The distance from the city of Washington, via Athens, on the present route, according to the latest infrmation, is one thousand one hundred and eighty two miles. Thirty miles may probably be saved by surveying and causewaying the road. The actual travel will then be one thousand one hundred and fifty-two miles, and the distance between the same cities, via Nashville, is one thousand four hundred and seventy-two miles. All which is respectfully submitted. GENERAL POST OFFICE, March 20th, 1806. GIDEON GRANGER, Postmaster General. 9th CONGRESS.] No. 20. [1st SESSION. INQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 17, 1806. The committee, who were appointed on the 21st of March, 1806, to inquire into the conduct of Gideon Granger, That the committee, without loss of time, engaged in the duties assigned them, and have made some progress therein. It was the sincere desire of the committee that the inquiry should be concluded during the present session, as well as the wish of the Postmaster General; but, from the distance and dispersed situation of the witnesses, whose testimony was deemed necessary, and the approaching close of the session, it is found impracticable. While the committee regret the situation of a public officer, laboring under the suspicious appearance of a constitutional scrutiny into his conduct, yet, in a government like ours, where watchfulness of men in office is the surest guarantee of the preservation of the liberty of the people, the public functionaries must yield their feelings to the general benefit, and endure a temporary inconvenience as an honorable sacrifice to the freedom of our institutions. That a hasty and premature result is less to be desired on the part of an officer, supported by a consciousness of the integrity of his conduct, than the suspension of an inquiry that may terminate in a satisfactory refutation of charges, which, on the part of the accused, are affirmed to be without foundation, the committee have no hesitation in believing. Justice to the public, as well as to the individual, requires a thorough investigation, which is found to be impossible before the final adjournment. The committee, therefore, recommend a postponement of the further inquiry until the next session of Congress. 9th CONGRESS.] No. 21. [2d SESSION. PROGRESS OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FROM MARCH 3, 1793, TO JANUARY 12, 1807. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 19, 1807. SIR: GENERAL POST OFFICE, January 12, 1807. Herewith I transmit to you the information required by your communication of the 9th. With the design of enabling the committee to form some estimate of the labors of the various persons employed in this office, I have likewise transmitted " A view of the progress of the Post Office Department," commencing the third of March, 1793, and ending this day. I am, sir, with the highest esteem and respect, Hon. JOSEPH B. VARNUM, Chairman of the Committee on Post Roads. G. GRANGER. GENERAL POST OFFICE, January 12, 1807. SIR: Yours of the 9th was duly received. The deputy post master's accounts for the last quarter of the year 1806 have not yet been received; and the examination of those for the third quarter has not yet been completed. A statement, therefore, such as the committee request, cannot be furnished from this office, to a later period than July 1, 1806. The following will show the expenditure and nett proceeds of the Post Office Department, for one year, from July 1, 1805, to July 1, 1806, viz: The contracts for the roads, established at the last session, commenced the first of October, 1806. not, therefore, included in the above. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect and esteem, your obedient servant, They are GIDEON GRANGER. JOSEPH B. VARNUM, Esquire. *Since the 24th January, 1803, the convenience, utility, and security of mail coaches have been extended in different parts of the United States, over post roads to the distance of three thousand and eighty-five miles, where they never had been contemplated previous to that period. Since the 3d of March, 1801, the post roads have increased 44 per cent. The establishment of mail coaches has been increased 69 per cent. The daily transportation of the mail by stages has increased two thousand four hundred and twentyseven miles, and the whole daily transportation of the mail has increased three thousand nine hundred and fifty miles. Which proves that the daily progress of the mail exceeds twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-seven miles each day in the year. NOTE.-For a view of the Post Office Department, for preceding and subsequent years, see Nos. 10 and 24. 11th CONGRESS.] No. 22. REVISION OF THE POST OFFICE LAWS. [2d SESSION. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 22, 1810. To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, the Postmaster General reports: That, in obedience to the resolution of the 28th of June last, he herewith transmits a bill for an act, entitled "An act regulating the Post Office establishment," which he has caused to be printed with marginal notes, referring to the various statutes from which he has compiled the same; and, to render more clear what he proposes as additions and amendments to the existing laws, the former are printed in smaller type, and the latter in italics; but the 39th section of the bill ought not to have been in small type, and the italics in the 25th section were unnecessary. The following contrast will still further lessen the labor of investigation, and give a clear view of the differences between the existing laws and the provisions of the bill. The law authorizes the appointment of one assistant Postmaster General: the bill authorizes the appointment of two, and invests the power of the Postmaster General, in case of a vacancy in that office, in the senior assistant. The law vests no power in the Postmaster General to appoint agents with the right to frank: the bill gives him this power. The law inflicts a fine, not exceeding ten dollars, on any ferryman who shall wilfully detain the mail half an hour: the bill inflicts the same for a wilful detention of ten minutes. The law directs the Postmaster General to publish for contracts in the States where the routes are: