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mmmm???? ature, with commendable moderation, I after aiguing tho case at length, and re-I futing thus the dangerous jwsitions-assum j rd hy the Executive of Now York, adopted among others, the following R *>lutions. 44 2d: Resolved. That the course pursued hv the Executive of \ew I ork, cannot he acquiesced in ; and if sanctioned by that State and persisted in, it wdl he. come the solemn duty of Virginia to adopt the most decisive anil erticient measures for the protection of the property of her citizens, and the maintenance of rights, which she cannot, and will not, under any circumstances, surrender or abandon. 443rd. Resolved, That the Governor of this State be authorized and requested to renew his correspondence with the Executive of New York, requesting that that functionary will review the ground* t*k*u by him; and that he will urg?' the consul- , eration of the subject upon tho Legishiure of his State." 4th. Requires the Governor to Submit the case to the other States, and invite the co-opcration of the slave-holding 8tales. '* ^ r- :? *k:.u in compliance wiin mo iorr;i4,,,,i4 uum Resolution, Gov. Gilmer, on the Oth April. 1840, addressed the Executive of New York. and transmitted the proceed- J ingsofthe Virginii Legwbtire. 0:i the lSlh of April, Governor Seward acknowledged Ihe receipt of this commuuicarion; , inlortnt-d Governor Gilmer that he felt it j his duty to submit the same to the L :gis- , latnre of his Slate, and that his answer , would necessarily be delayed until after . its adjournment. This note wasat>com- ! puttied by a copy of Gov. S -ward's Viessage, transmitted o> the 11th of April, ? 1S40,{together with the proceedings of the i Virginia Legislature, to the LtgislatureJ of New York. In this Message, Gov* J nSeward soys, " the proc sidings of ihe ; <roneral Assembly of Virginia manifest a desiro to obtain the sen. e of the Legisla-1tirc." He commends to their con>ideration the said proceedings and the corni:u;ni.-:;!ion of Gov. Gilmer, and informs them thatdie will defer his reply in the ! hope that he inav be aided by the wis dorn of t.'ie Legislative Department. Gov, Seward, in his communication of the 9iii November. 184lb informs the Executive of Virginia, that no action was had upon the subject in tlie Senate : thai it wa> referred to the Judiciary Committee in tin: House of Assembly, which, on the Mtii May, made a Report, asking to be discharged imnt the mruier coiiMiucrimon i of the su'ij ret, in winch ihcy said : on a careful examination of that correspondence, your committee cinnot dis niwr any occasion lor the int.Tpos'tion of this Mouse, oven by way of advice ? They b* huvc the position taken by the Governor of tins JSiaie to ho sound and judicious, and that it is exposition of the meaning of the Constitutional provision in question, is the only one that can be given consistently with the Sovereignty of the State anil the rights of (he citizens, while it is in strict conformity (!) with our Federal obligations to oilier Stale*, and recognizes all the rights which is nttended to he secured. The committee content themselves with the expression of their general concurrence in the views of tie- [Sxpcutivr lecause the su'ject is one winch cannot he expressed with brevity, and bccniw it has liecn examined and illustrated with distinguished ability. Conceiving tna< there is no occasion to submit any prop... , sition to tne house tor its action, your committee ask to i?e tiisenargcu irom u?t further consideration of the subject." "The Committee" savs Governor Seward, "w 6 thereupon discharged." The difficulty of obtaining thiscoinmulocation of the fate attending Virginia'* resjieolful n|?|>eal to the Legislature of New York, will be seen from the following statement of facts. On thrtilh June, 1840, Governor Gilmer, acknowledged the receipt of Gov. ernor Sowird's communication of the 18th Aj?ri', and informed him that ".is , some time has elapsed, since the Legislature of his State was reported to have adjourned, he begged most re?Dcc; fully, to recall his Excellency's attention to the suliject of his former communication to this, no reply was received. On the i 13thof July, Governor Gilmer, again i called Governor Seward's attention to : the subject, and reminded him, of the duties assigned him b\ the General As. u...nM,r I \i i't tr. transmit comes of tl)C ! " - - . correspondence, and request the co-opera- ; I ion, of the slavehoidieg States.) Oi? the lS'h July, Gov. Seward replied, staling that he was spending some time at 1 All! urn, for "the restoration of i?is health somewhat impaired hy his confinement ' and occupation during the session of the J Legislature and expressed the hope, to he able t?