Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-21
Tho Post Office Department.

be our Mentor.
Tho Post ONCE Department.
If there be one Department Of the Government
more susceptible of abuse than another-onc That,
in the hands of a corrupt officer can be made
subsidiary to tho very worst purposes it is the
Post Office Department under its present organi-
cation.
1t is vast political propaganda, having its
agents distributed like the disciples of lgnatus
Loyola, all over tho continent; to exercise es-
pionage upon tho movements of political parties;
and, in many instances, We doubt not, to suppress
the circulation of matter that would be detrimen-
tai to tho interests of the party having control of
it, Senator Douglas did not hesitate to say, on
the floor Of the Senate, upon recent occasion,
that SO 600 copies of his speeches Ind been sup
pressed by the government agents in the State OF
Illinois and but few days since. Senator Hunt
er of our own State, declared in HIS place in the
Senate. that there are many moral and political
reasons for reform in tho Post Ofhce' for snid he,
As it at present stands. it is vast machine of
irresponsible power Said Mr.. Hunter in
tinuation of this subject:
With 1919 postmasters, exclusive of route
GERS, n total Of nearly 10000. outnumberng the
army an navy. under the discretion Of the Post
master General. who has the power 10 increase
them at bis pleasure. bes,,ics sTercising poicer
through the press and The army Of contractors, who
shall estimate his influence!
Who does not perceive that Mr.. Hunters mp
prchensions are well-grounded aud that this vast
army of agents, Of whom honesty and capacity"
are no longer required but who owe theis posi-
tons to one man and are retained in them 20 long
n. they continue to be the subscryient tools Of
party should lie moro directly rcspon .ible to the
people, Is there any branch Of the public ser
vice in which the people 10 much Interested
And vet, they have no more to do with tho seicc-
ton of the agents. who. To n great extent, become
the repositories Of the largo amounts Of money
TINT are constantly moving from one point TO nm
other in obedience to the laws Of trade than have
the wild Arabs Of the desert.
Public opinion may be directed To citizen who
is eminently qualified for the discharge of these
duties -pclitons may indicate the popular choice,
and vet one member oi Congress- can override the
people, and at his suggestion, the Postmaster
General will confer the trust upon the man
who has been most active and INSCRIPTIONS
in advancing the interests oi his party
We have been about the Post Office Depart
mont long enough to understand the working
of this principle, and to speak adyiscdly.-
Many of our readers doubtless. can rceur to ex-
amples such as have given, and we submit that
a remedv should he found for this evil. We are
drifting farther every lay from the old land marks
aud fastening upon ia" country more aud more,
tho Zone man power II cnunot lac drnied that
the policy of the party now in power, albeit it is
,,ar ereeitpcr the "Snte Rights. Democratic, Re
publican Party" la. been To consolidation; aud,
las the Influence If the t'cactnl Government, cx.
crciscl III various NAYS, directly upon the States,
to force them into compliance with its behcsts.--
We need not now cite the numerous instances that
have occurred under the prcscut Administration,
to prove tn" charge. tine reform We sh uld pro-
pose in the Post Office Department would he that
no man should fiji tho ofir" Of post master who
had not the confidence OF his own community
Let M election be held, nnd the Icrsen who fairly
concentrated and reflected public sentiment, should
be commissioned by the Post Master General,
without regard to his political aiiniies and
should hold the dice during good behavior. or rs
long M he should he efficient and acceptable to
the people. This would remove the incentive to
abuse his office for party purposes, would make
him measurahly independent of Tie Pit Master
General, and compel him 10 be more attentive to
the interests Of those 10 whom he would be res
ponslblo If this policy were to plctal wa have
not n doubt that the character of post eiice OFF
Gals would be greatly improved; the plumber and
robbery now pcrpctrated in this department would
be diminished, because men would he selected fol-
their Integrity aud worth. and not because they
had laid Members of Congress under obligation
for the dirty work they had done.
There are some honorable exceptions to til,
! class we have described but upon the whole, W,
do not hesitate to say that tho Post Office De
partment is more corrupt now, than it has cyei
been since it was established, and we cordial,
unite with Mr.. Hunter in demanding reform.
Democratic Harmony.
The Washington CORRESPONDENT of the Cincinnati