Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-07-07
The Post once Department.


streak of cross-eyed lightning.
Daily Journal, July /.
The Post Office Department.
While there is no Department of the General Gov
ernment which comes into as immediate contact and
intercourse with the great body of the people as that
oF the Post Office there is none other which is call
ed upon to sustain not simply its own burdens, but
also to be saddled with all sorts of unremunerated
labor for Congress and " the rest of mankind.' If
philanthropy" wants hobby, an ocean penny
hostage is ready-made to its hand if spectators
want to fatten off public plumber they get steamship
contracts at the expense of the OF the Post
Office Department in fact, this Department is made
the general pack horse to bear all sorts of burdens
and TO be experimental upon in all sorts of ways.
Under existing circumstances the revenues OF Inc
Department not begin to pay It's expenses, let alone
leaving margin for the establishment OF new routes
or the improvement of old ones The Postmaster
General cannot hope expect to escape obloquy and
censure Reasonable and proper demands for mail
accommodations are made by growing sections and
localities and refused because the Department has
not the means to accommodate the public. Without
the abolition of the ranking privilege and stop be-
ing put to boated contracts soon as possible
the Post Office cannot hope 10 be selfsustaining OF
the present rates OF postage.
If any body can point to a Postmaster General since
Franklin who, work he light, has been able even
10 retain bis popularity in Office without pretending
to increase it, we will acknowledge that he knows
more about the subject than do. Judge Camp
bell talks about reducing the rates OF compensation to
Railroads carrying the mails, and those connected
with the Roads aforesaid naturally down on him,
without rejecting that it is the fault ofCongress that
has put out of the power of the Department TO pur-
sue liberal system.
We can hardly say how far the bill recently pas
sed by the House will tend to help the state of things
1t don't appear to US that it will do much.
Congress.
The Senate seems to be still engaged in the dis.
cussion of the slavery question, in connection with
motion made by Mr.. Rockwell, of Massachusetts, &c
refer to the Committee on the Judiciary the memorial
of 2,lOO citizens of Massachusetts,, praying for the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, in consequence o.
the passage of the Nebraska Bill. On Wednesday
the debate was carried on with great warmth and
some personality.
The House. after some debate, laid on the ia
Bile, by a vote of "a to 70, the bill to establish
a weekly mail service between the Atlantic
ports and San Francisco The House then went
into Committee of the Whole upon the Bill
appropriating ten millions of dollars TO carry
into effect the treaty recently concluded with Mexico
(Which will be found in our columns to-day.) Aftel
short debate, the committee rose and reported the
bill to the House, upon which the question was ther
taken, and it passed by vote of 1 O3 TO g.
On Thursday the Senate passed the House Bill ap
propriating ten millions of dollars for the purpose
of carrying out the provisions of the recent treaty
with Mexico The bill to establish a line of mai
steamers between San Francisco and Shanghai, wa
taken up, and, after discussion, ordered TO be
crossed and read third time.
In the House of Representatives the bill modifying
the existing postal laws was brought up and passeC
by vote of 154 to 55 1t provides for increasing
the inland postage only in case OF longer distanc
than three thousand miles, when it will be charge II
cents and charging ocean postage on letters t.
foreign ports of five cents for any distance unde
three thousand miles, and over that distance te
cents, excepting where contracts or treaties shal
have established, or may in future establish diffe
rent rates. All postage passing through the mails c
the United States excepting those from foreign cour
tries to be prepaid and after the LIST of January neg
such postage to be paid in postage stamps. The bi
to come into operation the fiscal quarter succeed
ing Its passage
The House refused to concur in the Senate amend
ments 10 the resolution of the House the subjec
of adjournment The original House resolution W.
ZOE the duJOuEDHleHI VI congress on the 14Ln uay
August; the Senate amendment changed the resolr
ton so as to adjourn from II O'Clock, M on July
to IL o'clock m, on Monday, October Is.
A great many propositions were made and rejected
The Farmers Journal.
By DR.. Tompkins, and published by VIM D. Coo
& Co., Raleigh, for July has been received. "
have heretofore neglected to notice that this wo
has been materially improved in every respect durl
the present year, We hope the agricultural poop
of the State will give it that support it merits. tt
Importance of we'll conducted agricultural periodic
in our State cannot be too highly valued, and Il
better it is patronized, the more valuable will it's &c