The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-29

,.o.. mr. no YHE rosTsasrEa GESERaLy

~ os T. .-yI---------1-s trt1at ~
a. ,s..,.v night last the mail ,contrscters, now In
i,a,, from the South and Southwest attending TO the
-, mail lettings, comPlmented Gov v. Brown
~. nopular and efficient Postmaster General, oy .
,a,aae from withcns hue brass band "n'ch iene''eu
.at credit on those who Initiated ana '"'
affair $50. or,u,,nta5 Nv b,s
marshal OF the evening to conduct tn. process
,,,. assisted BY Capt VIM Portcffeld Of Mis-
s'0a -. peesde and Ball OF Arkansas, Colonel
''''',r ii, % Missouri Col s. w Fickn Of Virginia,
,rbs hand having arrived about O'Clock,
~, ,,.x.s;on formed in front OF Browns Hotel irom
. contractors and their friends, preceded by tho
s.a ,,e marshal marched In double hlo to the rssi-
U''"' ~. Hon Eli s. Shorter Of Alabama, who had
nv the contractors their organ 10 express
.s.,r .e,timents 10 the Postmaster General
, ,h ,yocession reached the residence Of the Post
80 osoc,ni in the First ward the band played
,a, sou stirring national and patriotic airs, which brought
49, Governor out aud we have no doubt the hearty
-. ,srated cheers with which his presence WAS hailed
hy me crowd we're felt by him as higher compliment
ia, the music Of even dozen such bands After the
cbeers had subsidized Col Shorter addressed him. In SUBJ
stance as follows e ~ y
Mn POSTMASTER GEsEnAL-SIR At tho earnest solici-
,.tios Of large number Of our telow-ctzens who now
ourd me-uentlcmen from the southern, western,
and southwestern States who have been called to the
apal on official business connected With the Post Once
Department have consented 10 lecone their represent
live This evening Feeling that they are under obiga
lions 10 YOU SIR for the uniform courtesy you have
tended 10 them both in public and private capacity,
and nppoyng Of your administration Of the affairs Of the
department which you so ably preside they could
moi In Justice 10 their own sentiments depart from the
,y without some manifestation of their regard for you
cyniy and also Postmaster General Of the United
States. ~ ~
For this purpose they have assembled hero. Their
psencc under existing circumstances speaks forci
iy their appreciation Of your az public officer
than can find words to express Il.
The operations Of the Post Office Department of
government extending they do to every State Terri
toy CITY and village in the Union impose the heaviest
responsibilities upon its chief officer and present field
in which YOU well know sir it il difficult task for
any man win for himself ies however great his ad
minsatiye talents may he. Like some vast and
complicated machinery every part required TO perform
with regularity its appropriate functions, in order to
cure harmonious action throughout the whole When
everything smoothly the engineer himself is
often lost 10 public attention. and fails to receive the
applause to which he is justly entitled But whenever
there is in its motion, or an accident occurs to the
machinery every eye IL instantly fixed upon the
whose duty it is 10 regulate and control it's action Thus
is sir, that in the absence Of public ccnsre Of your
department since your installation into Office, you
safely repose upon the that 1t IL on the u
tide Of successful experiment. /"
In conclusion, sir permit in behalf of those whom
have the honc especially to represent ON this occasion
and for 80 humble sell also, to express to you the
hope that the future of your administration Postmaster
General may prove satisfactory to the whole country
It's past has been.
Aficr the cheers which this most fclictous and hap
PLY expressed speech had elected Governor Brown re-
spondcd, in substance, as follows
GsSTlExEN thank you most sincerely for this uncx-
pected expression OF you confidence and respect Espcc
ally do thank you sir, Ito Mr. shorter for the kind
confidence. We have just passed through most X
citing and interesting More than 80, 900 bids had
been filed from sixteen eighteen States and Ter
ritoeF Of the Union These had to he opened endorsed,
recorded examined and decided according to law and
the rules and practice Of the department In such vast
and complicated investigation il not To he expected
that some and mistakes would not be committed
Such doubtless have been, but must I've permitted TO
you that in that passed under my review
have permitted the slightest parality prejudice
wards individual bidders to influence my decisions. A
vast number of these decisions necessarily made by
my excellent and invaluable Second Assistant (fr Dun
das aided by his subordinate officers. For weeks they
have addressed themselves assiduo,sly to the great work.
and most faithfully have they performed it,
Gentlemen, said Gov b. a new and important
ncxon has been formed between In forming it
have not permitted myself 10 regard you sharpers
seeking to gain some unfair advantage Of my department.
of the country but gentlemen DESTROYS contract
for the performance Of fair and honorable service and
receive just and reasonable compensation for it, The
ne Hehumenw ana views towards you shall actuafc and
influence my conduct towards you in future inter
course whilst carrying out and executing these contracts
Fidelity and energy your part punctuality Of pay
ment and easonabcnoss in the construction Of
tracts my part will doubt secure to the country
most satisfactory service.
You, sir ito Mr.. Shorter,) have rightly reminded me
that was surrounded by gentlemen chiefly from the
western and southwestern States Many of these States
have grown up as by magic within very few years
This marvellous growth Of country Is the true cause
q the increased and increasing expenses ofthe Post Office
department Our country il no longer bounded by the
Mississippi the Rocky mountains 1t stretches from
ocean to ocean, and your mails must be conveyed
railroads. in steamboats,, and stages through the States
and Territories OF the Pacific just they through
those Of the Atlantic ~ ~ ~s
II utterly impossible furnish suitable mail facilities
to the people Of great continent like without large
expenditures Unless shall find out way to
putastop to the amazing and expansion Of
tyin population, in commerce. in agriculture, and the
mechanical arts car Postmaster General will find
how to keep down nm increase in the expenses of his de-
Pwtment. STILL gentlemen, have endeavored to apply
oil the rules Of wise and just economy to all the CON
tracts have entered into with you / conclude with
the hope that you may find these contracts satisfactory
and profitable to you well useful to those noble
States and Territories which you represent
After Governor Brown concluded his remarks and had
appogzcd for what he considered their impcrfccon con
sequent upon the very brief notice which he had had Of the
Intended and, to him. unexpected compliment he invi-
ted the contractors and their friends into his drawing
rooms where refreshments provided with character
isuc hberality, and which all seemed to enjoy.
The band were also invited to partakc in the refresh
mens, and payedseyonl airs, literally filling tho rooms
with food Of music.
Passing by the Presidents House, the band compli-