Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-14
TuE MAIL AND TuE MONOPOLY

As great efforts made 10 prejudice the public
mind with regard to the stand taken BY the Postmaster
General in defence of the public interest and convc.
nicncc against the eXorbtant demands of Railroad
Monopoly we copy the following sensible article from
one of the most decided Opposition papers in Virgi-
gibuld uis &iGhut SB"u irthGna '&nGf" f sn2Gi
important consequences What would be thought
of IA turnpike company which should refuse to ira
weller the privilege of carrying letters And IN what
respect docs railroad differ from any other public
highway Must the Government submit 10 the most
exorbitant demands of companies unrcstraincd By
competition or the public be deprived of the common
right Of transmitting information by these new chan
ncs of conveyance. These grave questions, which
should not be decided upon partisan grounds. Under
an acauicscnr Postmaster General, there would be
limit 10 the drain upon tie Treasury by TIE demands 81
these nonopolics. Let the Department yield hut
and il is in their power and at their mercy. This is not
the first time that similar efforts have been made Ia
cocrcc the Government into submission but, hitherto
the frmncss Of the head Of the Department has re-
sisted cxoron with success, though ut the expense Of
much obloquy and odium The public should sustain
the Postmaster General III contest for its rights and
interests. if he consulted his ease alone, he would
not thus incur the animcs:tics Of the rich and the
powerful But he is willing TO make this sacrifice fol
the public good and to expose himself 10 all lis
qucnccs in the attempt TO save the country from a
CROWN. tribute which may soon amount 10 millions.
(Irom the Frr'erichsbRrg 7r,nt.J
The Postmaster General has carried INTO execution
his intention 10 convey the mail between Philadelphia
and Baltimore, by means of the Philadelphia and Co
luinba and York and Baltimore Railroads. There i:
no railroad between Columbia and York, and, FOR hi:
distance, the mail is carried in wagons. Tie expert
ment SO far has not worked well, and much dissats
faction has been expressed in the two cities We hope
however, the Department will not rclinqu!sh the
scheme. 1t offered to the Philadelphia and Baltimore
Company the maximum allowance authorized by law
which was rejected, and every indication given of
disposition to cXtort cyorbtant compensation
Under these circumstances, we do not blame the Post
master General for eavorn- to make an arrangement
which would prevent detention Of the mail for eight
hours in Philadelphia. The Great western mail is car
RED by railroad 10 Chnmbcrsburg, whence il takes tht
usual course BY the national road the mountains
Travellers will follow the mail, and thus the Fh!ade
piia and Baltimore road be the sufferer. We hope
however, that The matter will be accommodated, and
the mail be brought on South, without the delay OF
eight hours in Philadelphia.
In England the Railroad Companies, presumng up
on the dependence Of the Department on their iac
ties asked about SIR times much for the transporta
ton of the mail, it cost TO carry it by coaches Par
lament in granting the charters, like our Legislature
omitted to make provision for the transportation q" tic
mail on equitable terms. But Parlanen: 10 onnipo
tent and an c1 posi- fncio law passed last session
recurring the companies in Of difficulty rs 10 price
10 submit the question arbitration. similar law, q
course cannot he enacted here by either the State oil
National Legislature, and the matter must be LEI! TO Tho
,nutual interests of the parties interested.