The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-16
A sELF-susrAINING POSTAL SYSTEM


Mr. Hunter, adopted aresonton calling on the Post
nastel General for report on the best means of
rendering the postal system Of the United States
sefsusiaining institution. In response 10 this reso-
luton, and a, the expense of mnch labor that officer
has prepared and submitted the paper which we
publish az length this morning
The space al our disposal in the present issue
does not admit Of accompanying the report with
some views which VIC had intended 10 offer in con
nexion with those of the Postmaster General and
we shall reserve them for future day The able
report OF Governor Brown win receive most atien-
tive consideration from The whole country; for there
is not citizen locality, however humble in the
whole confederacy that is not directly interested in
the subject here discussed.
The country should not lose sight Of the exact in
tention Of the Postmaster GenSral laying the views
imbodied i'm this report before Congress The I'M
quiry Of Congress directed to that officer was, in
brief, 'if we determine 10 make the Post Office
selfsustaiping department what ia your opinion are
the best which adopt for eifecting that
purpose The reply of the Postmaster General
is, accordingly, substantially this il Congress
shall determine to make the post Office a seIfsus-
vi totiONlDE
measures occur to as the proper ones TO be
adopted" As we understand the spirit OF the re
port it is not 10 be received as a recommendation
from the Postmaster General either Of the main policy
of rendering the post Office self sustaining or of the
special measures he suggests TO that end as inhh-
sically expedient advisable. lie advises Congress
how they may carry into effect their policy without
himself endorsing that policy his
For ourselves, much as we desire that the post
Office should be selfsustaining if it could be made
so without sacrifice of greater interests than would
be subserved by the effort to do 30 aware of
very great objections to the experiment and very
serious consequences that would inevitably result
from carrying it into effect Doubtless a great many
reforms may be adopted with advantage and without
deriment the efficiency of the postal service and
these are sufficiently indicated in the report which
we publish to-day but it would be blind and mar
row policy, indeed, if we to undertake to lop
off frora this vast system Of accommodation TO the
people all the branches of service which are not
individually remnneratve to the treasury.
-
MAKING HISTORY. ~ TOPOGRAPHY OF POLL
TICS.
In oIden times it was understood that public men
acted very much upon the idea that they were
king history. There was then deep gulf between
the politician and the statesman--between the per-
SON and the representative. 1t is the general con
viction that the space that divides the two classes is
not now so broad nor SO deep. We have more poll
tics than we formerly had they extend over awider
range, compass more varied interests and bear more
fruit We started off with primitive habits, and
were satisfied with limited pleasures. II had not
then been found out that politics could only be car
ried on by great dinners torch-light PROFESSIONS
and political tricks. Our venerable but simple
ancestors got absurd idea into their heads that
harmony and brotherhood We're essential elements
of union that laws were made 10 be enforced
and obeyed; that in arranging national compact
all interests should be first consulted, and then
that all should yield obedience to its provisions.
Perhaps we have gone up a sphere and are on our
way to that point Of enlightenment and virtue where
constitutions are relics and governments TO
have been mere levers to pry out the vehicle and
put it ON the even grade and smooth way of life.
IT, however the politicians of the present day are
making history, like kinds Of wine we
could name, it will require long time to ripen il and
get it accredited the real Simon Pure production
of patriotism and intelligence. We are spreading
ont very much more in ideas than in territory There
as no longer any strong central point of concenra-
tion--no longer an altar for the neighborhood--a
shepherd for the flock. There is an appearance of
dissolution about orr political affairs 1t does not
por.end lawlessness or disorder. Individuals seem
to be shooting off from the central point of attrae
ton. IT, then, we repeat, we are making his
tory it is certainly new article. 1t may be bet
ter than the old. 1t is difficult for rational and I
we'll disposed person to believe that are going
backwards. There is abundant evidence, indeed,
that we are not We are going forwards or, in
the language of a distinguished senator, we are
aving "wisely on the present forgetting the past,
and not troubling our heads about The future. But
the cIrcumspectlistener answers that it 10 impossi
BILE to live wisely on the present without carelally
surveying the past "Not So" says the senator,
'the past is nothing to u.s. They had no telegraphs
steamboats, railways stenographegs, newspapers,
books, schools, and colleges; they were blind, or,
what is the same thing, lived in the dark. Why,
then, should be nstituting Typographical surveys
OF the past? we have to make own history
TO reap the products Of political social and
educational planting The past cannot speak to MS
or ;,str,ct us, becauA our knowledge comes from
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