Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-17
POSTMASTER GENERAL,s REroRT.

The Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Ledger OBJ
tanned by some means, the Report of the Post
master General, and contrary to all former H.
sage, published the same in their papers of Tues
day last. At this apparent favolitism of The
Sun and Ledger, with the powers at Washing
ton, the Originals are in high dudgeon, anc
threaten "war to the knife'' unless it can be
satisfactorily explained. The Baltimore Clip
per, in its paper of Friday, in speaking of the
matter, says:
sBETRAYAL OF TRusT.--It was hoped that
the present administration would correct exist
ing abuses, and restore the government to its
former purity-that men in office would per-
form their duties faithfully and with strict re-
gard to the confidence reposed in them by theil
superors; and that no man who abused his
power would be retained in the public service
This was the hope and expectation but abuses
still continue, If they harc not incrcosed-the
most confidential matters are communicated to
favored journals, the proprietors of which pay
clerks to disclose what the public pays them to
conceal. This course of proceeding cannot fail
10 bring the administration into disereai, and it
should, therefore, be promptly arrested. We
have every reason to believe that copies of the
ments are now in the possession Of certain per-
sons IN Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York,
and that they have been furnished by newspa-
per correspondents; who are in the departments.
One document has already been published in
advance of its reception by Congress and we
should like to know how it came into the pos
session OF the individual who thus furnished il
for publication. The betrayal Of trust should
not be considered a trihng matter with public
officer; and ifit should be proved that such has
been the conduct the man who supplied the
Postmaster Generals Report, we hope that he
will have leave to retire from public duty
The heads of departments should sift this
matter to the bottom, and check a procedure so
disgracetul to the government-but, should they
neglect the investigation, we hope that it will
be prosecuted by committee CT the House of
Representatives"
With the Clipper however. and its colleagues,
who conceive themselves to be so much sighted
we leave the investigation as upon whom the
abetrayal of trust" shall be fixed, and present
the following summary of the Document itself
The report presents the department in a flourish
ing condition. and Mr.. Callamer, like his prede-
cessor; Mr.. Gave johnson, recommends a uni
form rate OF postage of five cents on each letter.
and glvesa very satisfactory recount of the in
creased receipts OF the department. rendering
such deduction possible. He complains like
Mr.. johnson, OF the monopoly of railroads, and
the consequent expensive transportation of the
mail by railroad companes-a complaint which
will last as long as there are chartered compa-
mes ior tins or any other public purpose whatev-
er.
AS to the change of the personale of the de-
partment they are indicative of the comprehen-
slve reforms which have been carried out during
the present ,loa-prostriptiue administration of
General Taylor.
The number of Postmasters appointed within
the year ending June, 30th, 1S49, was 1893 Of
that number We're 2, 1872 in consequence of re-
signatlons; 1873 deaths : 2s4 changes of sites :;
2, 102 removals II expired commissions not
renewed % commissions renewed 20 by be-
coming Presidential appointments, in conse-
quence of yielding more than $1,000 per an
mum 921 new offices.
The number Of mail routes in the United
States on the first OF July, 1s49, was 1913, and
the number of contractors 4.19O. The length
OF these routes was 1877, 703 miles.
On these routes the mail was transported AZ
SAT ,o69 miles, at the cost Of So, 42S, 514, which
makes the average cost Of transporting the
mail last year six cents six mills per mile To
this should be added the transportation of the
foreign mail by Southampton 10 Bremen. and
the mail from Charleston & Savannah TO Havana:
and also the transportation of the mail across the
lshmus OF Panama all of which is done at the
expense OF this Department to the amount of
$255,69
The gross revenue for the year ending June
3oth, 1s49, amounts to $4,905, 176 49,
The expenditures during the year were 81
479;049 IS excess of gross revenue for the
year, 1926, 1877 Is.
The appropriations under the 18th section of
the act of the Sd of March, 1s47, remaining in
the Treasury Withdrawn, exclusive of the APP.
for the past year, already noticed,
amounted to ss265,555 SIS.
Thus showing the sum of 1901 ,6s2 70 unex-
pended of therevenue of the past year, including
the former appropriations granted to this De-
partment for the transportation of free matter OF
the Department.
The expenses for the current year are estima-
ted at S4,75O. 1873 49,