Postmaster-General

The chief officer of the postoffice department of the executive branch of the government of the United States. His duties, in brief, are, among other things, to establish postoflices and appoint postmasters at convenient places upon the post-roads established by law; to give instructions for conducting the business of the department; to provide for the carriage of the mails; to obtain from the postmasters balances due, with accounts and vouchers of expenses; to pay the expenses of the department; see U. S. v. Bank, 15 Pet. (U. 8.) 377. 10 L. Ed. 774; to prosecute offences, and, generally, to superintend the business of the department in all the duties assigned to it. He is assisted by four assistants and a large corps of clerks, — the four assistants being appointed by the president. lie must make reports annually to congress, relating chiefly to the financial management of the department, with estimates of the expenses of the department for the ensuing year.

R. S. § 413.

He is a member of the cabinet.

See R. S. §§ 3SS-414; Defartmknt; Officer.

POST NAT I (Lat.).

Those born after

Applied to American and British subjects horn after the separation of England and the United States; also to the subjects of Scotland born after the union of England and Scotland. They were held to be naturalborn subjects of the king of England; Calvin’s Case, 2 St. Tr. 559. Those born after an event, as opposed to antenati, those born before.

2 Kent 56; Cummington v. Springfield, 2 Pick. (Mass.) 395.

See Antenati.

See Antenati.