>- bestow due consideration lipon the subject of their corresponde7iv< , 'very , soon." Again, on the Itlh * A igust, Governor Gilmer. addressed tlm Gu'cni- 1 or of \ ew \or';, aod c.'di"U his aite;ifion tf? their ?,?;ri"sj:'.n.ivjie.x. 1 ii?- j Sth Sr])!. (iov: riM r ' 11!:i;i , again a dosted d-ivcrnor S -u..r:i, arid among oilier \ said, "I liatJ tin honor t<? address our Kxce'leiicv on the 14th nit., ac- j kUO'A !"t:l? KMV'jH <M your lion; in tie !- J.-.'v. a:.'J as no answer has J reached i?i *. I t<n iriviced to :i1 It.a. m.:: .v >i. .r<! accident, has juovv.ated 4!; rr<*< .t of v.r.ir cuMonrMicatinn or > nnor, I ;t m: 'cs-at v to advise | vour :iCoj!c::(y, of 'lit?, necessity <>f bringing our (uc^sp^riee-.eu r?. a close. j i hav# P<ks{jmriled toe execution ol ilie i dotv assi^ei;.! :r.i\ under the 4'h ResoJu. J :.?? ? ot our (i'-acr il \ssemh!y, nnJul???fl?; i t'i?c?:'-iirtt \ .Ui' E\cc?liu. 'V Would ' ' 1 ? ii 1111! iin tmwarmmmmmmnomfmmvm m mi render it unnecessary for me to request j the co-operation of the slave-holding j States; as the time is approaching when the Legislatures of the States will convene, I am not at liberty much longer to defer a compliance with the 4th Resolution of our General Assembly. I cannot do so, however, without again soliciting your Excellency's most serious attention, to the demand which has benn made l?v the State of Virginia, oa the Executive of New York." On the 23th September, Governor Seward acknowledging the receipt of this communication, informed Governor Gilmer, tb-l "he had pre|>ared his reply to the communication of his Excellency, en the subject of the demand of certain fu. j gitives from justice, and should transmit, the same, as soon as it c-utd be copied; for that purpose." On the 2'Jd October,' Governor Gdmcr again address*! Gov- I n l ernor Seward, informing him that 4 he would he gratified, to hear from his Excel lency, as soon as his reply could be copied." On the fiftb November, 1840. Gov. Gilmer, for the seventh time, addressed Governor Seward a note, in whicb he says: " I regret verr much the necessity of troubling your Excellency again on the subject of oui correspondence; but if you will advert to its progress and objects, you cannot fail to acquit me of any desire to precipitate your Excellency's judgment on the: f?rave questions which arc nvolved. Seven months have elapsed -uuce i had the honor tocommonicate thv Preamble and Resolutions adopted by the Legislature of Virginia, and to invite your Excellency's earnest attention to the h 'hject. 1 have received repeated assurances of vour readiness to comply with this request; and on the 28th Sep. tember, you informed me that your rely ! fn mv communication of April last, had j been preparer!, arid remained only to be copied. I informed you. on the 22d Octol?er, that your reply had not been re. I reived, arid I am still awaiting it. I have forborne to execute tiie request contained in the fourth Resolution of the Virginia Legislature, until the last rn?mcnt, because I was unwilling to take for granted, that any department or any officer of the Government of a sister State, would persist in adhering, deliberately, to the dangerous construction of our federal compact which your Excellency had assumed in your former correspondence. Y our Excellency has been pleased to ack- i nowledge this forbearance in very res-j pcetful terms; and I trust, after remind- j ing you that the Legislatures of several of the State's are already in session, it will i not be deemed an Act of impatience on my part, to enquire whether the copy of \ our Excellency's reply has been completed." On the: 9th of November, Gov. Seward, of New York, for the first time, replied to Gov. Gilmer's communication of the bill April, and the information quoted ahove, was contained in that reply. According to the best judgment which can be exercised by your Committee, the course pursued l?v the Executive of the Slate of New York is condemned by the law of nation.