The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-18


ment."l
THE MISSOURI REPORTER AND THE
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Few men are better known to the public than
Cave Johnson, esq, the Postmaster General. His f.
deity and uprghtness, as servant Of the people, are
proverbial-and all who have done business with
him in his new Office, speak, we understand, in high
terms of his urbanty and kindness Nevertheless,
he must pay the tax which his impassoned and
excited censors have the power Of evying The
missouri Reporter" has opened upon him vio-
lent personal attack, for not expedtng the mail from
Cincinnati to Louisville; and yet the same article
states the fact, that the Postmaster General has
effected this expedition to its fullest extent But he
is denounced for not bringing it about sooner; not
withstanding that he has accomplished, within the
short period during which he has been in office, what
entirely baed the able efforts Of his predecessor for
more than year. Is it for thepurpose of exciting a
local prejudice, that the Reporter alleges that Ten
nessee Postmaster General is too much welded to
the interests of the Easttoo much occupied in Civ
ing double daily mails to eastern cities, to give any
attention to the wants of the West Improbable as
this assertion is its face the asthor Of it himself
before closing his article, brands it with the mark OF
falsehood, by stating the fact that the Postmaster
General in renewing the mail contracts in the East,
has made large reductions in his expenditures, and
effected a heavy saving to the department. This
well-known fact he obliged to refer TO, to show
that Mr.. Johnson had the means, notwithstanding
the restriction imposed upon him by the appropria-
to meet the cost offurher expenditures. But he had
not the knowledge, or the grace, TO state that what
ever means Mr.. Johnson may create by his great
economy in the contracts otherwise he is
first to apply it to the putting in operation Of the new
routes ordered by Congress at its last session. The
law Of the land, the will of the whole nation, is en-
titled to this preference, certainly the claims of
sections or individuals however urgent or respect
able they may be, or however anxious the Posmas-
ter General may be to promote their interests and
crafty their wishes.
The delay at Cincinnati, (now happily removed, }
which arose from the circumstance that the eastern
mail which reached that city at p. M, did not leave
for Louisville till 10 o'clock the next morning was
matter that arrested the attention of Mr. johnson
Immediately on his coming into office. Its correc-
ton became the object Of his early, constant, and
unremtting efforts--the subject Of correspondence
with the postmaster Of Cincinnati, with the postmas-
ter Of Louisville, with the contractors Strader &
German, and the firm of Neil, Moore, & Co.
and others,-the subject Of frequent interviews and
negotiations with these and other contractors and
these efforts were persevered in till crowned with
success and in the face these facts the "Reporter
is pleased to charge the Postmaster General with
gross neglect. Can the spirit of criticism display
| itself in stronger colorsi
| The sin Of Mr.. Cave Johnson is, that he has &C.
complished this improvement without making an
additional expenditure--an unnecessary additional ex.
penditure-as the result has shown. For replying "a
those who were pressing him for instant action,
that they were mistaken in supposing that his
mere order was sufficient TO effect the change, and
that there were difficulties and embarrassments in
the way, of (which they were not aware, he ia de.
nounced being ''insolent' and 'simpertinent
For declining to give the desired ertra allowances
amounting to $4,000 per annum, instead of waiting
few weeks longer, and securing the change through
the force of circumstances, foresecn at the time
without any additional cost whatever he is sneered
at for "being afraid to expend few more dollars .
Mr.. Johnson is the servant of the phole people
placed in guardianship over the affairs of the Posi-
Office Department at perilous crisis. The reduc-
ton of the rates of postage will fling that depart
ment, to great extent, upon the treasury for sup
port. Whether done SO to a necessary extent only
or as the means and for the purpose of lcvying an
onerous tax upon the people, and perpetuating O
high tariff, will depend upon the circumspection and
economy with which the Postmaster General acts
upon the neyerending applications in our growing
country, for more mail facilities and additional ex-
penditures This is requisite, even in the cases O,
real necessity, which are very numerous; and vast
y more 80, when camorcd for by the local interests
that manifest themselves in these violent assaults
upon the Postmaster General.
| We make these statements--or rather presen,
this defence--without the slightest feeling of un.
kindness towards the missouri Reporter" and, We
trust without the slightest want of courtesy in the
manner of making