from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
POSTMASTER GENERAL. The chief officer of the post office department of the
United States. Various duties are imposed upon this officer by the acts of
congress of March 3, 1825, and July 2, 1836, which will be found under the
articles Mail; Post Office and Postage.
2. The act of February 20, 1819, 3 Story's L. U. S. 1720, gives the
postmaster general a salary of four thousand dollars per annum and that of
March 2, 1827, 3 Story's L. U. S. 2076, declares there shall be paid,
annually, to the postmaster general two thousand dollars, in addition to his
present salary.