-.?is condemned bv the; ----- . I (ion^titiitinn of the United States?me ! compact formed upon conciliation and ; justice, for tins common defence, mutual ' respect, amity and nccommodatinn. and j domestic tranqmiitv of all tins States?the ; treaty of friendship and alliance, offensive j and defensive, among the confederating ( Stales, which modifies, controls and eon- j '.trues for esjceial pur poses, the law of i nations, as between thein. The 2d Section 4th Article of the Cori- j stitulton ot the United Slates, secures lor j ' the citizens of each Slate, the privileges i and immunities of citizens in the several 1 States." Protected under this section, arid unmolested bv the authorities of Vir I ginia. citizens of New York have, pursuing their craft, traded to and from the ports and hays of Virginia. Undercover of this privilege, three ot them stole and j carried awav a negro, and when, under I the stipulation of the second paragraph of the same section, these men are demanded : by the authorities of Virginia, as felons and fugitives from justice, the Executive ; ot New York replies?No; thisSiaie knows : 1 !- ' _ ? f I r. hi,|,f, j no such inmg.s ?is piMjii n* in ..... ? j?urs?site does not recognise the net with j which these men are accused, as a crime. I and therefore she refuses to comply with j your demand, and the solemn requisitions J of the Constitutions and laws of the Uni-1 ted States. When, in obedience to the j injunction of the Legislature of his Stale, i ami in the spirit of friendly forbearance! and remonstrance, the (Governor of Vir- j ginia renews the correspondence with the | Executive of New York, the matter is re- : ferred by Governor Seward, on the 11th of April*, 1?40, to the Legislature of Now York, by which his course was .approved; for although their Committee. (II. ot R.) was discharged, on the 14th May following, Iroiu the consideration of the subject, j if was upon the express ground that the j 14 positions taken by the Governor of thai ijtaie were sound and judicious, and that his exposition of the meaning of the con-1 .slttulionil provision in question, was the! only one that could he given, consistentJy with i lie sovereignty of the State, and tne rights of the? citizen." In further illustration of the sentiment prevailing at the Capitol ofNew York, in respect to the demand of Virginia, it is re- j m :i\ked tliaf on thefifh ofMav, 1840, was | onsseJ an Act hv the New York Legtsln- I I tore, entitled " Aii Act to extend the right! lit' ir,.il !>y jury,,' the most important provisions of which arc the following : Ski;. 1. Instead of the hearing provi. d?*d hv the first Article of Title 1, and Chapter 9. of Hie Third Part of the Re. vised Staines, to he had before a Court or Officer, upon the return ol'anv writ of) habeascorpus issued to bring up the body p . . __ . ' <T V ' %tf> mMJUI'I uwj?n'J">M??w?pw? of an alleged fugitive from service or labor, to which lie is iteld under the laws of any other State, who shall have escaped into this State, the claim to the service of such alleged fugitive, his identity, and the fact of his having escaped from another State of the U nited States into this State, shall be determined hy a jury." The 2nd, Jird, 4th, 5th, and 6th sections, prescribe the uiodo of proceeding. Suction 7, provides that if the finding of the jury is in favor of too clarionet, upon alf tbu mailers submitted, the Court or officer before whom such hearing shall be had, -U.. 11 . .ftnf Ia oiioK ninimaat U ^ 1 t SlliMi glim ?w ' uvu III 1(13 pgwilif a certificate," which shall autiieriie the person receiving the same to remove the fugitive therein n*m?d, without any unnscessiry delay, through and out of the State, on the direct route, to the State Tom which he fl*d." 8. " It the finding of the jtirv he against the claimant, on any of the matter* submitted lo them, the person so claimed as a fugitive .shall forthwith he set at liberty, and "hall never thereafter he molested upon the sum: chum; hoJ if?v arson who shall thereafter arrest, detuirt, or proceed in any mannor to reUko such alleged fugitive upon the same claim, or shall by virtue of the same claim feiaove such alleged fugitive