Litchfield enquirer., 1856-01-03

Fearing that our readers would become
impatient to see the message before Con-
gress organised, and not expee,ing pre-
mature delivery By Mr. Pierces NE give the
closing portion Of q document which per.
haps will answer as we'll
Ii is gratifying. in high degree TO wit
ness the satisfactory operations Of the
department A great increase
has taken place, I am happy to say; in the
exercise Of the franking privilege BY meme
bsrs Of Congress heretofore always liber.
ally exercised-and amounting ofien to
severa. hundred pounds Of mail matter, In
a single day, for each members cheering
evidence Of The increase Of business, and
of the trade in books and dry goods, which
are generally sent BY members to their
families constituents The amount Of
money annually stolen from letters BY
post-masters and their clerks, has not, am
happy to say, increased in an equal ratio
with the increase in wealth Of our people,
and Of their consequent ability to bear the
loss, while the mai! speed is equal ID that
attained by the freight lines, before railroads
were introduced, when freight was carried
in wagons. Remarkable instances Of this
truth daily occur in many parts Of ourland,
and in none more so than in its southern
portions. On all the lines radiaiing from
Augusta in Georgia Ian Office long celebra.
ted for its enierprise) into the neiehboring
portions Of South Carolina and Georgia,
this extreme efficiency and speed are 70.
marked. An instance recently occurred,
showing these truths. A citizen Of this
republic recently purchased a heavy iron
safe and hogshead of hardware In the
city Of New York and shipped them 10
Savannah, thence, by steam, one hundred
miles TO Augusta, and thence forty miles,
by wagon, to their destination. Il 10 70.
,narkable and creditable fact that the bill
Of lading sent by mail, on the same day
Of the shipment OF the freight from New
York, arrived six hours before the arrival
OF these articles. These instances ofspeed
and efficiency are not unusual, bot are Of
daily occurrence, only fourteen days being
required to transmit letter from New
York to the point alluded to. The feature
of insurance so prominent in the English
system Of letter regisiion, is omitted in
our law, and our government thereby es.
capes all liability aud responsibility for
losses and miscarriages. This may be said
by the enemies Of the government 10 be
like the Performance Of the play Of Oiksiio,
with the part Of Otheiio omitted hut
need no, reply to this objection. Il 10
enough for us toknow that great saving
Of expense is thereby made to the govern
ment. Our improved system has another
advantage. Dishonest post-mastrrs and
clerks, who are disposed 10 steal the con-
tents Of letters, now know precisely and
with certainty where TO look for their plum
der, and The unnecessary and wholesale
destruction Of letters formerly perpetrated
in the search for money is avoided No
letters are now stolen except those contain.
ing money, fact most gratifying to.ths
executive, whose sympathies are with the
masses Mos, money letters are moreover
sent by wealthy persons. who can easily
afford to bear such losses, and when poor
persons lose small amounts !, is cheering
reflection that the amounts are small and
that therefore their loss is Of hut little con.
sequence. This il believed by the attorney
general. Mr.. Gushing. to he logical and
philosophical view Of the matter.
On the subject OF slavery have pre-
frrred to say nothing before the closing
portion Of this communication. ] f;rmerly
assured the country in an annual mess.
age that this exciting subject was .fortu.
nately set at rest, and finally settled, and
would not be again disturbed. I have to
repeat these assurances. The question 10
settled, and there 10 the most profound
peace on this subject, and perfect quiet
and good feeling exists between the North
and the South, with the slight exception Of
trfiing aud unimportant agitation in the
states of Pennsylvania, New York, Connec-
ticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,, Yer.
mont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio. Indi.
ana, Illinois, Michigan, Wiconsin and Iowa
and some little disturbance in the south.
ern portions of our Union. There IL also
some slight feeling on this subject existing
in Kansas and Missouri, but il is unimpor.
tant. and has led as yet to but trifing loss
of life. though there are some hundreds Of
armed men in a state Of Threatened war.
fare in Kansas, or somewhere in that
neighborhood. But I trust that when the
wild border-habits Of the inhabitants Of
those regions are considered. too much in.
portanre will not he attached to II. Il 10
an unpleasant subject, altogether, and II 10
hoped may in some way, be satisfactorily
settled. If other means fail, military
movement will be adopted and it n the
intention Of the executive to proceed thiiher.
If necessary, on horseback and in arms, TO
assert the power Of the government. I
have sent thither Wilson Shannon, former
ly Of Leaiher-wood Creek. a most amiable
gentleman, and celebrated for his uniform
practice Of principle once recommended
by the distinguished Mr.. Calhoun.
In conclusion nave to express the hope
that az this is to be the long session, Of
eight months continuance, you will devote,
as usual, the last sixty days to business
and that You may have an agreeable time.
socially, and, that the manners and morals
Of members may mot suffer more damage
than usually attends a session Of Congress,
and that when you return 10 the bosom of
your families. you may find your children
grown up, and IN every way improved du-
ring yeur long absence.
FRAKKLiN PsARcg.
LIFE AT the CapiTor--(s resiev xry;ss.