gus, and honest man, and has discharged his duty in
way to deserve the general praise instead of blame
OF the country.