out of this State, under any process or pjoce+ding whatever, shall ho deemed guilty of kidnapping; and upon conviction, shall he punished Dy imprisonment in the 6'tate Prison not exceeding ten years." Sttc. 9. The District Attorney of the County in which any alleged fugitive from service or labor Iroru another Stat#, shall he pn>ceeeded against by any person claiming such fugitive, shall, upon notice of such proceeding, rendur his advice and professional services to such alleged fugi live, ami atiiati attend, in his behalf, on the t rtH I of such claim, and shall receive such compensation therefor, as shall be certified lo he just and reasonable, by the Court or 0:rie?t> before whom the proceed, trigs shall he conducted; to be paidas|?rt of the Contingent Kxpeniiosof the County. And in ca>e of the omission of such District Attorney, to attend, or to render his professional services, tha Court or offi. cer before whom the proceeding shall he had. shall assign somo Chancellor of the Supreme Court, in good standing, to conduct the defence of such alleged fugitive, and render lo him the usual services of a counsel, for which he shall receive a compensation to be certified and paid, as here, inbefore provided in respect to the District Attorney. iVkc. 10. Every person so claimed as a fugitive, shall he entitled to snhpcecnas for his wit masses.'from the Court or officer before, whom the habeas corpus may he returnable, without any fee or charge therefor; and eve.rv Constable, -Sheriff, or Marshal, to whom tniv such suhphcenn shall b; delivered to bo served, -shall serve the >nrrie, and shall be allowed |hi? same foes as lor serving a capias in the Court of Common Pleas, to he paid as part ol the contingent expenses of the County, in (he event of a Jury summoned under this Act, determining in favor of the claimant, Szc. 11. Provides for the " enforcing of subpoenas for witnesses, and compelling them to testify," and enacts, that "the fees of the Sheriff or Constable, for summoning the jury, and of the jurors, and of the officer hearing and trying any such claim. shall. hr pail by th; claim-ails in all C(l?>V. .Wr 12 N'o ne'rson shall be entitled, " " * I t> a writof hub-as corpus to artest a fii??itivt; from labor or service, until lie shall have delivered to the Court, or officer tr whom application for such writ shall he marie, a bond to the people of thin iS'late, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, with two sufficient sureties, inhabitants and freeholder* of this iStafe. to be approved by such Court or officer,conditioned to pay all costs and expenses that ina v accrue in the prosecution of the said writ, legally charge iblu losicii claimant and also to pav weekly, the sum of two dollars to the person having such alleged fugitive i:i Inscustodv, for the support of >uch alleged fugitive, so long as he shall remair in euslodv under such writ of ha. beav crpus, or So detained hv the proeeedings iliercou: and also, that if any jury iiupaiiaeilcd under tnis Act, shall render a verd.c' against sti-*h ciaim, then, that such claimant shall pay all the costs and exponas of the proceedings, including those to which such alleged fdgitive shall have been subjected, and in addition I thereto, shall pay to such alleged fugitive the su n of one hundred dollars, and al , damages which he inav sustain. The bond shall he tiled in the office of the Ckrk of the county, and may be proserin j ted by any person claiming any benefit I from its provisions, in the name cf the j people of this .Slate, hut the people shall not he liable for any costs in such suit. iS'kc. J3tn and 11th immaterial, i ?S'bc. l">. Authorises ** the Constable 1 or officer, before any such trial shall he | had, on the apjdiealion o/ the alleged fa(lice, sluvgt to grant a commission for tin examination of witnesses out of the .S'late, and authorises the adjournment of the hearing from time to time." 1 ft Va fit;l(ro fir nfTlear tif | I'/i * i v/ ? "''fi' " "nr/ui w? this .Slate, shall grant or issue nnv ccrti i * jficatesor other pmoess l??r the rerno\al j from thi* ?Vtate of any fugitive, or of any person claimed as a fugitive from service ! or labor. otherwise that, in pursuance ot i trie provisions of this Act : and everv I such Judge or other oificer; who shall grant or issue