Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-07
which under all circumstances, should be maintain

which under all circumstances should be maintain
ed inviolate.
The contracts for the California mails via the
Isthmus of Panama, expiring on the 3Oth Septcm-
Der, 1859, and not being willing to extend tnem' De-
cause at the exorbitant compensation exacteo nc
invited proposals for their transportation lot nine
months only in order that Congress, which mas SO
constantly supervised this service, might nave an
opportunity of placing it such basis as shouiu oc
agreeable to it. The result has been the conclusion
of an enoaoement with Cornelius Vanderbilt, who
has stimulated for the conveyance OF the mails, Tor
the period named at $37 300 for those to and from
New York and 81 81, 900 for those to and from New
Orleans which being added the railroad charges,
amounting to $4,000, the aggregate cost VIII be
1862 800 or with the salary of the mail messengers
added, at the rate of $351, 900 per annum, and
showing an annual gain as compared with the pre-
existing contracts, of $3S7,250
The contractor has also obliged himself to trans
fer these mails to the NIcaaguan route at the earliest
moment practicable, and from his high character
and indomitabe 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 Of transportation $50 000 and will establish
on an enduring footing great national thorough
fare the opening of which has been and is the OBJ
ject of universal socitude
In referring to the overland mail, the report
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 an expend
ture at the rate of 100000 per annum, the post
ages received in return have not amounted to more
than $27, 229 "a, that after making allowance for
such increase may be anticipated the department
at the expiration of the six years for which the
contract entered into will have lost from this
route alone more than three millions of dollars.
The aggregate amount of postage (sea, inland,
and foreign on mails conveyed to and from Europe
by the several lines of mail steamers employed by
this department was 1854 66S "a; and by the Brit
iSh packets of the Cunard line performing equal
number of trips, $S05, 500 GA. The North German
Lloyd, and Hamburg lines of mail packets also con-
veyed mails to and from Bremen and Hamburg, re-
Spectvely, the hostages on which amounted to $4S,
Isl Il, making the total hostages on United States
and European mails, conveyed by all lines during
the year, 81, 33S, 449 50. There is vast amount
of interesting detailed matter which we are forced
to omit The report concludes with several pages
retrenchmenr contending that the Post Office
Department should be SelfSuStaining
The retrenchment already effected may be classed
under the following general heads:
Curtailment in transportation, disseminating
routes, and making new contract for ocean service
to California ST. 725 $50; discontnuance of special
and route agent messengers &c, S77, 430; with
drawal of extra allowance to postmasters S23 l72;
total 81 ,S26,47l.
The Postmaster General recommends the abolish
ment of the ranking 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, pervadeS every channel Of commerce and
every theatre of human enterprise, and while visit
ing it does kindly, every tireslde, minges with
the throbblngs of almost every heart in the land
In the amplitude of its beuehcence, it ministers to
all chimes, and creedS, and pursuits with the same
eager readiness and with equal fitness and fidelity.
1t is the delicate trump, through which alike
nations and families and isolated individuals whisper
their joys and their soTrowS their convictions and
their sympathicS, TO all who listen for their coming.
Naturally enough such an institution has ever been,
aud still is cherished avorite with the American
people. The country has constantly manifested the
most intense solicItudc for the preservation of its
purity and the prosperity of Its administration, and
1t cannot be disguised that the guilty abuse of
its mnstratons and the reckless waste of its hard
earned revenues connected with the humiliatons to
which it has in consequence been exposed, have
deeply and sadly impressed the public mind"
The Postmaster General discusses :he proposed
reforms in so convincing and mastery manner,
that the intelligent and patriotic reader will not fail
to imbibe the very spirit he breatheS and participate
heartily in his aim to place the Post Office Depart
ment in that elevated and Independent position to
which, by its peculiar character and mission, it is
clearly shown to be entitled.