Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-20

S36S,SlO. In 1902 il renoved, with the other de
I partments Of the Federal Government to Washington
Gideon Granger of Connecticut appointed in that year
by Mr. Jefferson to conduct the establishment
of splendid talents and supervised its affairs with great
energy. There were about thousand post Offices in
the country when he entered his duties The
rapid and steady progress during the whole Of his
long administration Of twelve years.
Congress- in 1sl0 passed an act superseding all post
routes previously existing, and creating new list A
saar step at the present time with regard to the vo-
luminous, scattered, and conflicting lists standing
the statute books would have many useful tendencies,
Mr. Granger advised Congress to inhibf negroes from
carrying the mail because they might thus be enabled to-
chains Of communication for conveying schemes Of
intelligence for their benefit of hazardous tenden-
cies iregard to their white neighbors His suggestion
adopted and such prohibition still forms feature of
the postal law.
The Department shout this pesod took the novel step
Of acting its for sarrysng the mails
tween Philadelphia md Baltimore the coaches and horses
being owne and the drivers employed by the General
Governments The revenue from passengers during three
years oyerpaid all expenses about $1,000. Serious
thoughts of extending the system entertained by
Congress- but wisely abandoned The perplsxities
patronage, and responsibilities of the Department al
ready quite unweldy would thereby hay been multiplied
almost infinitely.
question of exciting nature occupied the head
Of the Office and the Post Office committees in Congress
about this time. refer to the remonstunces against
opening the post Offices and transporting the mails
on the Sabbath Prior to the year 1910 postmas.
who delivered letters that day did merely
matter Of courtesy The act Of that year made it their
duty attend at their Offices for that purpose at all
sonabe hours each day of the week For the Sabbath
Mr. Granger fixed these hours at hour after the arr
val and asserting of the mail and when this occurred
dur1 Tho If at hour nff
closing thereof Numerous petitions asking repeal of
the clause referred to- sent to Congress by religious
bodies in different portions of the country They argned
that the practices of opening the post Offices and running
the mails Sunday contravened the Divine law asmuch
the transaction Of commercial business that day
further that the rights of conscience violated by the
postal regulations in question. The Congressional COM
mees appointed report the gave the opinion
that social Intellectual and religious interests of the
community would be preudiced by the stoppage of the
mails one day in seven; that Congress asked by
the petitioners become umpire in ecclesiastical
question class of which the Constitution gave
control ALSO that the rights Of conscience not
invaded all who engaged in the postal service did so
voluntarily Congress ordered that the remonstran have
leave to withdraw their papers.
Early in 1914 Mr. Madison having taken offence at Mr..
Grangers conduct in refusing follow his advice, after
having solicited it, in relation to the appointment of de-
points dismissed him from office The profits paid into
the United States treasury by the Office during his official
period was 1921 ,579.
Return Meigs Of Ohio his took the reins
Of the establishment in March Of that year. at which
date there were about three thousand pomasters and
the receipts Of the establishment had up to million
of dollars per He not distinguished for
ergy or ability yet the Office yielded to the treasury
| 1887, ,207 during his term of nine years.
NJ MA T.Utswu ehaI
one He labored untiringy himself and had the happy
tact of nusing his own energetic spirit into his
and subordnates Before his time postmasters had
transmitted their funds the Department in bank notes.
remances had been made by it contractors in the
same way He made highly important improvement on
this loose and hazardous mode Of procedure by ordering
that the contractors should receive their compensation
through drafts postmasters. Congress raised his
salary SO 900 year, the amount paid the Cabinet
officers thereby, in effect raising the Post Office (prs-
viously regarded bureau to the rank Of De-
partment of the Government Mr.. Mclean did not how
ever 20 into the Cabinet In 1929 he transferred to
the Supreme Bench owing to a disagreement between
himself and the President, Jackson, rs to the prnc
pie on which deputy posmasters should be removed.
He kept the Of the establishment constantly aAoat
by improvements in the service attempting TO make
it source Of pecuniary profit to the Government which
principle have been adhered by Of his
successors.
President Jackson, early in 1929 called the postal
helm Vim. I. Barry, Of Kentucky, generous, liberal
gentleman the early part of whose administration, owing
the extensive augmentations of mail facilities which he
ordered gave the most auspcious omens but the latter
part of which with clouds in consequence Of
his being unable pay his contractors without resort to
loans from the banks lie took seat in the President
Cabinet as done by all succeeding heads Of the Depart
ment His popularity being clearly the wane so much
80 that owing to bankrupt condition Of the concern
Congressional committee held lengthy sttings to inves
tqate the causes Of the President in
1885 transferred him post requiring less financial skill
Amos Kendall, Of Kentucky, gentleman possessing a
very high order Of administrative talents was next APP
pointed the Office who succeeded by the admira
BILE measures he adopted for the purpose in restoring the
lost credit Of the concern well in paying off the
debt of about half million of dollars resulting from the
kind-hearted Mr. Barrys unsuccessful policy Mr. Ken
dali further succeeded inducing Congress TO order such
reorganization Of duties Of the establishment
would make the settling branch bureau Of the Treasury
Department isconnectng entirely from the province
of the Postmaster General which properly consisted in
originating accounts through the appointment Of post
masters the making of contracts for transporting the
mails This important act, besides creating indepen-
dent officer, styled Auditor for the purpose referred TO-
provided for the appointment Of Third Assistant Post
master General Second Assistant having been auho
md thc smith 10