more economical the post-office department must be, and the more
money the government must raise from the tariff."--_Cleveland
Herald._

"Mr. McDuffie is reported to have made the following correct and
just remarks, showing he understands well the operations of that
Department. If the bill shall become a law, our word for it, that
in less than six months one-fourth the offices in the Union will
be discontinued, because nobody will be found who will keep them.
But let the bill go into operation, and in less than twelve months
the very clamorers for low rates of postage will become so sick of
it, that they will be the first to unite in demanding its repeal.
If we supposed our advice would have any influence, we would
recommend to the Department and all Postmasters to hold on to the
old books, arrangements and fixtures, even if the bill does pass,
because in two weeks after Congress shall meet next year, it will
be repealed and the old order restored."--_Kentucky Yeoman._

" 'Mr. McDuffie rose, evidently much excited, and after expressing
his regret that bodily infirmity disabled him to give the strength
of his convictions in regard to the evils which would flow from
the bill, he protested against its passage, as a measure more
radical and revolutionary than anything that had ever been done by
Congress. He denounced it as most unjust. It removes the burden
from those who ought to have it, the manufacturers and merchants
of the North, and throws it upon the farmers of the South and
West, who are already oppressed by the tariff, and who will have
to pay the expense by a tax on their necessaries.

" 'You will sacrifice the intelligence of the people to the
rapacity of the manufacturers. He could not imagine that the
agriculturist anywhere could feel postage as a burden; it is but a
moderate compensation for services rendered by the government. A
poor man pays $10 duty on his sugar, salt and iron, and now you
make him pay the postage. You will break up one half of the
smaller offices, you will in ten years make the post-office the
greatest organ of corruption the country has ever seen, and the
man who wields its patronage can command the sceptre. By throwing
it on the treasury, you destroy the responsibility of the head of
the department, and in ten years you will have it