The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-25
THE PosT-oFFIcE DEPAnTMENT,

as lhei Iost-O1lce. FOR twenty years, "
has been in the hands Of unprincipled poll
ticians, and they have used il rather as an
engine Of political power than as machine
Tor disseminating intelligence. The agents
employed to keep il in motion, were selected
more with reference TO their mere political
influence, than their qualifications 10 dis
charge the duties required Of them by law .
Hence, upright, honorable men, who would
not stoop to be tools Of the designing, were
excluded from a participation in the Post
Office service, and the standard Of appoint
ment necessarily got to be very low. This
was the vice of the smaller Offices to great
er extent than the larger ones.
OF the seventeen thousand post-masters
who were in commission, when the present
Administration came into power, il the truth
could be known, we have not doubt, but
that sixteen thousand Of them were unfit for
their duties, il tried by the most ordinary
standard. The whole machine had become
utterly corrupt, and except where the judi
cious hand Of JACOB CoLLAMER has spilled
the corrective, it is still utterly corrupt. 1t
could not be otherwise. The appointees got
their places because Of their corruption. This
was the general rule. Integrity, capacity
and the confidence Of the neighborhoods
were the exceptions to the rule. This is no
exaggeratien. The annals OIL the Post-Of
fee demonstrate the truth Of the picture.
The country press for twenty years past,
has teemed with evidence in point The
city press has felt and still feels the corrup-
ton of the whole machine. Abstraction of
money from letters is 50 common crime,
that people in the habit Of receiving remit
tances through the mail, no longer consider
the conveyance safe one. Publishers Of
papers having large weekly circulation,
can testify feelingly to the disappearance Of
their remittances
The evil of corrupt, inefficient and diso-
bliging agents, win be cured. All such
Postmasters will be made to give way to
honest, efficient, and courteous officers. This
great work will be thoroughly accomplished
by the discriminating and firm CoLLAMER.
What he has already done, has elected uni
versal praise The evidences, we gave, Of
his efficient work a few days ago, have been
responded to BY the press Of all parties, ex-
cept a few corrupt Locofoco papers, with
universal praise There never was Post
master General, who had earned for him
self, in so short time, so high repn-
tation for administrative qualities. The
PRONUNCIATION Of his list Of appointments
on the wings Of the lightning, by the Ma
tional Wing, has been the most welcome
news to the press abroad that they have re-
ceived since the Administration came into
power. So they avow. The people know
so well the entire corruption of the whole
Post Office agency, that they hail with de-
light every evidence Of its removal. The
Union and its tender-footed allies, may cry
prescription till doomsday, may take excep-
ton till they exhaust themselves--the peo-
pie want and demand thorough re-organi-
cation in the personnel Of the post offices
throughout the country, and ask for the evil
dence Of it. We assure them that Mr.. Col
lamer will cleanse the Augean stable with
out fear, favor, or affection. They will hear,
toe, in good time, of all that has bee done.
THE ELECTIOS TO-MORROw.