the bill extends the direction to the territories. By the law of the land, a Postmaster is liable to refund what he may receive over legal postage on a letter, although he receives only what was charged thereon, and in the post bill; by the bill, he is exonerated from this demand, unless the letter be opened in his or his clerk's presence. This will be a safeguard to this office and to the officer; and the rights of the citizen are sufficiently secured, as it is made criminal, knowingly, to demand more than legal postage. The law compels masters of vessels, on arrival at any port, to deliver to the Postmaster of that port all letters directed to any person in the United States, except, &c.: the bill extends this provision to letters addressed to citizens of the territories. It also inflicts a fine, not exceeding one hundred dollars, on any master who shall neglect to comply with this regulation; thereby securing an obedience to the law in cases where the master is not bound to make entry at the custom house. The law does not prohibit the setting up and maintaining a stage sleigh, and conveying letters, &c. on or near a post route: the bill cures this defect. The law inflicts a penalty on any person who shall carry letters in a regular packet boat, or other vessel, from one place to another, between which a regular communication by water shall be established: in the bill, the words 66 by water" are omitted, and the prohibition is extended to and from all places between which there is, or may be, a regular communication established by law. Should water mails become necessary, this office has power to create and establish them. The agents of this office are not by statute liable to any punishment for stealing or embezzling any contract, covenant, or agreement, for the payment of money, or the delivery of any article or thing, &c. &c.: the bill makes it penal to steal or embezzle either of these writings, and a similar extension is introduced in the next paragraph in relation to the thefts and embezzlements of any other person. The law inflicts a penalty on any mail carrier who shall desert his mail before he delivers it to the next Post Office: the bill compels him to deliver it at the end of his route, or to a known agent of this office employed in transporting the same. The law, in several instances, enjoins whipping as a necessary part of the punishment: in the bill, it is omitted in every instance. Within the last eight years, it is believed this part of the law has never been executed; to retain it, therefore, is a favor to the offender, by lessening the duration of his confinement, as courts are bound to consider whipping a part of the punishment. In the 20th section of the bill, the courts are empowered to imprison, in one case, three, and, in another, seven, years; where, by law, they are authorized to inflict thirty stripes and two years' imprisonment. The law inflicts no punishment for injuring the mail, portmanteaus, or locks: the bill inflicts a fine or imprisonment. The law does not punish aiders or abettors: the bill inflicts on them the same punishment as on the principal offenders. The law subjects to hard labor all who are sentenced to confinement for stealing, embezzling, or robbing any letter of value, &c. &c.: the bill extends this punishment to those who wilfully destroy the portmanteaus, &c. and to aiders and abettors. The law vests a discretion in the Postmaster General to demand a quarter's postage upon newspapers in advance: the bill compels him to make this demand. These additions and alterations, except the first and second, require no further comment. It is unpleasant to any officer of Government to propose an extension of his powers, but, when he is called by a resolution of Congress to express his opinions as to the advancement of the public interest in the office confided to his care, considerations more important than can result from feelings of delicacy render it his duty to speak with out reserve. From the rapid progress of this establishment, it has become nearly impracticable for the present officers to perform their duties with that promptitude which, from the nature of the service, is essential; and the distance of many parts of the nation from this centre of action renders it impossible, without the aid of known agents, speedily to correct the errors which occasionally will arise. In 1798, the gross amount of postage was less than two hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars; in 1808, it exceeded four hundred and sixty thousand dollars. When the last general law on this subject was passed, (March, 1799) there were not more than five hundred and fifty Post Offices; now they exceed two thousand. Then there were not sixteen thousand miles of post road; now there are more than thirty-three thousand. Then the mail coaches did not travel over twenty-three thousand miles weekly; now their travel exceeds fifty-one thousand miles. Then the yearly transportation of the mails did not equal two millions of miles; now it equals five millions. Then it required to write from Portland to Savannah, and receive an answer, forty days; now it requires twenty-seven. Then it required thirty-two days between Philadelphia and Lexington, (Kentucky); now it requires sixteen. Then it required forty-four days between Philadelphia and Nashville; now it requires thirty. Then it required, between New York and Canandaigua, twenty days; now twelve. And most, if not all, the other mails, have been expedited proportionably, according to their relative importance. There were then employed in the General Post Office nine persons; now there are fifteen employed. He also transmits a bill, entitled "An act to establish post roads," which comprises nearly the whole post roads that are now established by any act of Congress, and all such as, in his opinion, ought to be continued. The roads are exhibited under districts, to facilitate the detection of error; and references to the several connexions are furnished in figures. In discharging this part of the duty assigned him, he has been influenced, generally, to assume the present state of this establishment by the following considerations: 1st. From the nature of our Government, it becomes a matter of the highest importance to furnish the citizens with full and correct information, and, independent of political considerations, the interests of society will be best promoted, particularly in the interior, by extending to it the facilities of this office. Nor can the seaboard complain, as it puts a profit on all that the interior produces for exportation, and on all it consumes from foreign countries. 