Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-07-11

.E's STATE TICKET.
PEOPLES STATE TICKET.
FOR AUDITOR GENERAL.
THOMAS E. COCHRAN, of York.
FOR SURVEYOR GENERAL,
WILLIAM ii. KEIM, of Berks.
THE MAIL CHANGES.

Some of the papers in the interest OF the
Buchanan Administration are attempting to
get rid of the odium that attaches itself to the
recent cutting down of mail facilities, by al
iepfng that the fault lies with the Republican
members of the last Congress. This rs all
gammon-a direct Insult to the intelligence of
the masses-and mere glance at facts is suf-
icient to refute the groundless charge. The
Administration having profgately squandered
millions in its attempt to bribe Lecompton
through the House-in its useless, so-called u
tab war, with its swindling contracts to favor
ites-in its absurd, but outrageously expen-
sive Paraguay expedition-in its corrupt con-
tracts for coal, ship-timber, &C., as exposed
by the Investigating committees of Congress
last winter-and having refused to increase
the revenue by additional protection, found it.
self sshard up'' for funds, and that it was ne
cessary to promptly replenish the depleted
Treasury. This was made an excuse for pro-
posing an increase in the rates of postage; but
in this there was another object than the mere
raising of reyenue-a desire to punish the peo-
pie of the North for the manner in which they
had, at the polls, rebuked the Administration,
its outrages and corruptions; in fact, it is said
the boast was made that they would tax either
the North or curtal their mails facilities. Ac-
cordingiy, when the post Office appropriation
bill came from the House of Representatives,
the Senate amended it by inserting provision
to increase the postage rates. The House. re-
garding this amendment as a measure to raise
additional revenue, sent the bill back to the
Senate, alleging that the latter had assumed
a constitutional privilege of the House. which
alone can originate measures affecting the rev.
enue. The Senate refused to recede, and
committees of conference were appointed, who
unanimously reported against the Senate "a
mendment for the reason already mentioned.
The House sustained the report of the COM
mittees; but in the Senate Toombs and other
Democratic members talked against time until
the hour of final adjournment had arrived,
when nothing more could be done, and conse-
quently the post office appropriation bill failed
to pass. This is briefly the history of the mat
ter. The Democrats had majority in both
Houses, and they are responsible for the de-
feat of the bill. They had the opportunity to
pass bill after the old one fell but the rules
gave them the power to kill it, and kill it they
did. Foiled in their attempt to increase the
postage, those who control the Administration
now make the failure of that bill pretext for
cutting down the mail service. We say pre-
text, for this reason, if they have no funds to
pay daily mail, tor want of an appropriation,
they can have none to pay for tri-weekly-if
they can get the mails carried three times a
week, they can get them carried six times.
The cost, it is true, may be increased but if
they have no power to pay in one case, they
have no power to pay in the other-and if the
next Congress will make an appropriation to
pay tri-weekly service, it will scarcely re-
fuse to pay for daily, where such facilities
have heretofore existed.