any such certificate or o'her process, except in the mannei prescribed tn and by this Art, shall be deemed guilty of a ^Misdemeanor, and li< ahleto punishment therefor. Sec. 17. Every person who shall, without authority of law, forcibly remove, or attempt to teinove tiom this State, anv fugitive from service or labor, or anv i person who is claimed, as such fugitive, t slh..; fojfeii iiii* ftutu o." five hundred dol t * " r/* j t ' I ' t - V ' - Ian to the party aggrieved, and shnll be dcomed guilty of the crime of kidnapping; an j upon conviction olf such offence, shall be punished by imprisoment in the State Prison, for a period not exceeding ten years. Viewing the provisions of this Act of the Legislature of New York, in connexj ii?r with the refusal of the Executive of thut State, to comply with the reasonable and duly authenticated demand of the ; Governor of Virginia, to deliver uptime I fugitives from justice in question, together with the reason assigned for such refusal, "that one man cannot be the pn?pertv of another," and the determinalion of the Lagislnture, that " the positions taken by the Governor wore sound and judicious." it seems toy our nuouuttee to he too clear to admit of a doubt, that the then dominant partv in the State of New Y<wk, have deliberately trampled under fo-it parts of the 2nr. section of the 4th Article of tho constitution of their country, %nd have wantonly, and arrogantly abrogated the faith solemnly phwlged to her sister States, "to establish jus lieu, and ensure domestic tranquility.', Such also seems to have been the view taken of this transaction by the authorities of Virginia. Hor councils have acccrdihgly, at their last session, passed an "act to prevent the citizens of New York from carrying slaves out of the Commonwealth, ami to prevent the escape of persons charged with the commission of any crime,? a copy of which is herewith subm ft mil Ill Such is th? remedy which has lieen nc'optcd by Virginia, in vindication of her rights, and in defence of the properly of hi r citizens. She has caused the correspondence, w:th the policy she has adopted, to be laid , before the authorities of this State, for our examination arid approbation, and has invited our co-operation. What then, is it incumbent upon Carolina to do 1 It is the unanimous opinion of vour committee, that the action of this Stale should he indicated, in a character by the identity tif her interests with those of Virginia. They accordingly recommend to the attention of the Senate the Bill already referred to. Your committee beg leave further to recommend for the adoption of the Senale, the following Resolutions: 1. /fc'Ww/,?Tiiat this Legislature view with regret and abhorrence the constructive meaning of the constitutional n t provision respecting "fugitives from justine," and 44 fugitives from service," ns; sorted l?y the Executive anil Legislative j authorities of the State of New York, in i tlio year 1S40. | 2. Rcxolced, That in the opinion of ; thin Legislature, the forced and dangerI ous const ruction put upon the 4th Ari tide of the constitution of the United Slates, and the arrogant pretensions to I control its operation by the Slate of New 'I York, as indicated bv the positions of her F xociitive in the progress of the late com. t tioversy with Virginia, and the proceedings of her Legislature pending the same, j should be repudiated and discountenanced : by every state in the Union, as destruci tiveof the faith pledged in the ConstituI tion, and ultimately subversive of that ' j State Sovereignty, upon which tliey pro fess to he (bunded. ' ; 3. llr.soinciL That the (Governor he re. I quested io communicate to the authorities ! of Virginia, the high aenso entertained I . . j by this Legislature, of their moderation | and respectful forbearance in conducting j I the recent unhappy controversy with the Stale of Now York?of (he justness of the position assumed by Virginia, and ; the assurance of the hearty co-operation i of South Carolina, in nil proper measures ; to vindicate her rights as n State, and to I p'otect the property of her citizens. j All winch is respectfully suhruilled. R. V. W. ALL.ST' >N\ Chairman. ! ^ ^ ; T::ff foltir-rifiJJ er~ ?v*.? v'llt. hy th? C'OV : war of (ieorgin. to the Lrgi<?! Uor.: of that .State at It 10 ti:n?