2d. The unproductive routes have heretofore been reported, according to law, and have not been discontinued. 3d. The steady increase of postage received from the interior furnishes a reasonable ground to believe that, at a period not very distant, the revenue to be from thence derived will equal the expense of their routes, except the great connecting lines, which are essential to Government. But, although the present condition of the establishment is in general confirmed by the bill, still some few offices will be discontinued, where the expense bears no reasonable proportion to their utility; and, in every instance, by the new roads proposed, greater and more useful facilities are granted to the citizens of the State or territory. The bill also proposes some new post roads; they may be thus classed: 1. Where the benefit of this establishment can be extended to a considerable portion of citizens without an increase of expenditure. 2. Where there is reason to calculate that the products of the route will equal, or nearly equal, the expenditure it will occasion. 3. Where salt works and other factories have been established, which are of great public convenience and utility. Where new counties have been formed, and new seats of justice established; and the Postmaster General submits to the consideration of Congress whether it would not have a tendency to facilitate the views of Government, and to lessen the applications to Congress, if the Postmaster General was authorized by law to run a mail from the nearest Post Office to any new seat of justice which hereafter may be established, in case such seat of justice should not be on any existing post road. The various applications to Congress for post roads have been before this office for consideration. They embrace a great extent of roads, and would require a large additional expenditure, which, at this time, this office is not in a condition to bear. The bill embraces every new road which, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, ought now to be established. If Congress should grant these routes, it may become necessary to increase the postage, or to furnish funds directly from the treasury, or to reduce the number or speed of the mails on the present routes. It is essentially necessary for this office to be furnished with two additional rooms; and the Postmaster General takes the liberty to remark that the extra compensation allowed to the Postmaster of this city by the act of May, 1802, ought to be continued; and that a striking difference exists between the provision made for this office and that for the other offices, which doubtless has arisen from this consideration: that the labors of most of the other offices have diminished or remained stationary, while in this office they have increased nearly one hundred and fifty per cent. The difference is this: In the other offices, the full amount of the salary of the clerks is estimated in favor of the officers in the general grant, and the fifteen per cent. enables the officer to reward superior merit, and to defray the expenses of any extra services which might become necessary; but, in this office, the fifteen per cent. is a constituent part of the regular salaries of the clerks, and no fund remains subject to the discretion of the Postmaster General, either to defray the expenses of extra services, or to furnish the common evidence of approbation to the gentlemen by him employed, to which evidence it is believed they are as fully entitled as their brethren in any other office. No law exists by which a witness residing in one district can be compelled to attend any court in another district, in support of any criminal prosecution, or by which the public prosecutor can avail himself of the testimony of such witness. This defect very seriously threatens the interests of this office and of those who, through it, transact their business. There are now two prosecutions pending for robberies of the mail, and no reasonable doubt remains of the guilt of the accused; yet this office, at great expense, has unsuccessfully labored to produce the conviction of the offenders. At present, our principal security is, that this defect is not generally known. But, as it extends to all other offences, as well as to those against the Post Office laws, the Postmaster General believed it to be improper in him to introduce any provision on the subject in the Post Office bill. He, however, solicits Congress to provide some suitable remedy. All which is respectfully submitted. GENERAL POST OFFICE, February 21, 1810. GIDEON GRANGER, Postmaster General. 1810.] VIEW OF THE POST OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT FROM 1789 TO 1809. 43 [2d SESSION. CLAIM OF A MAIL CARRIER FOR A DISABILITY CONTRACTED IN THE DISCHARGE OF COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MARCH 23, 1810. The Postmaster General, to whom was referred, by order of the House of Representatives, on the 22d day of The petitioner was employed in conveying the mail as a driver of the mail stage, on the 2d of March, 1804, between Albany and Schenectady, when he was overtaken by a violent snow storm, which prevented the passage of the stage, and he took the mail on his back and conveyed it to the Post Office. From the violence of the storm and a cold which it produced, he wholly lost his eye sight, and has become dependent upon public charity. The petitioner is highly commendable for his exertions, and the unfortunate result is to be regretted. But it does not appear to the Postmaster General that this case is to be distinguished from that of other citizens who have been disabled while engaged in their ordinary pursuits. The circumstance occurred in a settled country, where there is already provision for the unfortunate poor, and where there is no occasion to encourage persons to enter into the public service with the hope of pensions, in case of disability. The case of Webb, which probably gave rise to this petition, is materially different; by passing through the Indian nations he was exposed to extraordinary hazard from the savageness of their habits, and his wound and disability proceeded from that extraordinary source of injury; his disability also occurred where there was no provision for the poor, and not within any State jurisdiction, and Congress were, of course, the only regular authority to whom he could apply for relief. The Postmaster General is, therefore, of opinion that Samuel Gordon ought not to be provided for by Congress. GENERAL POST OFFICE, March 23d, 1810. 