Lynchburg Virginian

LYNCHBURG, AUG. 28, 1834.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

We have heretofore had occasion to remark that the corruptions of the Post Office Department have not by any means, attracted that degree of attention from the administration presses, which the importance of the subject demands. They seem to shun the discussion of it, with the same instinct which led Falstaff to eschew an encounter with the 'true prince.' If we tell them that it is rotten to the core, they reply 'the Bank is a monster!' If we tell them that its putrid condition is offensive to the whole country, they exclaim, 'Oh, gentlemen of the coalition, you cannot stick together - you are constituted of such hostile elements, that there must inevitably be an explosion!' Well; let all thus be granted. Let it be admitted that the Bank is a monster more terrific than the Sea Serpent. Let the Nationals and Nullies worry each other more terribly, and the Kentuckians, leaving neither hair nor hide, nor even the tip end of the tail to the victor - what then? Does that restore the people's money to the Post Office Department, abstracted by corrupt men for corrupt purposes? Does that vindicate Major Barry's management of that Department, or blot from the Journal of the Senate his unanimous condemnation, as a violator of the constitution which he had sworn to support? Assuredly not. No matter what may be the sins of the anti-administration party, they by no means tend to lessen those of the men in power. We beg, therefore, if the Richmond Enquirer and its allies can possibly forget the Bank long enough, that they will give a few hours of serious study to the affairs of the Post Office Department, and submit to the public the result of their reflections. The contemplation of the vices of their own friends may lessen the horror which they feel at those of their opponents; or at least it may teach them to exercise towards others a small portion of that charity of which they stand so much in need themselves. We beg to enumerate a few items which stand in need of a present explanation.

1. The Postmaster General, in his ferocious attack upon the Senate, miscalled a vindication of himself, asserts that the extra allowance of 3,000 given to J. F. Robinson, the contractor on the route between Cincinnati and Georgetown, Ky. (whose original contract was only $1,000,) was made in consideration of his facilitating his mail two hours, in running it in the night instead of the day. But it has been proved by incontrovertible evidence that his mail was not thus facilitated, and that it has always run, as it commenced, in the day, and not in the night. The reason alleged for the allowance being thus disproved, the question recurs why was the sum of $3,000 given to him? Was it because he is connected with the influential Johnson family in Kentucky - or because he was the brother of Senator Robinson of Illinois, a member of the Post Office committee, and one of that white-washing minority of that committee?

2. It is stated, in the Blue Book that an extra allowance of $7,000 was made to Jesse Smith of Taunton, Mass. Mr. Smith expressly denies it, and asserts that, so far from having received any such sum, he has not been able to get from the Department the amount of his original contract. There is a gentleman now resident in Lynchburg, who is well acquainted with Mr. Smith, and vouches for his integrity. Who, then, pocketed the $7,000 thus falsely charged to Mr. Smith?

3. A letter from a gentleman in Louisiana to his friend in Washington city, says - 'Is it possible the Post Office Department can remain in its present state? The contractor that brings the mail to Alexandria, (Louisiana,) has stopped because he is not paid; and the contractor from Alexandria to Natchez on: For Jessup has stopped for the same reason. The postmasters forward the mails - will do so as long as the money they have on hand will last; but that cannot be long.' And where is the Postmaster General while these disgraceful facts are occurring? Why is he not at his post, instead of travelling over the country, and leaving the management of his Department in the hands of his subordinates - those very subordinates, to whom the blame of the losses and purloins that his friends gave he is, must be attached the guilt of the corruptions that have been proved to exist in its affairs?

4. The majority of the Post Office Committee in the able Report which startled the nation by its astounding developments, asserted, that one J. B. Bennett, of Meadsville, Penn, immediately after he had received an extra allowance for no apparent reason, purchased a press and started a paper to aid the administration. To which Major Barry in his notorious Address, declared that 'the statement is destitute of the slightest shadow of truth. Mr. J. B. Bennett (continues Maj Barry) was never known either as a politician or as an editor; he never owned a printing establishment, nor had any concern in a newspaper. So far as he or his partner entertained political partialities, they were in favor of the late administration, and opposed to the present.' Very precise and particular this, but every word untrue. The statement of the majority of the committee has been fully confirmed by the certificate of the two gentlemen who sold the printing press to Mr. Bennett, and fourteen other citizens of Meadsville, under their own proper names, testify that 'he was an active and efficient politician, and an avowed, decided and warm supporter and partisan of Gen. Jackson and his administration.' So that Maj Barry's denial of the committee's allegation, unlike the allegation itself, 'is destitute of the slightest shadow of truth.' What dependence is to be placed in any of the statements of such a man?

5. To show still further the little confidence to be placed in Maj. Barry's statements, we lay before our readers in parallel columns, a few of his Assertions contrasted with the Facts. The assertions are taken from the Report of the Postmaster General of year before last; the facts are derived from subsequent developments made by the 'searching operation.'

ASSERTION. FACT.

The department: was asse0..0n. He says 'though im- provemcnts alvays in- over hend and cars n cur an expense before tb, at the vey mo the revenues which men' when ths flater hey yield will e real- zed, yet wuh all the in- orease o w faciities Ing theyd eiding Cengress and the na tion.

3 ah Jure. 1832, the re venuesot the Deport- ment have, with: a very inconsiderable sum, e- qualled is expensts.

ASSERTION FACT.

'The revenue has, We are now to'd that within a very inconside- at this very time the es- rable sum, cqualled its penses grcatly eaceedes expenses.' the rerenuc.

ASSERTION. FACT.

Again, 'the nett pro- The amouut of pos cceds of postages for the tege did increase, and yer, in place of its er '32 exceed those of he ceeding the 'additiona preceding year by 305,043. If the rato of amount required in crease in the nett pro- for transrortation,by ceeds of postages for the more than a iundred thousand year which will end on dollars,' they 30 June. 1833, be continued, had t0 the nett proceeds of postages for the borrow $180,000, year ending 30 June, 1832, will exceed those of the year which will end on 30 June, 1833, by more than a hundred thousand dollars.
The expenditures of the General Government, for the quarter ending June 30, 1833, were at that very moment only equal that of the last; but the amount in debt at least one half a million! They now owe about $500,000 it will amount to on of $196,823 06 dollars. that of the last which will exceed the additional amount required for transfers. hundred thousand dollars, by more than s enough for to-day. We shall continue &c. Inasmuch as the salutary medicine in broken doses last accounts are confirmatory of the great