Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-01-05

ment, not including the cost Of transportation in
mail steamers on the lines from New ork 10
Chagres. and from Panama TO Astoria, which
have not been considered by Congress as pro-
perly belonging to the mail service
1t is submitted to the will OF Congress, whe-
ther q further reduction of postage should not
now be made, more particularly on the letter
correspondence. This should be relieved from
the unjust burthen of transporting and deliver
ing the franked matter Of Congress, for which
public service provision should be made from
the treasury. | confidently believe that a
change may safely be made, reducing all single
letter postage to the uniform rate Of FIVE cents,
regardless Of distance, without thereby impos-
ing any greater tax on the treasury than would
constitute a very moderate compensation for
this public service; and ! therefore respectful
ly recommend such reduction. Should Con-
gress prefer to abolish the franking privilege
entirely it seems probable that no demand on
the treasury would result from the proposed re-
duction of postage Whether any further dimi-
mutton should now be made, or the result Of the
reduction to five cents, which | have recon-
mended, should be first tested, is submit ed 10
your decision.
Since the commencement Of the last session
Of Congress, a Postal treaty with Great Britain
has been received and ratified and such regula-
tions have been formed by the Post Office De-
partments of the two countries, in pursuance Of
that treaty, TO carry its provisions into full
operation. The attempt to extend this same
arrangement, through England, to France, has
not been equally successful; but the purpose
has not been abandoned.
For particular statement of the condition Of
the Post Office Department, and other matters
connected with that branch Of the public SER
vice, refer you to the report Of the Postmaster
General.
BY the act of the Sd Of March, l849, Board
was constituted TO make arrange ments for TAX
ing the seventh census, composed Of the Secre-
tary Of State, the Attorney General, and the
Postmaster General, and il was made the duty
of this Boarl "to prepare and cause to be print
ed such forms and schedules as might be neces-
sary for the full enumeration of the inhabitants
of the United States and also proper forms and
schedules for collecting in statistical tables, IN
der proper heads, such information as to mines
agriculture, commerce, manufactures educa-
ton, and other topics, as would exhibit q full
view of the pursuits, industry, education, and
resources Of the country" The duties enioined
upon the Census Board, thus established having
been performed, it rests with Congress 10
enact a law for carrying into effect the provision
Of the Constitution which requires an actual
enumeration Of the people of the United States
within the ensuing year.
Among the duties assigned by the Constitu-
tion to the General Government Is one Of local
and limited application, but not on that account.
the less obligatory / alude to the trust CON-
mltted to Congress, the exclusive legislator
and sole guardian of the interests Of the District
of Columbia. | beg to commend these interests
to your kind attention. As the National ne
tropolis the city Of Washington must be an OBJ
lect Of general interest; and, founded as it was
under the auspices of him whose immortal name
1T bears, its claims 10 the fostering care Of Con-
gress present themselves with additional
strength. Whatever can contribute to its pros
perity must enlist the feelings ofits Constitution
al guardians, and command their favorable con-
sideration.
Our Government is one Of limited powers.
and lis successful administration eminently de-
pends on the confinement Of each of its co-ordi-
nate branches within its own appropriate sphere
The first section OF the Constitution ordains that
call legislative powers therein granted shall be
vested IN Congress Of the United States which
shall consist of Senate aud House of ReEre-
sentatives.n The Executive has AUTHORITY 10
recommend mot to dictate) measures to Con
gress. Having performed that duty the Execu-
tive department of the Government cannot
rIghttully control the decision of Congress on
any subject of legislation, until that decision
shall have been officially submitted to the Presi-
dent for approval. The check provided bv the
Constitution, in the clause comforting the Quali-
fed veto, will never be exercised by me eycept
IN the cases contemplated by the fathers of the
Republic. | view it as an extreme measure. TO
be Tesorted 10 only in extraordinary Cases-as
where IT may become necessary to defend the
Executive against the encroachments Of the le-
gIsiative power, or TO prevent hasty and incon-
slderate or unconstitutional legislation. By
cautiously confining this remedy within the
sphere prescribed TO IL in the cotemporaneons
eXpositions of the trainers of the Constitution.
the VIII OF the people, legitmately EXPIRE ssed
on all subjects OF legislation, through their con-
stitutlonal organs the Senators and Representa-
tIves OF the United States, will have its fun eff
iect. As indispensable to the preservation of
our system of self government, the indepen-
dence of the Representatives of the States and
the people is guaranteed by the Constitution, and
they owe no responsibility to any human power
but their constituents. By holding the Repre-
sentative responsible only to the people, and
exempting him from all other influences, we el-
evate the character of the constituent and quick
en- his sense Of responsibility to his country II
Is under these circumstances only that the eIec.
tor can feel that, in the choice Of the law-maker
he IS himself, truly, a component part of the
sovereign power of the nation. With equal
care we should study TO defend the rights of the
executive and judicial departments. Our Gov,
ernment can only be preserved in its purity by
the suppression and entire elimination of every
claim or tendency of one coordinate branch tc
enCroach upon another.
With the strict observance Of this rule and
the other injunctions of the Constitution-witl
sedulous inculcation OF that respect and love
for the Union Of the States, which our father.
cherished and enjoined upon their children, and
with the aid of that overruling Providence whicl
has SO long and so kindly guarded our libertie;
and institutions, we may reasonably expect tc
transmit them with their innumerabie blessing,
to the remotest posterity.
But attachment to the Union of the State,
should be babitually fostered in every American
heart. For more than half century. durinl
which Kingdoms and empires have fallen. thi
Union has stood unshaken The patriots who
formed it have long since descended to In,
grave yet still remains, the proudest monumen
70 thcir memory, and the object of affection an,
aumlratlon with every one worthy to bear thc
Flcan name In my judgement, its dissolu
tion would be the greatest Of calamities, and tc
avert that should be the study of every Ameri,
can. Upon its preservation must depend our
own happiness and that of countless generations
to come. Whatever dangers may threaten il,