11th CONGRESS.] No. 24. [2d SESSION. VIEW OF THE POST OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT FROM 1789 TO 1809. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 30, 1810. The Postmaster General, in obedience to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 25th instant, respectfully reports the following table, exhibiting a view of this establishment from the commencement of the year 1789, to the 1st of October, 1809, which is substantially correct: A reduction of revenue took place in consequence of the depression and suspension of com- 6,706 33 $765,521 84 These blanks are in consequence of the imperfect state of the books, arising from the infancy of the establishment; if the facts are capable of being ascertained, they cannot be filled without great research and labor. The little time allowed for furnishing this report precludes the idea of perfect accuracy, particularly as it relates to mileage and the number of post offices in operation in the several years. Neither the offices discontinued by order of the Postmaster General, or from other causes, nor the reductions of mileage effected by the arrangements of this office, have been attended to in this report. The increased expenditure beyond the mileage has arisen from the increased number and speed of the mails. All which is respectfully submitted. GENERAL POST OFFICE, April 29th, 1810. GIDEON GRANGER, Postmaster General. 11th CONGRESS.] No. 25. [3d SESSION THE PURCHASE AND FITTING UP A BUILDING FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND PATENT OFFICE. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ON THE 25TH OF JANUARY, 1811. To the House of Representatives of the United States: I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the superintendent of the city, stating the expenditures, under the act of April 28, 1810, for the better accommodation of the General Post Office, and Patent Office, and for other purposes. January 25, 1811. JAMES MADISON. Superintendent's OFFICE, Washington, January 19, 1811. SIR: In obedience to your direction to lay before you an account of the purchase of the building, and of the expenditure of the moneys, authorized by the act of Congress, passed the 28th of April, 1810, entitled "An act providing for the better accommodation of the General Post Office and Patent Office, and for other purposes," I have the honor to state, that, on the 21st of May, 1810, the building commonly called the Hotel, standing on the square numbered four hundred and thirty, in this city, together with the lots numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 14, in said square, containing 26,7914 square feet of ground, were purchased, for and in behalf of the United States, for the sum of ten thousand dollars; and that a deed of conveyance for the same, drawn by the Attorney of the United States for the District of Columbia, (who investigated the title of the grantors) has been duly executed and recorded, and is now filed in this office. That, since the purchase of said building, there has been expended thereon the sum of three thousand two hundred and sixty-eight dollars and twenty-six cents; and, on the public office west of the President's house, the further sum of one thousand three hundred and sixty dollars and eighty-two cents; leaving unexpended, of the twenty thousand dollars appropriated by the above recited act of Congress, the sum of five thousand three hundred and seventy dollars and ninety-two cents. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant, The PRESIDENT of the United States. THOMAS MUNROE. 11th CONGRESS.] No. 26. [3d SESSION. REMONSTRANCE AGAINST THE DELIVERY OF LETTERS, PAPERS, AND PACKETS, AT THE POST OFFICES, ON THE SABBATH. COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 31, 1811. The Postmaster General, in obedience to the resolutions* of the House of Representatives of the United States, passed on the 4th and 18th of the present month, respectfully reports: That, to keep the Government and its agents informed of such events as might be interesting to the nation, with as little delay as possible; to equalize, among the merchants of the several capitals, the chances of receiving commercial information; and to cause the great lines of communication to and from the centre to the various parts of the nation to be kept up with regularity and despatch, and the routes to be performed within the least time practicable; he has caused the mail on many of the most important routes to be transported on the Sabbath, under a belief that it was a work of necessity." 66 To guard against any annoyance to the good citizens of the United States, he carefully instructed and directed the agents of this office to pass quietly, without announcing their arrival or departure by the sounding of horns or trumpets, or any other act calculated to call off the attention of the citizens from their devotions; but, until after the passage of the act of the 30th April, 1810, this office never demanded of the Postmasters, on the Sabbath day, the performance of any duties, other than those of taking from the mail portmanteaus the letters destined for delivery at the particular office, and duly forwarding the mail according to the usual course of business. In all previous instances where letters were delivered to the citizens, it had been by the courtesy of the Postmasters, though often with the knowledge, and sometimes on the recommendation, of the Postmaster General. That, under and by virtue Referring to him two memorials, from sundry citizens of Philadelphia and New York, substantially similar, the first of which follows this report. |