The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-16
From the PnytId (Nass) Sun
THE LETTER SMUGGLERS VS.. THE UNITED
STATES MAIL
a QUESTION IN LAW, MORALS AND PATRIOTISM.

QUESTION IN LAW, MORALS AND PATRIOTISM.
MEssRs EDIToRs-ln consequence of decisions by
three Judges three special Of alleged infringe
ment of the Post Office Laws, in which the Govern
men were unable TO establish the necessary proof sun
dry persons m several parts Of the country have open
ed Offices for the regular transportation Of letters
upon the principal lines OF and are now
successfully defraudng the Government of an amount
of revenue which will probably throw the main bur
den Of conducting the General Post Office upon the
Treasury Of the United States.
Without remarkng upon the obvious fact that
when people thus deiraud the Government they
cheat themselves-or IN other words that what they
uggle of the Post Office they have to put into the
custom duties, and thus bite their to spite their
faces, wish now only l. call attention to the fact
that the Constitution of the United States gives TO
Congress expressly the power I" to establish Post
Offices and Post Roads, and that it does not leave TO
the States or the people power to do the same
This power has been exclusively and bene6cially ex.
ercised by Congress for more than 50 years. The
Constitution and the Laws enacted IN pursuance
thereof are the supreme laws Of the land and the
people are bound thereby. The law declares " that
no stage other vehicle, which regularly performs
trips post road, road parallel to IT, shall
convey letters" II also forbids the running Of
regular private express for the of let
tiers packets. All rail roads in the United States
post roads, and all those roads which are declared
to be such Il. G. post rosds) by Congress. Such is
the law and the Constitution they relate to this
subject.
Is 1t for the public good not that the United
States Post Office exists, carrying the mail not only
to the principal cities, but TO every village hamlet
and log cabin in the land There is no department
OF he Government whose benehcent influence is so
practically and daily felt by the of the people as
the Post Once Depsrment-none whose withdraw.
al or failure would be regarded as great a caami.
ty In order to make IT independent and most eff
Gent IT has been the policy of the country TO make
the revenues Of the Post Office Jay ITS own expen-
ses, and to keep those apart from the gene
raj funds Of the nation, for exclusive sppca ion TO
the Post Office Department and its extension and
Improvement. II is IN consequence Of this that mails
have been obtained upon application to the Depart
ment; and that efficient discretion has been exer
cised to he great benefit Of the country. But take
away these revenues make the Post Offi.e Depsrt-
mint dependent upon the general Treasury, from
which no money can be taken but In pursuance of
appropriations Of Jaw, and you make the public mail
the puppets Of party and add them to the selfish ar
mory OF demagogues If the Treasury is low the
people will get no mails. liza particular section of
the country shall have given The party in power in
Congress offence, punishment may be inflicted by the
withdrawal curtaIlmeut Of mail facilities TO that
section. How much better then is IL that the Post
Office should be independent of party favor or aver
sou far as the current application of its revenues
are concerned as IT now is. Is it not the duty of
every citizen TO support the Constitution and obey