Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-01-11
under all circumstances, should be maintain

which, under all circumstances, shouio DC malhIli
ed involate. 3. s.--
The contracts for the California mails via the
Isthlnus of Panama, expiring on the 3Oth Septem-
ber 1859, and not being willing to extend them be-
cause at the exorbtant compensation exacted, he
invited proposals for their transportation for nine
months only, in order that Congress, which has so
constantly supervised this service, might have an
opportunity of placing it such basis as should be
agreeable to it. The result has been the conclusion
of an engagement with Cornelius vanderbilt, VINO
has stipulated for the conveyance of the nails for
the period named, at $37 800 for those to and from
New York, and $5 900 for those to and from New
Orleans-to which being added the railroad charges,
amounting to $4,000, the aggregate cost will be
1862 500 or with the salary of the mail messengers
added, at the rate of $351,OO per annum, and
showing an annual gain, as compared with the pre-
existing contracts, of $685., $50.
The contractor has also obliged himself to trans
fer these mails to the Ncaraguan route at the earliest
moment practicable, and from his high character
and indomitable energy, connected with the vast
capital which he welds no doubt is entertained but
that the pledges thus given will be promptly and
faithfully redeemed. This, by avoiding the onerous
Panama railroad tariff, will still further reduce the
expenses Transportation $50 00O and will establish
on an enduring footing great national thorough
fare, the opening OF which has been and IS the Oh
ect of universal solicitude
states that the service upon this extended route has
been performed with great regularity, and generally
within schedule time; but the contract has proved
one of the heaviest burdens to which the depart
ment has ever been subjected. With expend-
ture at the rate Of 100000 per annum, the post
ages received in return have not amounted to more
than $27, 229 81, that after making allowance for
such increase may be anticipated the department
at the expiration of the six years for which the
npfurnl into how Lost from
route alone more than three millions of dollars.
The aggregate amount of postage (sea, inland,
and loreign) mails conveyed to and from Europe
by the several lines of mail steamers employed by
this department. was $4S4,6 6s "a and by the Brit
ish packets of the Cunard line performing equal
number of trips, $S05629 "a. The North German
Lloyd, and Hamburg lines of mail packets also con-
veycd mails to and from Bremen and Hamburg, re-
spcctively, the hostages on which amounted to $4S,
Isl II, making the total hostages on United States
and European mails conveyed by all lines during
the year, 81 ,33S, 449 SO. There is vast amount
Of interesting detailed matter which we are forced
to omit. The report concludes with several pages
on retrcnchmen,, contcnding that the Post Office
Department should be sefsustaining
The retrench:nent already effected may be classed
under the following general heads:
Curtailment in transportation, disseminating
routes, and making new contract for ocean service
to California $l,725Si9 diScontinuancc of special
and route agent messengers, &c, $7777, 43O; with
drawal Of extra allowance to postmasters $23 l72
total $. S26,i7l
The Postmaster General recommends the abolish
ment of the franking privilege and ailudes to the
glaring abuses of it.
The report concludes with the following truly
eloquent passage:
1.-The Post Office Department. in its ceaseless
laborS, pcrvades every channel of commerce and
every theatre of human enterprise, and while visit
Ing, as it does kindly every treslde minsles with
the throbhngs of almost every heart in the land
In the amplitude of its bcneficence it ministers to
all chimes, and creeds, and pursuits, with the same
eager readiness and with equal fitness and fidelity
1t is the delicate car trump, through which alike
nations and families and isolated individuals whisper
their joys and their SORROWS, their convictions and
their SympathieS. to all who listen for their coming
Naturally enough, such institution has ever been
and still is, a cherished favoritc with the American
people. The country has constantly manifested the
most intense solicltude for the preservation of its
purity and the prosperity of It's administration, and
1t cannot now be disguised that the guilty abuse of
its mnisrations and the reckless waste of its hard
earned revenues, connected with the hunliations to
which it has in consequence been exposed, have
deeply and sadly impressed the public mind"
The Postmaster General discusses the proposed
reforms in so convincing and mastery manner,
that the intelligent and patriotic reader will not fail
to mbbe the very Spirit he breathes and participate
heartily in his aim to place the Post Office Depart
mcnt in that elevated and independent position to
which, by its peculiar character and mission it is
clearly shown to be entitled