* of it* d?!c. CxKCKTIVK l)KI* VR TMCNT, ) MiHtirfgvifle, Dec. 1. 1841. $ VViiii iny message of the gd u'f., { had the honor lo communicate to you the copy of a correspondence with the Cover. i nor of New York, relating to a demand 1 m hioh I had made upon him. for the arrest I j and delivery of John Greenmnn, a fugii ; tive from the justice of this State, ' charged with the larcenov of a slave, I upon the affidavit of Robert VV. Flour, f; itov. At a superior Court of Chatham e .? rt* >; county, held alter the making or me am I davit bv Mr. Flournoy, John Greenman r* j was indicted for thisonencn by the name f J cf Alnnson Grcentnan, a name assumed I \ l-v him, doubtles- to escape detection. j To remove the difficulty und scruples of I the Governor of New York, in relation to ' I the sufficiency of the charge contained s ' in the affidavit, I renewed the demand, j based upon the indictment, a copy of j which, authenticated as required by the , I Act 01' Congress, was transmitted. You s will perceive, from the correspondence, n copy of which is herewith transmitted, * that another pretext has been raised by Governor Seward for evading the per. I f irmaricc of liis constitutional obligations. It is pretended by him that the hill of in(l cietmont is defective, and he has under' taken the office yf counseljfor the accused, } I y taking untenable technical exception .1 I to the proceedings. 1 nave nnsnwu thcin, as you will perceive, but I have ' been long since convinced that it 4s mi1 necessary to address either argument or reason to his understanding, or to remind | him of the necessity of executing, in , good faith, according to the letter and , ipirit, the wise provisions of the Con?fi. fiition, by which the States are enabled in giving ntfincnev to tiieir criminal laws, , to maintain the peace anJ sai'-tv ofioci. 1 # ,et>. * While he declines complying with mv t demand, on the ground of a pretended de- ii feet in the indictment, he indicates the n intention, in no equivocal terms, should ^ his objections to our judicial proceedings t be overcome, to sustain his refusal on i p principles no le-s unwarranted by the a constitution, than offensive to the people s of this State. v There should be no longer delay in s settling authoritatively the manner in t which fugitives from justice are to he v delivered, when they are found in another ? jurisdiction. Congress has the unquestionahle authority, under the constitution, ( to rcgulute this mutter, and it is clearly t the duty of the General Government to t cause fugitives from justice, who escape ' from the State in which the ciime was t committed, and are found in anotho-, to * be delivered up, upon the demand of the l Executive authority of the State having t jurisdiction of the off n- e. But inns- | i much as the mode provided bv Congress, | for discharging Una high obligation to the Stales, so essential to the safety of socie- I ty, and the security of property, has i proved inefficacious, and as no disposition I is manifested by the Federal Government < to remedy the defect, the subject is of j < - OInw.nt imiv^.lui,in inaiii'tr a Pnnwon. i J St<IUklVIII IIIUVV lu w........ tion of the States, to take it into confide- I ration. i But we should not defer, for a moment, the adoption of measures for our own safety. The regulation heretofore recommended by me, would ensure the < j safety of our property, and prevent all interference with our slave population. Any other constitutional measure, how. ever, which your wisdom may suggest, as expedient and proper, for the attainment of these desirable objects, shall have my concurrence. charles Mcdonald. REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. Post Offick Defartxhxt. > Dec. 1. 1841. S | To the. President of the United States: In the discharge of the duty of report- | ing to you the condition of the General Post Office, I have to regret that my re-; I cent induction into office will prevent ins | from giving you that full development at ; this time so necessary to a clear understanding of the various and extended op. erations of a Department so important and interesting to every class of our lei! low citizens. Unlike the other Departments of Goveminent, whieh derive their support from the national Treasury, the General Post Office looks for the means to continu*'* and extend its operations to the income [ derived alone from a successful ndminia- j i fratiou of the laws prescribing its duties j and privileges. The General Post Office, at first almost j the creature of administrative discretion, j j necessarily so remain.