The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-12-29


and effective service. Should Con-
gress adopt some such method as Las
been recommended, it will greatly in-
crease the efficiency of the navy, and
reduce its expenditures.
r. also ask your attention to the views
expressed bv him in reference to the
employment OF war steamers, and in
regard to contracts for the transporta-
ton of the United States mails, and
the operations ofthe system upon the
prosperity of The navy.
By an act Of Congress, passed August
18th, l84s, provision was made for
extending patent office and mail accom-
moda ions to California and Oregon
Exertions have been made to execute
that law, but the limited prov isions of
the fact; the inadequacy of the means
it authorises. The i'll adaptation of
the post Office laws to the situation of
the county, and the meagre compensa-
ton for services allowed by those laws
composed with, the prices of labor and
renls in California, render those exer--
tons Intellectual. More especially, an.
efficient provision by law is required on
this subject.
The Act OF 1845, reducing postage,
has by It's operatio1 during four years,
produced results fully shoaing that the
income resulting from such reduction
of postage is sufficient to sustain the
whole expense of the service of the
post-office department. not inc uding
the cost Of transportation on The line
from New York to Chagres, or from
Panama TO Astoria, which have not
been considered by Congress as
properly belonging to the mail SER
vice.
1t is submitted to the wisdom of Con-
gress whether further reduction of
post ,ge should not now be made,
more particularly IN the letter cores
pondence. These should be relieved
from til ir unjusl burthen of transport
ting and delivering the f'anked matter
Of Congress for which provision should
be made from the treasury.
confidently believe that a change
may safely be made. reducing all
sin lie letter postage to an uniform ate
of five cents, regardless of distancey
without thereby imposing any greater
task on the treasury than which con-
Stuutes very moderate compensation
for thi> public service and therefore
respectful y recommend such reduct n.
Should G ngress p efrr to abolish the
franking privilege entirely, it seems
probable that no demand on the treas
ury would result from the proposed re-
duction. Whether any further diminu--
ton sh ruld now be made, on the result
of the reduction to 5 cents which !
here recommend should be first tes-
ted, is submitted to your decis-
ton
Since the commencemen ent of the last
session of Congress, a postal treaty
with Great Britain has been received
and ratified, and such regulations have
been formed by the Post Office depart
mants of the two countries ia pursuance
OF that treaty, as to carry its provision in
to full operation. The attempt to extend
this favorable arrangement with Eng
land to France, has not been equally sue.
cessfuI, but the purpose has not been
abandoned. For particular view OF the
condition of the Post Office department
and other matters connected with that
portion of the public service; | refer yon
tothe report of the Postmaster General
By act of Sd March 1919, a Board
was constituted to this arrangement for
taking the seventh census, composed of
of the Secretary of State, the Attorney
General, and the Postmaster General,
and it was made the duty of this body
to prepare and cause to be printed such
torms for schedules for collecting in stat
istical tables under proper heads, such in
formation as to mingled agriculture, min
erals, commerce, manufactures, and edu-
cation, and other topics as would exhib
it a full view of the pursuits, industry,
education and resources of the country.
The duties enioined on the census board
thus established having been perfected,
it now rests with Congress to enact a
law for carrying into effect the provision.
of the Constitution, which requires an ac
tual enumeration of the people of the
United States within the ensuing year.
Among the duties conferred BY the
Cousttu ion upon the General Gov
ernment; is one IF limited and lrcal ap-
pIication. but not on that account the
less obligatory. alIude to the trust
committed to Congress as th''. exclu-
sive legislator and so guardian of the
District of Columbia. l beg TO COM
mend these int re.ts to your kind at
ten ion. As the national metropolis,
the city of Washington NUT be an OBJ
j ct Of genera Interest, and founded as
il was under The auspices of him whose
name It bears, il claims the fostering
care of Congress, present them>slves
wita additional strength. " hatever
can contribute to its prosperity must
-nlist the feelings of its constitutional
guar, ans and mmlnd their favorable
consideration.
Our Government is one of limited power,
and its successful administration eminently de-
ponds OH the confinement of each of us, its
coordinate branches-within its own appro-
pirate sphere. The first section of the Con-
stitution ordains that all legislative powers
therein granted shall be vested in Congress
Of the United St ties, which shall consist of a