Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27


promises the most happy results in ce-
nenting friendship between the two Re-
publics, and in extending reciprocal adj
yantages to the trade and manufactures Of
both.
The report Of the Postmaster General,
will make known to you the operations Of
The department for the past year.
1t is gratifying to find the revenues Of
the Department, under the rates Of post
age now established by law, SO rapidly
increasing. The gross amount Of postage
during the last fiscal year amount to
$4,37l, 677, exceeding the annual average
receipts for the nine years Immediately
preceding the passage Of the act Of the Sd
Of March, lS45, by the sum Of SIG, l53,
aud exceeding the amount received the
year ending the 3Oth Of June, ls47, by
the sum Of $4s5,l84.
The expenditures for the year, exclu-
ding the sum Of $24,672 allowed by Con-
gress, at its last session, to individual
claimants, and including the sum Of
81 COX, 900 paid for the services Of line Of
steamers between Bremen and New York,
amounted to 81, ,845, which is less
than the average for the nine years pre-
vious to the act Of l845, by $1,000, TAB.
The mail routes on the Both day Of June
last, were l63.208 miles in extent-and
being an increase daring the last year Of
nine thousand three hundred and ninety
miles. The mails were transported over
them during the same term 1912 $40
miles, making an increase of transporta-
ton for the year of 2, IA, $50 miles, whilst
the expense was less than that Of the pre-
vious year by four thousand two hundred
and thirty five dollars.
The increase in mail transportation
within the last three years has been
,37e,3l0 miles, whilst the expenses were
reduced 1886, 737-making an increase OF
service at the rate Of Is per cent. Du-
ring the past year, there have been en-
ployed in contracts with the Post Office
Department two ocean steamers, in con-
veying the mails monthly between New
York and Bremen; and one, since Octo-
Der last, performing semi-monihly service
between Charleston and Havana.
A contract has been made for the trans
mission of the Pacific mails across the 18TH
mus, from Chagres to Panama. Under
the authority given to the Secretary Of the
Navy, three ocean steamers have been
constructed and sent TO the Pacific, and are
expected to enter upon the mail service
Panama and Oregon, and the intermediate
points on the first Of January of next year;
and a fourth has been engaged by him for
the service between Havana and Chagres.
SO that regular mail line will be kept up
after that time, between the United States
and our territories On the Pacific.
Notwithstanding tits great increase in
the mail service, should the reveru lie con-
tinue TO increse the present year, as it did
in the last, there will be received near
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars
more than expenses.
These considerations have satisfied the
Postmaster General that, with certain mo-
difcations Of the act Of ls45, the revenue
may be still further increased, and re-
duction OF postage made to uniform rate
Of five cents, without any interference with
the principle which has been constantly
and properly enforced, Of making that De-
partment sustain itself.
A well digested postage system is tie
best means Of dii1nsing intelligence among
the people, and is of so much Importance
in country SO extended as this of The
United States, that recommend, for your
favorable consideration, the suggestions of
The Postmaster General, for its improve
nent.
Nothing can retard the onward progress
Of our country, and prevent us from as
Stunning and maintaining the first position
among nations, but disregard Of the ex-
perience of the past.
The introduction Of the new policy was
for time favored by the condition Of the
country, by the heavy debts which had
been contracted during the war, by the
depression Of the public credit, by the de-
ranged state of the finances and the cur
rency, and by the commercial and pec.-
mary embarrassment which extensively
prevailed. These were net the only eau
ses which led ID its establishment the
events of the war with Great Britain, and
The embarrassments which had attended
its prosecution, had left on the minds of
many Of our statesme n the impression that
our government was not strong enough,
and that, to work its resources success
tuily in great emergencies, and especially
IN war, more power should be corcentra-
ed into its hands. This increased power.
hey did not seek to obtain by the legiti-
nate and prescribed mode-;,n amendment
II the Constitution-but by construction.
They saw governments in the Old World
BASED upon different orders OF society, and
10 constituted, Is to throw the whole pow
n Of nations into the hand. ola few, who
axed, uncontrolled, the many, without re-
possibility or restriction. In that ar
angement, they conceived the strength of
'ations, in war, consisted. There was,
so, something fascinating in this luxury
nd display of the higher orders, who drew
heir wealth from the toll Of the laboring
billions. The authors of the system drew
heir ideas Of their political economy from
What they had witnessed in Europe, and
'articularIy Great Britain. They had
icwed the enormous wealth concetrated
. a few hands, and seen the splcndor Of
ne ovcrgrown establishments Of an aris-
IL l.