New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-19
POST.OFFICE REFORM.

To n Editor Of The " Y TribvHe
SIR. The friends Of Post Office Reform must be pleased
to observe ths this subject Is beginning engige your a.
teniion as we'll that OF your correspondents 1t Is to be
boped the matter will be thoroughly discussed and SUI h
suggestions offered az may speedily and eectuay remedy
the many evils complained Of reced with the present
Post Oice system. The subject OF vast importance
the entire country and therefore should receive great
consideration. One plan, as first step toward the OBJ
Jet should be the formation of societies for the express
purpose Of advocating this measure In February 80,
The Paipdaer,A weekly newspaper edited by the late
Nilam Legget, IN advocating Free Trade Post Oii p.
or one wholly unConuected with Government used the fol-
lowing arguments which lucid and powerful
Justify their republication now
Evtr bocy NUT admit that thiPo.t Oficel s brsnoh
Of the Government an institution obviously and inc,
bly, liable 10 The most proogous abuses Under the pre-
sent stem there are some 1890 Po,tnasters holding
then appointments directly fro one aaC removable
II his vii. Nearly all tins numerous army Of Post
masters al eas iull myriad Of them have su0prdaArs
uIoer her control ana II include in the estimate the
contractors drivers carriers and the various other per
sots mo1e 81 less dependent for support the enormous
slsi' H. W probably yield an aggregate Of 1t less than
half million oi persons under the immediate direction
some extent of single individual seated the head #
TIE FtCeral Government
Can any one BE- 80 blind ~ MOTTO perceive AZ glnce
that this Is monrtrous power az all times susceptible 81
beng e1er'td with the most dangerous effect al
eut If objects hustc tO tie interests of the
people We co not ask the question with reference 70
The present the past any future Administration ~
with particular reference TO any event which has occurred
l. likely 90 but simply IN reference 70 the sub
ect IL The abstract and 10 the aspect presents under AL
the changes ana fluctuations OF party affairs
IL bot only the vast means of undue influence which
The present sys'em gives 20 single federal officer
abhng him. TO some eAten directly 70 control the sura
ees OF numerous body 81 org.nled dependeI the
facilities furnishes tor the rapid and simultaneous diiiu
sion Of political. Intelligence which II be desired %
circulate iuI The obstruction 81 that II contrary tenor
Tor the Of all the Of political espionage
also nder The Post ONCE. branch Of Government,
dor / fsHr ra.
br incurred It the duties which performs are matter
OF trade which NJ ht iey be- efi 20 the laws Of trade
and II the ssion o our letters newspapers from
90 place -lt be submitted Win saut4y results 10
operation Of tie principles which now secure tne
caryug OF merchandise and persons, there
many Who viii readily ADMIT that the free trade systen
t,ICIg 20 iii piy the offices OF Government and restrain
IL wers would pe better than one OF poics gulAon
rsr- oureiv-, strongly inclined 90 the belief that the
clause ~ ibe federal charter which Ives 20 Congress the
t-D ~ h- Pos Once had never been inserted tier
system would have ert Up under he mere laws az Ad-
III present s. stem. let be conducted i NAV.
never iu tie nature ot things, BE- wholly rom pouca
abuses anG Is always n canger % being converted iaiJ
mere political machine.
con what urin.r. j. the line drawn which .-oar.-.
the matters Inch ft o. the avs ~ tr,d- from those
Witch aye deemed % require political regulation The
Post Office : established or Tie purpose of facilitating
ercourse bv letter between places b. personal
intercourse though les. re u-uy necessary l=-s
positively thar commitment by 'rr-sP It-uce.
Tie int, -7n II merchandise = ~ Necessary
tie mere carrying 81 our letters Why %. also transport
our persous $40 our goods The objects i all % ~
snered readily -sA,d by u Avs % trade All
usy therefore properly be- l-f -1 rdvi-lu enterprise
But What e., Institutes this the precise r' Were the
q trace become potent auc w-re ind ydu enter Prise
Leeds o. be- substituted by political CONTROL
II the clause OF The Cor ,ti,utou which ths Post
Office establishment exists were struck from tnat n,rl
meut to morrow Is any weak lou-h 20 Suppose ih..
the activity would not soon supply system
If is own Mod OF Conveyance would De- Instituted x
once they would be specify improved by - rv el)-ts
ct competition and would Keep pace, step BY step viii
the public demand
uay be sad that places far inland and hiny Inhibited
would suffer by the u=nt Inc solitary luAtter
the wilderness might not Is t.ae hear The io!est eca
cAy awakened by the Qosnan horn, aEd LIS annual let
t.r hit reach him charged ~iih greater than
he IS row obliged 10 pay But there Is no place the
map which would not BE- supplied With ual facilities oy
psvrc a lust eQuiyAen and Il they are now supplied lr
because the burden OF Post Office TAXATION IS i'm
roed with cisproporiona weight the popuous sct
OF the land But there reason Why tn E4. should
the expenses threading with the mail be wilderness es
of the ,si or OF WadIg with through the ssamps and
mora,,es of the Soub Til Is ! yiv.-.an U. tie planes.
principles Of equal rights
Tbe .ubecs of ree trade Pos Office pr-sen,s many
con.;d.racns which i would b. tedious - tha i-r
, ,rue 70 the end in l their ramn = ms. !. IS ~nongu