The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-03-13
UNITED STATES MAIL, AND POST
OFFICE REFORM

OFFICE REFORM.
We would respectfully invite the attention OF
| the public the report Of the COMMITTEES on
Post Offices aud Post Roads ia the House of
| Representatives. This report was The unani-
| nous opinion Of the Committee, AID was adopt
ed by the House, as we understand, without a
dissenting voice. The expression of The Repre-
senaliyes ofthe People upon this subject, al the
present time, when the opinions OF the Postmas-
| ter General have been assailed by some of the
newspaper PRESS, in relation TO the power OF
Congress over this subject, is important.
Those who have openly or coverly engaged
ia the business Of transporting mail matter be-
tween Post towns, had better read this report,
and not rely TOO much upon the newspaper
opinion of what Judge Bets had decided
We doubt not Judge Belts might have his
legal arning somewhat improved by reading il
also.
The public may rely upon one thing, that
whatever laws Congress has or may pass for the
government of The Department, SO long as the
presen, Postmaster General has charge of the
Department, will be faithfully aud impair
italy executed, and all nlractlons Of them
will be prosecuted when the facts can be
proven.
In connection with this subjecI, we call The
attention of the public TO the case recently de-
cided by the United States District Court in
Baltimore, an account of which we publish to-
day, taken from the Sun.
The laws Of the land must be obeyed, and
will be sustained by all good citizens so long as
they remain on the statute book.
VIOLATION OF POST OFFICE LAWS.
FEBRUARY %, 1874
Mr. HOPKINS from the Committee on the Post Of
fee and Post Roads, made the following
REPORT.
The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads,
IN obedience to the resolution of the House of Re-
representatives. of the 29th Of January last instruct
ing them to inquire il any person persons have,
in opposition to the laws Of the United States,
tablished Offices and provided conveyances for
transporting letters, papers, and other mail mat
ter in violation of the regulations adopted by Con-
gress, from time to time, for the government of
the post offices of the United States,n ask leave to
submit the following report
The committee, withou. the delay Of particular
examination (Which they could not make, without
the authority OF the House to compel the attendance
of wtnesses,) have become satisfied, from niorma-
ton which has reached them through the public
press, through letters pamphlets, and other sources
that the laws of the United States, establishing and
regulating the post Offices OF the Union, passed III
pursuance Of the constitute n, are daily violated and
evaded Tn sc infractons of existing laws prohpt-
ed by sordd feeling of seshness and avarice, are
now openly and wantony perpetrated by individuals,
under the mpudent assumption that the Government
Of the United States have authority TO restrain
to punish them. They claim the right, in contempt
of all existing law and in open defiance Of its
TONS TO establish " Offices and provide conve yances
for transporting letters papers, and other mail mat
ter" And they further contend that the power /" to
establish post Offices and post roads," delegated to
the Government of the United States is not exclu-
slve, but may be exercised either by the States or
private individuals. In conformity to these opn-
ions real or pretended extensive combinations have
been formed, now daily violating existing laws,
TO the evident injury Of the revenue of that mpor-
tant branch OF the national service.
The committee are unanimously OF opinion that
the power granted by the Constitution TO establish
post offices and post roads, and the laws passed in
pursuance of il, both irauduently eyadcd, and
waDtonly violated and defed and that the Govern
ment ought, without hesitation, TO interpose its
strong arm to arrest and forever suppress such law
less conduct. The power to do this, If
er before questioned, has hitherto been regard
ed the constitutional prerogatiye OF Con-
gress for, from the foundation of the Post
Office Department. the power has been exer-
cised; and, IN other times, the exercise OF such
power has been submitted to in spirit Of loyalty and
patriotism. That time has gone by and the recent
| discovery, that a power which has been exercised
by this Government from its infancy without ques-
ton aud without doubt, may be violated with i'm
punty renders further legislation necessary to protect
the public service, and presents question no less
momcntous than this Whether the constitution and
laws OF the country, a lawloss combination Of
| fractory individuals, shall triumph
| These outrages are of daily occurrence upon the
| principal lines Of intercommu ncation between the
important cities and towns OF the Union and IN some
instances, carried under belief or pretence
that the existing laws cannot be enforced and one
Of the active agents IN their pcrpetration and who
is represented TO be irresponsible IN pecunisry point
of view, has even challenged prosecution, IN order
TO test the power of the Government TO restrain, pre-
vent, or punish him for offences Of that kind. The
committee are satisfied that the existing laws are
constantly violated and evadcd; and that further and
more effective penal enactments are demanded to
check and suppress such abuses In future. Without
the power Of sending for witnesses they cannot re-
spond fully and infinitely 10 the Inquiry Of the
| House may be desirable and believing that the
Postmaster General, whose attention has been aux.
ously bestowed upon the subject could furnish the
information which II Is presumed II the object Of
the House TO elicit more readily than the committee
could do, report the following resolution, and
mend It's adoption:
Resolped, That the Postmaster General be request
ed report to this House what steps have been taken
to prevent aud punish the piractons of the laws OF
the Unit States prohibiting the establishment OF any
private mail post for the transportation of letters
and packets; and whether, IN his opinion the exist
ing laws adequate TO the suppression Of such
offences.
U. S. DISTRICT COURT
Present, Judge Heath