Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-21

Department, to recommend reduction Of the rates Of
postage, rs now fixed by law, but invite modification
o. them SO far make them conform more generally
Ia The SMALLER Din OF the L. ), and solicit revision
OF the laws regulating the postage newspapers. !
do not desire that The rates OF postage on newspapers
proper should be increased, though much light be saved
TO The Department If the principle Of pre- postage
applied TO newspapers, provided such EQUATION was
deemed acceptable TO public opinion. must, however,
earnestly Invtc your attention. and hope yon Will call
that OF Congress, 10 the necessity IL the enactment OF
some law by which JUS! discrimination may ~ made
III ihe imposition OF postage on newspapers proper,
and those mammoth periodicals which assume Ina
/ shape and name Of newspapers, but which are, in
fact tie republication Of books, reviews, and novels,
sen, through the posi- Office, not always to snbscri.
bers, bar III large masses 10 agents, to vcnd III the
markets nj the more distant Giles, towns, and vii
lagos, which greatly increase tie size aud weight OF
the mails, uDd III" expense If transportation, without
corresponding remuneration % The Department The
grca. nu5sSqs tnc"r large publications when have
been sent By The mail from Baltimore 10 Wheeling las
mainly contributed 10 the frequent irregularities OF tie
Western mails for the las, twelve months. respect
fully inquire whether il Is jGst that ;e United States
mail shall be compelled II transport one q these papers
weighing nearly pound for cent and q halt, from
Boston New York II Louisville, Ny, TO factor, 10
sell for The benefit ri the puhsher while the letter 81
friendship OF business is taxed with twenty .iHe cents
postage between tie sauic points.
have already alluded 10 the establishment OF what
called private expresses, for the carrying OF letters
packages and newspapers upon HE post roads OF the
nted States Tor pay aGd compensation a. one cause
tending greatly Ia the reduction Of the revenue .! the
Department. must beg leave again 10 bring the sub.
cc; particularly 10 your notice. under hope that
you will invite that Of Congress 10 the necessity Of sone
further legislation ei.cually u protect the inter
es;s and The rights Of the General Government ~ s
Post Office Department.
Ii there aHy grant Of exclusive power 10 Congress
upon which al unite III opinion, II Is the power . es'
absh post Offices and post roads; nna II MAJ fairly be
assumed admitted principle, that when Congress,
III tie exercise Of that power has established post
road, the right OF State, the individuals OF State,
establish lines Of transportation for letters, pack
uges and newspapers, upon and over the same roads,
for compensation, cannot lie successfully ma'n;aine !
How far this usurped power has been exercised by
individuals, and To what extent, am not fully inform
ed but tie information communicated IL the Depart
m.nt induced 10 avail myself oi the services 81 The
FIRST Assistant Postmaster. General, while tempo
rary visit of hl3nc Philadelphia, to collect and re-
port 10 me such information upon the SUBJECT as hs
other engagements would permit and nave Inc honor
uom In subject To YOU his report.
/ Another 70 port from the FIRST Assistant Postmaster
General herewith submitted, viii present you with
detailed statement 81 the amount Of mail se::icc Tor
the wear ending the 3uta Of June leIl and Tie rate Of
cost nr the same in each State and Territory, disn-
CRUSHING between each character oil service. by this
report il will appear that The L. :. mail was transport
ed on a!roads and steamboats, ,9iG,io0 miles q tin,
cost Of ;sJ:5,-:3 horse and il sulkeys 21sS,cU2
miles, a, the cost Of SCI; in stages and coaches
Is a6I 23 miles, at the cost Of 81 ,19 .G.sj making
total aggregate II annual transportation Of 3i,6, 12o
niles al the rate Of cost Of ;s:i,lo9315.
TIE act Of ISIS declares that leach railroad wi,hln
the limits OF the L. : which is or hereafter may
ae completed sha.! b. q post road; and III that law
and lie act ot lc, provisions limiting the amount he
ynni which the Postmaster. General !. prohibited from
paying or the transportation d the NAL on railways
viii be found.