*. in a grcai ; grce. at the present tune. In its infancy, | it required the constant and vigilant sn. . i |>erintendence of its head to direct its af. j j fairs in such n manner as to extend tho [ sphere ?f its usefulness, commmensnrate | with the increase and extent of popula I tion and business. Equal, if not greater, j vigilance is demanded at the present ! day. I It is ?o be desired thit, in the genera! I administration ot the Government, as lit- : i tie of discretion as possible should he left I with those charged with public trusts; and I I regret inv acquaintance with the details j of the Department, at this tiin , is so liru- ! 1 ited as not to qualify ine to suggest more j specifically those improvoincuis in the ; j laws pertaining to it. whereby much of I that discretion, heretofore exercised. ; might he restrained ami profitably rcgulaj ted by legislative enactments. The pro- ' prietv of these remarks will he fully de. 1 monslralcd hv a recurrence to ttie history i of the Post Office operations, from their i . 1 commencement to trie present tune. In 179.'). ihe whole number of post ofi fires in the United States did not exceed , seventy-five ; the'iiumbcr of miles of post . road, 1.S75 ; the revenue, $'17 !i36 ; the J expenditure, S'l'M In isit), it will J he seen that the whole number of post ! i offices in t!ic t. States was 1#J.4S^ ; the J number of miles of post road, 153,739: i tlio "i*oss rt) v o ?ue lor the some year was 1 ^ ^ * , $i,539.205. and the expenditure was$l,. ( 759.110. Tne necessity of gnnrdiig, ; jis far as practicable, by specific iegisla- j i tion, such nn amount of income and exJ pciiditure, and the duties and liabilities of i ?o innnv agents, must bo apparent. As has already been remarked, the nri- , ginal design in the establishment of the i Post Office Department was that its in ) cotno should be ma le to sustain its opera* ' lions. That principle ought never to be J abandoned. Whilst the Department should not be regarded as a source of revenue to the nation, it shotil'T never ! become an annual charge on the Treasu! ry. < _ I Upon assuming the discbarge of the duties pertaining to to the ollice of Post- I master General, my first object was to investigate its financial condition ; and it j becomes my duty to inform you that I did j j not find it in that prosperous state which .? ...ninro tlie Ueman'is iipuri n i? ?j , The income of ttn^ department id al- j wars liable to be a f Fee fed by the fluctui. : (ions of the business of the country. It is j increased or depressed in proportion to : J the increase or depression of that husi- . j ness. Besides this cause of fluctuation in its ' income, other causes of a reduction, more ; j or less in every year, may he found in the ; increased Facilities which the travel upo i j | railroads and steamboats furnishes for the ! i transmission of letters and newspapers by I privaie conveyanc^; secondly, in the! , great extension, to say nothing of the abuse, of the franking privilege; thirdly, , lue recent establishment of what are chI. led private expresses, upon the great mail toutcs of the United Slates; lourthly, in ll'" 1 # he frauds practised up >n the Department* a evading, by various devices, the pay* riont of the postage imposed by law.? Vhile all these muses operate to lessen he revenue of the Department, the ex* enses of transporting the mail are not ffocted or lessened by them; and I re* pectfully suggest whether the evils to vhicli I have referred do not deserve the erious attention of Congress, so far as o call for some more specific legislation, vhereby they may bo removed or sof>* tressed. The total gro?