The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-04

rates will yield sufficient revenue 10 ueiaN TIE
naming expenses Of the Depafm'n' aho alio" 10
gradual extension as the demands OF the community
may require.
H. upon fair experiment, based on The reduction
proposed il was asceItained further reduction could
be made and produce revenue equal 10 The want
of the service that reduction couid hereafter be o.
dered by Congress.
IL is believed the mode here proposed, by which the
Government shall contribute lis fair proportion THE
expenses of the Department is preferable u that
which has been elsewhere suggested VIZ; OF reqgr
ing accounts TO be kept with each Department aud
The hostage To be paid out of their contingent fund
is more simple less complex and possesses the advsn
,ase of certainty by which the Department az al
times will be enabled TO regulate It's engagements iOf
the remainder of the service in each year
The only evil likely 10 follow hom Il reduction OF
the posta 90 ON the terms proposed particularly tat
thanking privilege be taken from Deputy Postmaseh)
which al present occurs to me, ana whioh think
my duly state, will be the diihcuity OF obtaining
competent me To discharge the duties oil POstmaslrs
in the smaller Posi Offices which, though moi pro,
duclive in themselves are useful 10 The country, and
cannot be well dispensed win.
Whether it shall be the pleasure OF Congress u
duce the rates of postage or TO permit Them to remain
az thew now are, It is duty which | cannot omR,
again To recommend further legislation by Congrcs,
in order 10 protect the Department In the exercise Of
it's legitimate functions spirit, generated by The
condition of the country, at war with tie Observance
of existing laws has defed the power OF the Genen
Government the sub ect of Poet Offices and Post
Roads.
The laws heretofore enacted to restrain the esab
ishment Of private mails or posts have been found
uate to defer the lawless and irresponsible from
openly coverty embarkng IN the business OF trans
| porting letters and upon mail routes
The of loss 10 the revenue of the Department
| arising from this cause alone, cannot be accurately
stated An estimate of the amount approximatlng
probable certainly, may be made by reference 10 The
great reduction OF this income of those Offices upon
and al acent to- the lines Of railroad connect ng The
important commercial cities and towns of the United
States.
Prosecutions have been Instituted against many Of
these violators of existing law In some of the court,
of the United States, they have been discharged by
The judges, mainly upon the ground assumed IN The
opinion of the court that the evidence did not bnGg
the offence charged within the provisions OF The aes
of Congress- that the law itself did not prohibit
the trans portaon of mail matter over mail routes by
individuals, in the mode which these depredators have
adopted.
The District Courts of Maryland and Pennsylva
MIA pronounced judgment against such of the offend
ers have been tried before them. The penalty VI
| fifty doers imposed for the offence, is too small, #
the defendants in situation to have enforced
to deter them from prosecuting successfully Their lie
gal business.
In one of the cases recently tried in the Dis'rcl
Cout for Pennsylvania the question OF the tonsl0-
tionality Of the laws Of Congress prohibiting the cI
zen from establishing private post, &c, was directly
raised by the counsel for the accused and the e1cu
slve power of Congress over the subject OF Post OF
fees and Post Roads denied. The point was
ruled by the intelligent judge who presided. The
case, understand is to be taken TO the Supreme
Court. Nevertheless, the party convicted still conlin.
ues his business very extensively places open
ly, in others coverdy, upon the leading post routes
will not, in this report, undertake 10 discuss this
question. On former occasion ventured to obtrude
upon you condensed argument on this subJec The
object of which to prove that the trainers OF the
Constitution, when they grained 10 Congress the
power to establish Pos, Offices and Post Roads did
not leave, or intend to leave the power to be eIer-
csed either by the States or the People.
The very nature Of the power granted-the oil ccls
to be at aimed by its exerclse-would indicate clearly
If the language equivocal that ii must be eIclu
sve The duties required to be performed cannot
well be performed by any other power than that which,
pro hae piee peivades the whole sphere of Post Office
operations
1t will do for Congress to await the decision OF
the SUPREME Court upon this question: question
which has been regarded settled, not only by JUDI
acguesced In by the States and the People for near
half century. power of punishment and restraint
SUFFICIENT To MAINTAIN the supremacy of The laws Of
the land and SUIT TO the present ondton OF affair."
should al once be vested in the Judiciary Department
cannot concur in the opinio l have heard often
expressed that the only remedy for this evil Is a re-
| duction of postage. There Is no rate of reduction
which prudent legislation can, at this time, make
that will prevent successful competition in the bus.
|
| Roads II We take the system $ a whole the Gov
eminent has conveyed and will convey letters as
cheap as IT can be done by individuals But private
mails are permitted TO occupy The most productive
routes, It is conceded that individuals can transport
letters cheaper on these Routes than the Department
No rate of revenue upon imported merchandise
however low, viii prevent smuggling if the penal
sanctions OF the law against II be repealed.
| without further legislation by Congress upon TN.
subject, Is idle to expect the Department to sustain
ltsei at any rate OF postage. The failure to pas.
some act amendatory Of the xstlny lyts ot the lat
session, quadruped the number Of private mails tlen
IN operation Prompt and efficient legislation on tbs
subject Is demanded by every consideration Of public
policy.
The nature OF the service and amount Of costs OF
portions OF The steamboat mail service particularly
between New Orleans and Mobile and Charleston
and w ilm'ngton, have fully impressed nv mind that
II would be sound policy, both in a national and eco.
nomlcal poin' Of view tor the Government 10 author
ize the construction Of steamboats, suited to this ser.
vice. To be employed mail steamers in time Of pcsce
and so constructed that they could in time Of war
be converted into portion of the marine defence OF
our bays and harbors.
The policy Of employing such vessels in the mail
service Oh o'her governments has been adopted Nav
u not be Tue part OF wisdom to profit by their exam
lle 7
Under existing laws the Postmaster General is not
authorized 10 contract for transporting the mail on
the high sea-, or beyond the limits Of the United
STATES me necessity and public utility Of a repu.
lar mail between this country and Cuba and Other
iofe'gn ports must be apparent all and such mail
would have been put IN operation 10y me long since IL
The power To do 80 existed respectfully suggest the
power to contract for the portation Of mails 10
ioreign ports be authorized and the rates of postage
fixed by law.
lhr policy will be more obvious, IL we take INTO
consideration the amount Of postage paid for letters
winch now pass TO and rom the United States 10
foreign vessels. The number Of letters which are
raj faA 10 l.f
tween Boston and Liverpool IS about $1,000 per
month, charged with postage Of $4,000 equal 10