Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-27
Posi- OFlYCE DEP ARrhfENr.


Its scarcely necessary for the writer the follow
ing Article, and the Department by which he employ cd that
the fact which he assumes in his very first sentence
and UNJUST 'nsnua,On in relation to ourselves We Ind in
tended TO strike 1t from the Communications but Weld
ihe wish Of the writer giving the public hi. gratu,ou,
dcnoe Of the hostility and denuneiaon which the Liberty Of
the Press may he expected TO excite. Our paper has ala>
been, aud always will continue be- "open TO the
fullest discussion Of public lSome Of the structure
public officers publish with great pain Thatuuh may
be elected n"dpuble good promoted both
sides Of every subject, published with equal ponptude
and willingness. We tha, seryty men in which
prompts eternal strain Of aduaun and aite, induces
Press to withhold from the people complaint, against the
duct Of their
To Editors ofthe Enquirer
GENTLEMEN As your columns seem TO be
open to any statement, however unlounded, to the
prejudice of tie Post Office Department, have no
doubt that you will afford an opportunity, through
the same CHANNEL olreluting any charges made, by
simple statement of facts
One who stiles himself 90 One from the East -
has violently assailed the Department, for making
a change in the manner of transporting the mail
between Richmond and Iynchburg He alleges that
this change shews toal indifference to the public
interest, and, as champion of the people he COM
plains in their behalf Let the facts be stated and
then any man of ordinary reflection can at once de-
Every one knows, that between the cities of Rich
mond and Lynchburg, there is considerable com
merce, and that there perhaps no two points in
| Virginia. between which, it is more important to
have safe and rapid communication. Under the
late contract, the mail three DAYS in passing be-
tween these points, each trip. Two mails were
sent weekly in stage, one on tie nearest direction
the olLer on a circuitous route, by the way OF
Buckingham courthouse, and Gainesville, encreas-
| ing tie distance nine or Ten miles
As tie stages by this arrangement ran on different
routes the teams OF horses necessarily divid-
ed, so that the progress each line was very slow
The compensation paid, would non admit of suf-
ficient number of teams each road, for a rapid
movement. The hardness of the mol induced
merchants and others 10 embrace any prva-e OPP
portunity, that offered transmit their letters and
very frequently, special messengers were despatch
cd, when important business required speedy
| communication.
On account OF the slow travelling and of the
encreased distance of one of the stage routes pas
sengers preferred any other means OF conye, ance,
TO the stage. So that under this arrangement, they
were not accommodated with the ordinary benefits
OF stage, and the commercial interests could have
derived but little benefit, from the mail.
Under these circumstances, l am informed, a
change was made by the Post Master General, at
the pressing solicitation OF the Hon Mr. Tucker
The change was this. The contractor was directed
TO convey both mails the shortest route and in
one day less in each trip, than before This requires
travel of sixty miles day, while the former rate
oil travelling per day, was 10 miles. BY this ar
rangement, the Contractor placed all his teams on
the same route which enabled him to give the en-
creased speed, with great ease. Any one capable
oil estimating the value OF having rapid commune
cation by mail, will al once see the importance of
sending letters between Richmond and Lynchbure
IN two days instead OF three. By the change, the
revenue will De greatly encreased and the public ac-
commodatlon advanced in still greater degree
Passengers viii also be much bc,;er accommodate
ted and the stage line, better supported These al
the benefits. What are the inIumes, about which
so much has been said? A weekly mail is sent on
horseback, all tie Offices on the circutous route
so that they receive their intelligence precisely as
formerly. The entire mail on this route, does not
weigh, on an average, thirty weight. There is
no ground OF complaint account of mail accom-
modaIons, but ior-sooth, the stage passes no lon
ger by Buckingham &c. as formerly. This is
dreadful Tyranny! The contractor win state, that
Tor year past, ne has not received fifty dollars
Tor passage money from persons living on the cir
cuitous route
Let any man OF common sense, Judge of this
change--I DO not address myselfto " One from the
East, as lie seems 10 be above facts.
AS neither the people of Richmond nor Lynch
burn, seem TO set any value on their interests which
have been consulted and which induced this change,
but rather join in the complaint it is to be hoped,
that the Postmaster General will crafty them by re-
Stunning the former arrangement, and that he will
hereafter, be cautions how he makes any changes
on this route, however much they may be called for
by the public interest
CoRRECToR'
To the Editors Of fhe