* revenue of the Plpsl )fiice for the fiscal year commencing on he 1st of July, 184(1. and terminating on he 30th of June, 1841, was $4,379,417 ftf; the total expenditure for the ntw ime was $4,507/238 39. In this year expenditure exceeded the revenue by he sum of $187,920 61. A statement ? >f the expenditures, more in detail, will n due time, as required by law, be re* ? . r% : jorted to isongri'tu. The precise income nnd expenditure of ite General Poet Office cannot be kjio#a d any one yety. until the close of the iscal year, and the settlements of nil actounts have been completed. Con so. juentlv, any statement of oxpeadftWO iml income, f??r th* present year, tsJishla to the fluctuations and changes- always incident to the peculiar character of the service. The expenditures and income of the Department for the current year may, upon estimate, be stated in round hers as follows: To'al amount of revenue derived from post*#**, fii.es. and all other sources, : 84.340.00 Expense of mail transporta- , M tion, 9,145,000 Commission to Postmasters, if the rates of per ceuuge remain unchanged. : 1,015 'KM) Ship, s'earnboat, arid way letters, : : : : 30,000 Incidental expenses, inclu. ' >., ding blanks, stationery, printing, dec. : : : 310.000 Total estimated expenditure, 4.490.000 Total estimated income, : 4.340.000 / J i . .81104100 -i * ul. Thus it will ix* seen mat u?? pnnfnuin amount of expenditure \v?H exceed flie mount of rovoiuj", as estimated by 3110,0(10. i n < VVilh this deficit po?so ?ting itself *o palpably to iuv iinnd, 1 have es^iVed Jo infuse into (tie administration of tlih'aef. vice a rigid economy ; Vet, with all In# savings which it may he possible temnke by the most rigid economy, I am satisfied the expenditure cannot he reduced within the income, without either ^educing the transportation of the mail, beJtjor j ist wants of the entd'ituliityt ??r in soitm other myde increasing the revenue of the Department. To continue the present amount of service, and ex'end with it the growth and spread of our imputation, jmr'-c thirty in the West, the prrsmt revenue, With its former charges, is evident y iriad<*. quale ; and a reduction of that service greatly helow its present standard Would have taken plaec, unless Congress should make an appropriation fr??m t'-e Public Treasury which 1 neither #??r ^ desire to see made. l* . Upo.i a view of all the cirrum^nntfr*, -J it and with a perfect sense oi me ueuc*?uresponsihility assumed, I have felt tnyself smp'-rinnslv called upon to cxcfC so a power vested hy the act of H*23 in the Postrnastrr (iener.il, and have readjust**! . the commission heretofore allowed to deputy |w?stmasters. Rv tins regubilinii a x copy of which is annexed, there will tie iddofl to the netl aririual inroHK' of tlm Department aluvr S110,(K>0. I li?oug?t it better to do this than either lb ??k Congress for an appropriation or to reduce the transportation of the mail below the just wants of the community.* When it is known that this reduction has been made to eiiahic the Department to send intelligence among the People, hv continuing and extending mail frtoili n rj tie?f and not in a spirit of paisimotiibn* economy, the liberal and enlightened" of all sections will, I ain }>crsua<ledi oppwte u/tmf linxi h'?en done: a"d I will not rilhiw invs If to believe that those wlmin it meat immediately alfects will view it in an illiberal spirit. Should Congress, however, not np. prove of this measure, tlioy will have it in their power, before the order lakes offerf, to arrest its foree; and will no doubt adopt the necessary measures to require the reduction of mail service, or to pro. vide the means of paying ti e balance which will he due to contractors nt the end of the year. 'I he annexed report of the Auditor of the P(*t Oifice Department, marked B, will exhibit the progress which has been made in the adjustment and liquidation ~r ?l.? #.r ruutlilAHlAM SlllCfi tilC W IJI IIIC (lUMIUItlftY Ul |/UO%n?uw*w? - ?- ? 4th of March last. it is to expected that among 14,000 deputy postmaster* (appointed generally without a personal knowledge of the in. dividual* or their securities) there will lie found s?.me wiu? will prove faithless to their trusts, and whose securities are not good for the amount due the department. I In view of this, I have instituted a rigid | inquiry, not only into the fitness and built, ness qualifications of the postmasters, but the solvency of their securities, Aram which tiie best results inay oe anticipated. ! This operation, performed in part l?r the ! special a gee ts of the Department, under the kitter of instructions annexed, marked ^ C. .tiiii lae prompt settlement of the *c.