The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-09

intelligence 10 and from European countries, then
we shall find the United States mail contractor push
ing the adventurous prov of his steamship up the
English channel between the Isle of Wight and
the coast Of Hampshire and Sussex; up the straits
Of Dover and the North sea, I'LL it rests at the quiet
wharyes Of the good old Burgomasters of the Fader-
land. will conclude with this sentiment
The american mail contractor: Whether on horse
back in a coach, in a rail car or a steamer, God
speed him in his performance and his prosperity.
j. G. Acheson, Of Virginia, being called upon,
gave
p. G. Washington, esq, the able and efficient au.
ditor Of the Post Office Department
Mr. Washington rose and said;
Mr.. PREsIDENI AND GEsrLEAEs; feel very SEN
si6ly the handsome but rather unexpected notice
which has been taken of my services in the depart.
ment. Though wholly unprepared, II Is due TO you
ana 10 the occasion TO attempt 10 make some ac.
acknowledgement, however feeble and inadequate, OF
your kindness, not only this occasion, but during
the whole period Of my eonnexidn with the depart
ment ! am happy to have the opportunity TO ae-
knowledge that, during this period, and in the large
intercourse we have had, do not recolect a single
instance IN which any contractor now IN the service
has failed in the prophecies due to our official rela-
tons, or even 10 the highef relations Of one gentle.
man 10 another.
IL does not belong to my position in the depart.
ment, gentlemen, TO speak Of those primary duties
yersity, and energy Of which have been properly
and So eloquently described by the LIST Assistant
Postmaster General. Mine is an humber task-to
refer to those secondary duties unseen but not the
less important, which belong TO lis internal system
and Organization, and which furnish tho means OF
its life, It's health, and its usefulness When you
have brayed the storms Of winter and toied beneath
the suns OF summer-when you have scaled the
mountain, and plunged through the morass, under
the orders Of the Postmaster General-you have yet
service due TO the auditors office, TO gather up
the fragments Of revenue from the by-way and the
out-ofthe-way Offices, for the means OF payment.
t"Go on-go ON
We are parts Of a system which embraces
within It's ample compass fifteen thousand post
masters, and four thousand contractors; which
collects in as many localities, in dimes and half
dimes, revenue Of 1000 900 Of dollars and which
almost upon the instant returns this to
hands and to other places, in the proportions It's va
1ous services respectively require. We behold the
Postmaster General STIMULATING for transportation
of IS 900 900 Of miles, and having it performed, too
with surplus fund laid up to supply his need and
no other reliance 10 defray the immense expense,
but the unvarying punctuality Of the postmasers in
paying and Of the contractors in collecting and
porting. We believe in the possibility of such
a system so constructed and so managed only be.
cause we see its actual existence and operation.
The world has never furnished such an example,
nor can any other nation hope To do so, which shall
not grow the like materials from which TO derive
the agents to sustain 1.-THE free the intelligent
the right-minded republican, tenacious OF the rights
which he claims, and therefore keeny alive 10 the
duties he has TO perform. You obey the officers Of
the department only because they speak in the Ian.
guage Of the law, and with alacrty, a zeal, and
fidelity which no mere despotic authority could
command
Gentlemen, | will not trespass longer upon your
patience intended to speak ofthe truly national,
domestic, and benignant character Of the depart
ment, and Of the feelings we should severally bring
to the discharge OF our appropriate duties, in
tanning 1t. But ! will close with sentiment from
which may be inferred the notion | have Of your
duties, which connect themselves directly with me,
AMI those propose to myself.
The Post Office DEPARTMENT, The spring Of our po-
liticn system, and the minister 10 all our nellec-
tual and physical wants; it can never attain to the
perfection of Its design, until every dime il levies
has been faithful collected and faithfully applied
to extend, enlarge, and improve its accommoda-
lions to the public.
Here the Second Assistant Postmaster General
was called upon.
Hon. William J. Brown rose, and said: It is said
in the good book that "from the abundance Of the
heart the mouth spenketh.n fear on this occasion,
however, that the adhge will not be realized. There
Is certainly an abundance in my heart, but my
mouth may not speak it, IL | am compelled to
speak TO the subject, may well sit down. for the
ground has all been occupied. My connexion with
the Post Office Department has been a brief, but
pleasant one, In my varied official associations
none have been more pleasant to me than with that
enterprisng and intelligent class by which am now
surrounded-the mail contractors To them our
country owes much. They are the pioneers who
carry light and intelligence along with the emigrant
and the missionary into the deep recesses of the
forest. The savage passes away the footsteps Of
the civilized man seen; next is heard the horn Of
the postboy, he comes with frosty locks or mud.
despatched garments, with news from all nations
numbering at his back" They are now found west
of the Missouri. Soon, under the protection of our
flag, will they make their appearance upon the
prairies of Texas. The swelling floods of the Rio
Grande, for a time, will stay their onward course
how long, God only knows. My associate Major
Hobbie) says, in language more eloquent than can
command, in substance, that he EXPECTS to see
the American mail contractor, under the protection
of our laws carrying intelligence to 'our brethren
in the "far-of land of Oregon" | sincerely hope
so too and further hope that under some wise
stroke of policy on the part Of government the
field Of their noble enterprise may be extended to
California also Having charge of the appointment
Office, my business is more Immediately with post
masters than with contractors ] will try, however,
and see that you have prompt.paying officers. II
he withholds your money report him, and his head
shall be the forfeit of his crimel mean he shall be
politically beheaded. Your enterprise is one that
should be well rewarded. While you carry light
and knowledge throughout the land, you should
not be left, like the camel upon the deserts, who
carries the rich perfumes and spices of India, to feed
upon the shrubs by the way side. This is not an
occasion for long speeches. | therefore conclude
with the following sentiment
The mail contractors: While they are sure to re.
ceive the smile Of appreciation from an interested
public, may they receive that pecunary reward
which their energy and enterprise so richly de-
serve.
Several other gentlemen were called upon and ad-
dresses made during the evening; among others by
Hon. Mr.. Wentworth, of Illinois, Col. c. X. Gard
ner, and gentleman connected with the New York
press.
At late hour the company adjourned But be-
fore doing so, made its Acknowledgements to the host
in sentiment that he replied to as follows
GENTLEMEN: Accept my thanks for your kind
compliments, and be assured, that among all the
guests whom it has been my duty and pleasure to
receive, none have ever been more heartily welcome
than yourselves 1t is gratifying to me that there
are no empty seats at my table it is to you that
there shall be none in your coaches
And now, gentlemen hope you win see to it
that, whether hostages high or low, or whether
the Post Office Department pays its own way or
not, it shall pay yours, and pay it ,otR too!