New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-17
FROM FLASHING TON.

THE POST-OFFICE-A SINKING SHIP.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March IL 1859.
II was intended that the question Of ma extra
session should have been settled in Cabinet this
morning but tie decision was postponed accord.
ing to the rule Of procrs,tination which prevails
here The President is known 10 he inclined to
t. though bis mind has yierated between cHic al
necessity on the one hand, aud political aPpre-
tension on the other. The Cabinet before the
accession Of Mr.. Holt, was uoitedy opposed to
such resort, and that opinion has not been much
modified since then. They seem 10 have got the
idea that the Opposition will gam the organization
of the House. and set the ball for 1850 IN motion,
under impulses and advantages which might not be
counterscted afteIward. And although the Presi
dent is not nsensibe 10 the force Of such sugges-
lions he has different idea of the result, and
hence Will follow his own counsel as he usually
does. In the language OF oac of his advisors,
- the Cabinet is unit against an extra session,
" but still the President will carry 1t.
The condition of the Post Office Department, IA
submitted TO the President to-day, by Mr.. Holt and
his principal assistants, renders it mpracticable 10
90 on beyond the current and succeeding quarter,
which will terminate the fiscal year. The liabilities
10 be met up TO the LIST Of July, Including the de-
fcency of So 500 O0O hich provided in the lost
in round numbers. OF this sum, $j00,000 are ap-
plieable TO the December quarter, for debts past
due The revenues fer the two quarters referred
to- are estimated at alb ,utS 500 600, which added
10 The amount already stated would make the six
months expenditures about $3.50, Coo The re
ceipts for the current year have fallen of about
percent That is to say, Mr.. Brown estimsted for
an increase of per cent, and there Is reduction
of per cent IL does not matter materially If an
exraisession shall be ordered whether be called
for July August or September, because the very
issuing of the proclamation Will give assurance
that means are to be provided, and upon the small
contractors in the interior, on whom THIS burden
falls most seriously, can raise means which they
would not otherwise be able 10 do. What the De
psrtment most desires TO be relieved from is the
responsibility Of third quarter, in addition to the
dead weight of two others, and especially us II VIII
be the opening of the next fiscal year.
The Department has been most oppressed by
the increase of service in the Southwest, and the
enormous increase of cost. The last bids We're
double ia almost every instance Tor old routes, aud
in the ssme rates for new ones; so that service IN
that section, which heretofore cost tao millions,
now costs four millions This extraordinary ap-
preciston, with the extravaganza IN overland aud
other experiments, explains Why the expenditures
for next rear are some hye millions more than tho
present.
Gov. Denver. Mcconnell and others, who have
held impol tant positions ander the Administration,
are finding pretexts Of enc Kind and another for
abandoning their connection with it, They are
stirred by the instinct of rats leaving sinking
ship Nor is it confined TO them alone. Mr. Ste
phens was much moved 10 bis withdrawal from
Congress BY tho conviction that general crash
was inevitable When asked why he retired, he
esid frankly, he was on the tram, and ~ smash
"up was certain, he would get OF al the hrst
- station" This feeling auimates many who nave
not get spoken out and II doubtless induced Mr..
TooInbs to take the responsibility he did, of cramp-
ing the whole POst-Otiice machinery, and compel
ing the President 10 face the alternatives of
batkrupt Department or an eA,gs session. The
uumber VII be largely increased at the next ses-
son. for most Of the patronage having been dis
po-ed Of there is no longer a restraining motive
against the full play Of discomfort.
In this connection, il may be proper 10 state thst
Mr. Appleton. the Assistant Secretary Of state,
intend. retiring next Fail. He does the hard work
Of the Department, gets little or no credit for his
labor and very short commons IN the way OF
sssry--only a fraction over One-thrd OF that re-
ceiyed by Gen Cass. There Is an effort making
10 dissolve tho political coPartnershiP oi Wendei'
Shd buchanan By Il sale OF The tH'on, Dut the
Parry dly-nurses who have the matter IN charge
SalhA $4,000 peg too high for paper, which
Ior {eers back has been drain on the National
5Ae1eauer TO the tune Of many thousands annually
Ds.oes' tae prospect Of pickings is less enccur-
11s"s ''Aa heretofore, with reforming House OF
Representatives frcsh f.om the people. Bat SIR.
APp~'oa ~oaa not touch il with forty foot pole
s'''' '"o most promising circumstances. de IS