Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-29
Reform.

The cry Of reform and retrenchment in
public expenses, has been SO common that
it is beginning to be considered merely the
rallying cry Of the demagogue, who has no
such intention at heart, but only desires to
run his arm into the public treasury, and
thinks this the only way by which to ac-
complish his end.
But the time has now arrived. when good
and true and patriotic men, in every por-
ton Of the country, see the necessity Of this,
and are rallying around the standard. But
80 far no one yet seems to have struck the
right path. Many may have seen it doubt
less, but they are either afraid to stand up and
stem the current Of opposition which they
are sure to meet, or they would thwart
some darling scheme of their own, which
they wish to accomplish.
The expenditures of our government for
the last two years, have been enormous,
large, much larger than they ever were be-
fore, and larger than they ought to have
been, but then there have been many calls
for funds, which have not been made on the
government heretofore. and this may ac-
count for the increase Of expenses to some
extent, but this even will not cover the un-
usual amount which has been spent.
Many Of our representatives, wishing to
immortalize themselves by seeming stand
for retrenchment, by cutting off little ex-
penditures, which are really necessary to an
economical administration of government,
while they join in or couutenance by their
silence, the discussion of propositions in
volying the cxpen ditures Of millions.
Thus the Postmaster General discourses
gravely about making the post Office a self
sustaining department, by increasing the
present rates Of postage on written matter.
But this is not reform. It is perfectly clear
to every one, that if the postage is increas-
ed. that the people pay the difference. If
it is made self-sustaining Office, it must
be sustained by the people, and would it not
be as well to pay out of the Treasury enough
to make up the deficit, as to take it directly
from the people? In the one case the pub
lie collector would make the per cent by the
collection, in the other, the postmaster -
But the people would have to pay the same
thing in the end, besides cutting off or
impeding the free intercourse Of the people.
We have no taxes as q nation, to grumble
1t, nor do we believe that the people would
object to paying double the amount, if they
could see that it was necessary to the sup
port and maintenance of the government,
but when they see it squandered on useless
enterprises, and dealt out to hired minions.
they have right to grumb!e and resist too.
if need be, that Resistance is required.
But we will recommend one way in which
the post Office may be made to pay, and
that is by abolishing the franking privilege
on everything except written matter, by
which so many millions Of political and pri-
vate documents are carried without. being
paid for. If Uncle Sam must pay the post
age Of M. Cs. let there be an appropria-
ton for that purpose. But do not give
them unbounded privileges, to distribute
political documents broadcast over the con-
tinent, without paying postage.
Let us now take another case, and see
where retrenchment is really needed. The
administration recommends the construction
q rsilyead to some point on the Pacific