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perceiving nothing in the duties pertaining to the Department of State which would conflict with those he had been called upon by his fellow citizens to discharge, I requested 85 his superintendence of that Depart- ment, until such time as it might be permanently filled, by the selec- tion of some other person. To this request, he cheerfully assented ; 86 and I now have much pleasure in acknowledging the advantages which have resulted from his services to the country; and the benefits which have been conferred upon myself individually, by his councils in my cabinet. His report 87 together with that 88 of the Attorney General, is herewith submitted. Some revision of the laws under which the Post- office Department was organized, seem to be necessary to secure a strict accountability of its officers, and a more prompt and efficient manage- ment of its affairs. Heretofore, this important branch of the Govern- ment has been so conducted, as to afford but little benefit to the people; :and in some instances to produce serious embarassments in transacting the business of the nation.- That it has failed almost entirely to :answer any useful purpose to the Government, the Executive has had frequent occasion to regret, without the power of remedying the evil, as the law 89 seems to have been so construed, as to place the acts of its officers beyond the reach of executive supervision or control. The policy may well be doubted of rendering an important branch of Gov- ernment irresponsible and independent- or of placing its account- abillty so remote and difficult of access that no adequate remedy can be applied in time to relieve the country from such serious evils as may flow from the inefficiency or culpability of its officers. The pres- ent condition of the Department will be seen in the accompanying report 90 of its acting head. The act 01 of the last Congress creating a board for the examination and auditing of claims against the Government, went into operation a few days after the adjournment; and the tribunal thus constituted, continued to adjudicate upon all claims presented to its consideration, until the Executive felt constrained from a sense of duty to suspend its operations, that Congress might have an opportunity of re-exam- ining the law, and making such amendments to its provisions as would prevent the injuries to the Government, which experience has shown, were likely to result from its present shape. 92 ' The act as it now stands gives to the Board a jurisdiction more extensive it is believed, both. as regards the subjects upon which it is authorized to act, and the amounts to be decreed, than was ever con- ferred upon any similar tribunal. With the single exception that the claims were to be against the Government and not otherwise provided for by law, there were no restrictions as to the character or the amount
"See no. 1305 . ..See no. 1306. 87 See note 07 to no. 1529. ••This report is not found among the Texas archives. ~ "'See Gammel, H. P. N., Laws of Texas, I, 1226. 90 This report has not been found among the Texas archives.
"Sep no. 1029. "Cf. no. 1500.
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