Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-14

/ procured by private agents. on any sudden emer-
eency On the routes south OF Washington, the
OBJECT OF the Postmaster General is well nigh &C
! complished, the moment his arrangement is made.
He the entire service of mail contractors on
their routes This and the organization of ex-
press or an encrease OF speed TO the present con-
Veyance OF the mail, will render the most nnpor-
tant service to the public.
! AS to the practcability of obtaining the neces-
sary iniormation TO transmit by express, in time
10 anticipate all private exertion, but little need be
said. When the measure shall be adopted, it will
De proper TO make known the means relied on for
us execution 1t may not, however, be improper
| 10 remark, that 1t cannot be supposed, the Post
master General, ever intended to communicate by
TINS mail, any thing more than what would be cal
eulateu 10 awaken suspicion, and enable every ci;i
zen 10 guard his interests, until the arrival OF the
regular mail. There, perhaps, never has been n
| private despatch sent important mail route
LOT tfree hundred miles, in this country where this
might not have been done by iudicously orsaniz-
ed express mail. And it may be effected with still
greater ease IN most cases, If contractors pro-
| hbited from afording any means of CONVEYANCE
TO anticipate the mail Information conveyed in
ths manner by the public express, could not mis-
lead or Induce speculation. Where is the injury or
inconvenience that would be likely to grow out of
| the experiment: As TO the objection that an ex-
press mail could only be APART of the routes
ana mat IT'S operations would be consequently par
/ -
lies against the entire mail operations. On some
routes, the mail is sent fourteen times a week on
Others seven, and on many but onse. The accom-
mooa'oh is gwen always, with "a reference to the
wants OF tie community. The same regulation
| would no doubt be made, should an express mail
be adopted 1t is submitted TO your own reflection
| whether any OF these arrangements, being made
with single eye the public interest are liable
TO the odious appellation of nterneddling with the
private affairs OF individuals The Postmaster Ge-
neral In his discretion, determines the frequency of
themail ON any route, " as in what manner il
shall be transported. He may send monthly,
weekly or daily mail, or may should he consider
that 1t would promote the public convenience, des-
patch second daily or weekly mail This is often
done where there has been failure to connect de-
pending mails, and 1t has never been supposed that
the service was improper.
! Suppose an embargo was laid or repealed, would
not be proper to send by express the intelligence
TO all our seapors' w ould not this be the duty of
the government, IN order that one section of the
country might not gain advantage over another ;
Ii II were possible, would not be desirable for the
Fost Once Department TO distribute the earliest i'm
portani news into every neighborhood throughout
the country! This would be productive of incalcu-
liable benefit 1t would apprise every person Of
The value of his property and thereby protect him
from the inordnate Spectator
| Would it be an improper interference by the 90
VerrHnent IN commercial transactions? Does com
merce depend for its success on the conceanent of
facts, which the law declares, renders a contract
| fraudulent and void?
All speculation which enrches few at the ex-
Pense OF many, IS injurious 10 a country Such a
course OF business Is to impoverish the honest
planter, and advance the SPECTATOR who is not un-
frequently foreigner, If native is sometimes
connected IN the transaction with some foreign mer-
camille establishment.
A very small portion OF our citizens engaged in
commerce, are benefited by specuIations procured
through the medium Of private dispatches who go
before the mail. 1t would be pleasing if the num-
Der OF those who suffer from these enterprises.
were as small. These spectators would be greatly
multiplied ii 1t were not Tor the daily dissemination
OF Intelligence, by the Post Office Department.
And can 1t be said that these mail accommodations,
eVince disposition by the government, 10 do any
any thing more than promote the general INTEREST,"
Should an express mail be adopted il will not
perform regular trips, and on this must be found
Cd every objection against IT, that can be entitled TO
serious consideration. This objection will be COM
pleteiy obVia'ed, II an arrangement be made which
WI! require the service OF this mail only, when it
wall promote the general interest Unless this can
be done, 1t - not believed, that it will be organ
lied.
We agree with the writer ofthe foregoing article
that the horses placed on the mail routes oupb, moi
10 be employed afford the means of rapid trans
portauon to private Dispatches That they belong
to, and are supported by the mail contractor il MOI
sufficient justification. They are procured Tor the
service OF the gov eminent, who pays fair consi-
deration; and TO use them for the conveyance OF
private intelligence, in anticipation Of the mail is
wrong on principle. If the withdrawal of Gill
ties thus furnished by contractors, will put down
private expresses, except between New York and
fhlIadelphla, we cannot see why the remedy should
be postponed until the expiration of tie present
contracts, unless there he sornefI,inr r.
which prevents 1t. The spirit and object OF con-
tract with the government to convey the mail.
would seem 10 preclude he contractor from iyertne
the very means of complying with his engagement.
to IN object intended partly to defeat the purposes
: Tor which he was employed and receives the public
money
1t certainly would be the duty Of the government.
IL an Einoargo were laid or repealed, to communi-
cate the fact to every section of the country. with
the utmost despatch l. would owe it 10 the peo-
pie to do so, as the measure originated with itself
and ats effect upon prices could admit of no doubt
But this IS case essentially different from an ari-
VA with political or commercial intelligence from
abroad. The character of that intelligence and the
difficulty OF Judging OF its effect on our markets
are subjects on which we have already commented
In reply TO that commentary the writer remarks
that II cannot besupposed the p. NJ General ever
intended to communicate by this mail any thing
more than what would be calculated TO awaken
suspicion, and enable every citizen 10 guard his in
terests until the arrival of the regular mail - II
tins thenbe the only design ofthe measure thought
Of by the Department, its adoption would be even
Tess DenehcIai, ana more productive Of injury, 10
portions oil the community, than we had stJDnosed
II deputy post master should be fortunate enopob
to get the important or secret intelligence brought
by foreign arrival, the propriety of putting Inc
express mails in motion must depend upon the onin-
ION ne may form OF its influence the markets