Speech #610108273

It is a valuable instrumentality for the public good. The rapid interchange of thought. news and business. as afforded by the modern postal service. has been a mighty factor in enabling the people of the United States "to form a more perfect Union. establish Justice. insure domestic tranquillity. provide for the common defense. promote the general welfare. and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." for which purposes the people of the United States established the Constitution. In section 8 of the Constitution the Congress is vested with legislative powers over the revenues. commerce. the courts. naturalization. coinage. postoffices and postroads. the army. the navy. the militia. and given general legislative power to make necessary laws. An important feature of section 8 provides that "the Congress shall have power * to establish postoffices and postroads." The Federal Government thereby became possessed of a monopoly of the postoffice business of the United States. Our forefathers appreciated the necessity of possessing adequate channels of communication. and they framed the constitutional stipulation accordingly.