United States v. Roberts
Supreme Court of the United States
This case was brought up, by writ of error, from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Illinois. It was an action of debt, brought by the United. States in the Circuit Court, on ,an official bond against John S. Roberts, who had been postmaster at Springfield, Illinois, and Jam'es F. Reed and James Adams, his sureties. The facts in the case were these.
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This case was brought up, by writ of error, from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Illinois. It was an action of debt, brought by the United. States in the Circuit Court, on ,an official bond against John S. Roberts, who had been postmaster at Springfield, Illinois, and Jam'es F. Reed and James Adams, his sureties. The facts in the case were these. On the 3d of March, 1825, Congress passed an act (4 Stat. at Large, 112), the thirty-second section of which enacted as follows, viz.: — • “ That if any postmaster shall neglect to render his accounts for one month after…
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Wayne
delivered the opinion of the.court.
There cannot be either security or efficiency in the business of the Post-Office Department, unless its receipts ánd disbursements are. made Upon a fixed plan. It must be executed, too, with uniformity and rigor. The duties of its officers must be definitely prescribed, and enforced without relaxation. Nor will there be either safety' or justice for the country, if the forms enjoined for receiving and paying money are permitted to be disregarded by its deputies. The establishment under our system must be made to support itself.
It is extended from day to day…
2Cited by4 opinions
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