Great cmbarrassmens 10 the Department have arisen
IN The maxim. Of contracts for the transportation Of the
mail u many Of the railroad companies, under Inc
laws now IN force. These EMBELLISHMENTS arse nam
IL from two causes. the one, that The price which the
Department is enabled 10 pay, whether IL reference IL
is means or the MAXIMUM fixed By the legislation Of
Congress- has been deemed inadequate b. many q the
principal companies. TIE clnef aT'ses from al nnwll-
inoness on me part OF the companies to run ~
schedule pre- scrbrd hy the Department; pseieIfiEg 10
run at such times wi best suit the travel upon lie
road regarding natGt. :ur them 10 do, the carry
ing oil the mail secondary - the transportation oi pas-
scnrers The latter evil has been particularly tel n me
great Southern mail liz transit f.on Washington city
10 y. York Tie :.:ail going South from y. York is
cesyarily thrown UPON The Philadelphia and baltimore
railroad in The night, between Philadelphia and Balli
morc and the Southern mali for y. af IS compelled 10
lie over twelve hours in baltimore unless the f!i!adel.
mia company be induced 10 run That trip also ~
,hc nrht This they have declined doing, unless the
than is authorized BY the aws OF Congress Under
hope tina, arrangement could DC made--io last
during the session oi Congress- u 10 iongeT-l nd
dressed TO the Presidents of the Railroad Companies
concerned in the transportation Of the mail between
the city OF Washington and New York, letter. copy
of which, and The report Of the FIRST Assistant Post
master. General upon tins subject, are herewith sub
mitcd.
An anxious desire 70 effect some permanent arrange
men with the railroad companies Tor the ranspoFia-
pf tle ma
and uniform considering the nature OF the service per-
formed py each induced 10 invite meeting OF the
presidents Of the different companies, IN the cily oil
W,sh;nrton on the Isl Of January next; and am
rra,liisd at the prompt manner in which all who have
been heard from have consented to attend and hope
* cherished that arrangement, satisfactory 10 all
parties and beneficial 10 the public yet be effected
The improved mode oi INSTRUMENTATION by ran
road and steam, operating under chartered rights
Granted by the States and which is not pretend
ed that the General Government, much less the fost
Office Department. can exercise any CONTROL imposes
upon Congress, in my npnlon new duties ana opiisa.
tons which can only be cancelled by t!2 adoption OF
some measure whereby the Pos, Office Department
may npon adequate consideration secure by compact
the right 10 transport the mail in the cars ot railroad
companies and the same tine give TO the Depart
mont The mower to control the departure and arrival OF
the same.
There il now paid 70 the different railroad companies,
annually over 100000 for the service, without power
eoa,lurc Of the mall aud constant and frequent dill
cui,,es both in entering into and the execution ocon-
tracts, are presented
II has occurred 10 me that the presen; vas most
favorable period nr the adoption OF some measure Dy
c,,,esa whereby Ia secure to the United States the
rrht To transport the mail upon these roads IN all time
to come free Of any annual charges upon the fos'
Office Department, By the advancement OF Suhl ~
cross which may be agreed upon, TO each oil lhese
comnanies or such thc may be willing to contract
MANY of the railroad companies, and some OF them
constituting most important links in The great cham oil
mic communication between Boston aud Charleston,
owng to the great arrangement Of the monetary con,
Germs Of the world md the depression OF all State and
company stocks, find themselves laborlng under en-
barrassnents and difficulties which tine aid OF the Ge.
neral Government, applied in the way proposed wond
efec,uay remove and at the same tine secure 10 the
L. g. the advantage and the ample equivalent OF trans
porting the mail upon these roads.
The credit Of the L. S 10 an amount not greater than
the sum necessary to produce al five per cent interest,
jo amount paid BY the Post Office Department TO these