The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-27

The limited provision Of the act, inadequacy
Of the means it authorized the i'll adaptation
of the Post Office law TO that country, and T
the measure Of the compensation allowed
by those laws, compared with the prices Of
labor and rents in California, render those
exer,ions in great degree Intellectual; more
particularly an efficient provision of law is
required. On this subject,the act of 1916 re-
ducing postage, has now by its operation
during four years produced results showing
that the income resulting from such reduc-
ton Of postage is sufficient, for the whole
expense IF the service ofthe Post Office De.
par,ment, not including the costs Of trans
portation III mail steamers, from New York
to Chagres, or from Panama to Astoria,
which have not been considered by Con-
gress as properly belonging to the mail
service.
1t is submitted to the wisdom of Con.
gress whether further reduction of postage
should not now be made, more particularly
of the letter correspondence. These should
be relieved from their unjust burden of
transporting and delivering the franking
matter Of Congress, for which provision
should be made from the Treasury. con-
fidently believe that change may safely
be made reducing all single letter postage to
a uniform rate of five cents, regardless of
distance, without thereby imposing any
greater tax on the Treasury than that
which constituted very moderate compen-
sation for this public service, and l, there.
fore, respectfully recommend such reduc-
ton. Should Congress prefer to abolish the
Thanking privilege entirely, it seems proba-
BILE that no demand OIL the Treasury would
result from the reduction Of postage; wheth-
! F,rtk should ho
made, or the reduction to five cents, which
is recommended should be first tested, is
submitted to your decision.
q Since the commencement Of the last ses.
sion of Congress, postal treaty with Great
Britain has been received and ratified, and
such regulation has beep formed by the
Post Office Department of the two countries
in pursuance of that treaty, as to carry its
! provisions into full operation. The attempt
) to extend this favorable arrangement,
; through England to France, has not been
> equally successful, but the purpose is not
abandoned. For particular view Of the Post
Office Department, and other relations con-
nected with that portion of the public SER
vice, refer you to the Report of the Post
; Master Generally acts Of the Sd of March
, lS34,a board was'constituted,to make ar
4 engagements for taking the seventh census,
) composed of the Secretary of State, the At
torney General, and the Post Master Gen
eral- and it was made the duty of the board
, to propose and cause to be printed, such
forms and schedules for collecting, in stats,
. teal tables, under proper heads, such in
formation as to agriculture, commerce,
5 manufactures, education ETC., as would ex.
hibit full view of the pursuits, industry,
: education and resources of the country.
rbo tlo
thus established, having been performed, it
| now rests with Congress to enact law for
carrying into effect the provisions of the
constitution which requires an actual emu
:, meration of the people of the United States,
within the ensuing year.
Among the duties conferred by the Con
5 stiution upon the general government, is
i one Of general application, but not on thai
account less oblgatory-I allude to the trus
committed to Congress as the exclusive leg
islator and sole guardian Of the District Of
u Columbia. recommend those interests to
yonr kind attention. AS the national metro
: polis the City nf Washington must bs til.
: object of general interest, founded as i
: was, under the auspices of him whose i'm
+ mortal name it bears, its claims to the fos
'' tering care Of Congress presents additional
l. strength. Whatever can contribute to it.
y prosperity must enlist the feelings Of it
). constitutional guardians, and command thei
u favorable consideration.
Our gov eminent is one of limited powers
= and its successful administration eminently
'. depends upon the confinement of its CO or.
y dnate branches within its own appropriate
>. sphere. The first section fthe constitution
> ordains that all legislative powers therein
>. granted shall be vested in Congress of the
7 United States which shall consist Of SEN
e ate and House Of Representatives. The
: Executive has authority to recommend, moi
to dictate measures to Congress. Having
performed that duty, the Executive De-
), partment of the government cannot right
fully control the action Of legislation unit
. that decision shall have been presented to the
Il President for approval. The check rrovi-
y ded by the constitution in comforting the
e qualified veto, will never be used by me ex.
t. cept in the cases contemplated by the ia
i Their of the Republic. l view it as all ex.
e IRENE measure, 10 be resorted to only in
extraordinary cases-as when il may be.
J, come necessary to defend the Executive
Il against Entertainments of the Legislative
= power--to prevent hasty or inconsiderate
e or unconstitutional legislation. 1t is under
these considerations only, that the elec'ol
). would fill component par. of the SOW.
e ereign power of the nation. With equal
q care we should study to defend the rights
= Of our judicial department.
:, y The Union can only be preserved. in its
), purity, by the suppression and entire dimin-
=, !, ution of every claim or tendency of one CO.
ordinate branch, to encroach upon another
;, With the strict observance of this rule, and
;. ). the other injunctions Of the Constitution,
with sedulous observance of that respect
;, ; and love of the Union of the States, which
= our fathers cherished and enjoined upon
: their children and with the aid Of that over.
: ruling Providence which has SO long guard
!. ed our liberties and institutions, expect to
transmit them and their innumerable bless.
i ings to the remotest posterity. But attach
: ment to the Union of the States should be
!. habitually fostered in every American; 70,
more than half century, while Kingdoms
= and empires have fallen, this Union remains
! mistaken; the Patriots who formed it have
a long since descended to the grave vet Il