Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1863-04-15

| Is 10 US, but when he reads il closely and knows
that our scbjugatiOn and destruction is not to
De allowed him by any means, then there remains
| holhlhg IN his hopes or wishes which viii pre-
vent MN from asserting TO the inevitable. lit
| may happen that he will tender us recognition
lohS before the Northwestern men cease to
indulge their poetic readings of destiny from
drops of rain falling in Wisconsin and running
to Louisiana, or to indulge in dreams of the
wealth to flow into their laps from trade with
river planters a positive right without the
| restrictions of tariffs or the grace of treaty.
| When this will happen (for it surely will in
time) Is still behind the curtain of the future
| but let us be wiring these wholesome teachings
continuously and vigorously " it'll the sword,
and not leave our work for vain negotiations
with people who do not yet read it as the
will and decree Of the Almighty, that the
Southern Contederacy is, aud of right ought
TO be, sovereisu nation on the face OF the
earth.
| This is our rock upon which we have built
Upon it also should all diplomacy be based
REPORT OF THE Posr MASTER GENERAL.-
The receipts of this Department from the lst
Of June 1861 to lst July 1862, we're sl.9Il,-
| 169. The expenditures for the same period
We're -. 924, $50. So that The excess of ex-
penditures over the income was Sl.O13, 10I
which was supplied by grants and appropria-
| lions from the Treasury. These indeed were
50 literally made as to exceed the wants Of the
department. and the Report shows that at the
date last above mentioned the grants exceeded
the amount necessary to cover the deficiency
by sos, SOC. II is thus explained
| .r 81. I
| expenditures. resulted from the increase of
| revenue by the increased rates OF our postage
as compared with those OF the United States
| winch formed the basis OF nay former estimates
aid from The reductions Of the cost of the SER
vice by the various means mentioned il my
! former reports"
notwithstanding This deficiency Of postofice
revenue. comvuIlVn Of tie receipts and ex-
| pcndltur,s above stated with one years ac-
count under the old government, shows a vast
Improvement il our postage system, and a
rapid stride towards making this department
self sustaining. The increase of the receipts
for one year under tie Confederacy has been
1898. G3s. willis; the expenditures have been
diminished sl,37l ,95G, showing an improve.
ment in the finances Of the department Of
Sl,7U5, 604 for one year.
y The estimates for ihe year ending 9th June
next are set down at -. $40 .2Gs. whilst the
estimated revenues are onlyS1, gIl, ls9, leaving
| TO be incurred an excess Of expenditures over
receipts OF Sl,47G, -3S. So that uotwithstaud-
| Ing the great Improvement shown above. the
| department is tar yet from being self sustaining
as our constitution provides that after The 1T
Of March, 1863, the expenses VI the pu-to.nce
department shall be paid out Of its own reye-
MUGS. This fOre.b,y illustrates the principle
pthat colsii utions should deal only in fund4-
menta. principles Of government. Legislation
should be left to mould itself within the bouu-
baries Of the great safeguards Of civil liberty
to the ever vary ing wants and requirements
of the community. speclal legislation in
| constitution is about Is favorable TO true pro-
gress as "A pebble in pilgrim shoe
The Inconvenience 70 the Postoliice Depart
ment VIII not however be felt at once. Tue
Report shows that with the credit On hand on
the 3J:h June last, as stated above. together
with tie balance Of appropriations heretofore
made at different times there will be sufficient
to c6yer the estimated deficiency and leave
the department wi tn "a balance in hand Of
s1l, l55 on the Both June next, which NAV be
considered for all practical purposes as coming
out even. After that the postoffce must take
care Of itself, which can only be done by in
creasing the revenue or cutting of the most
Improbable portions OF the service, and thus
depriving a large portion. Of the country of mail
facilities
x The means to the first object suggested by
the Postmaster General are an increase Of the
rates of postage newspapers; the repeal of
the laws requiring newspaper exchanges to be
carried free, and soldiers letters to be carried
without prepayment of postage. He thinks
also that the rates of letter postage may be
increased.
The ridiculous inadequacy Of these means
to supply so enormous deficiency, cannot fail
to strike every one, and prepare him for what
seems inevitable, a great eurtaimCnt of the
postal service after the LIST July next. We
sincerely hope Congress viii not be tempted to
set the ruinous precedent of evading a plain
constitutional provision to avoid a great evil
Better endure it for che present.
The remaining portions of tde Report con-
sist of details comparatively uninteresting.