Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-23

Il
has mainly contributed to the frequent irreaul II
les OF the Western mails for the last twelve month
| respectfully inquire whe her il IS iust that the u
States mail shali he compelled to transport one u
these papers, weighing nearly pound, Tor cen
and half, from Boston or New lo,k to Lousy lie
NY. To factor, to sell for the benefit OF the pub
Usher, while the letter of friendship or Of bushes
| IS taxed with twenty-five ceu;s postage bttweer
| the same poin's
have already alluded to the establishment q
what are called private expresses, for the csuying
at letters, packages, and apers upon the post
roads OF tho United States, for paw and compensa'
ton, as one cause tending greatly to the reduction
oi the revenue Of the Department. | must beg
leave Hgain To bring the subject more particularly
to your notice, under hope that you will invite
that OF Congress ~ the necessity of some further
legislation more eec uay TO protect the interests
and the rights OF the General Government It's Post
Office Department.
II there is any Grant Of exclusive power to Con-
gress upon which all unite IN opinion 1t IS the pow
es tn establish post offices and post roads; and il
may iaisly I've assumed rs admitted principle,
that when Congr, IS, IN tbs exercise ol that pow
er, has established a poVrnad, tie right of State,
or the ind viiua's Of SIaIC e. establish lines OF
transportation, for letters, packages and newspa-
pers, upon and over the sumo roads, for cunpensa-
ton. cannot ec successfully maintained.
How FAR this usurred power has been exercised
ny individuals, and 10 what extent, am not fully
lu;oi med; hut the Information communicated To the
Department induced me to avail myself oil the ser
wees OF the First Assistant Postmaster General,
while on n temporary visit Of business TO Fhadel
phia, to collect and report to me such information
upon the subject as his other engagements would
permit; and have iha honor now TO submit to you
his report.
Another report from the First Assistan, Postmas
ter General herewith submitted, will present YOU
with a detailed statement OF the amount of mail
service for the year ending ,he 5Oth June lSi and
the rate o! cos: for the in each State and Ter.
haFx- .,-h IL. -.
service. by this report It viii appear that the L.
States mni was trurs?os;ed on railroads and steam
boats 1916. $50 miles AZ the cost of S5S5 S.3; on
horse nnd IN sulSoys l2,Css, SEQ miles. At a cost or
$751; ,so1 IN stages and IN coaches - 96l 2I3 miles
a, the cost OF Sl,79l,655 making total asgresst Ia
OF annual transportation of 81 99S, 525 niles az the
rate OF cost ri SO, 1885.
The act Of 1888 declares that "each railroad with
in the limits OF the United States which now j, or
hereafter may be comp eled sh,I I've A po>t road: -
and III that law, aud the act of 1899, provision. Ina.
ting the amoJnt beyond VIII en- the Postm 4. er &C.
neral IS prohibited from paying for tie transpor;a.
ton q! The mail on railways will he found.
Great emOarraSSnerts 20 the Dep ailments have
arisen IN the ms king q, contracts for the rrarspor-
tation OF the mail wi many of the rail read COM
panies, under the laws now in force. These en-.
haornssments ~ s. many from Two causes the one
that the price W Ich the Department Is en1blei 10
pay, whelher Ia rr,rontc 20 It's means or the maxi
mum hNet 10y the legislation OF Congress, mas been
ptnieS- The other arises from an unwlirgness OF
the part OF some Of the ccmpincs In run Ivy sche-
du!e Prescribed oy the Department; preferTing "a
run a. such times as will best SUIT the travel upon
the road; regarding as 1t is natural f,r them 20 do
The carrying OF the mail secondary TO the trIns
porietIon OF passengers. The latter evil has been
particularly felt in the great Southern mail, on its
transit from Washington city to New York TIE
mail gong South from New York IS necessarily
thrown upon the Philadelphia and Bhumore rail
rnid IN the night, O:lwseu Philadelphia and Bilu
more; and the Southern moi. tor New Yofkis COM
PEELED 20 lie over twelve hours m BiI'imnre unless
tie PTiaislphII Company can ne induced 10 run
that trip also IN the night This they have declin-
ed doing, unless the Department would nav them a
CONDENSATION greater han IS authorized by the Jaw :
oil Consrcss. Under n topr III. some lrfAngemt nj
could be made-to last during the session OF Con-
greSs, II no on.er-I Addressed To Presidents of
the RaIlrc.d Companies concerned IN lie transpor
ta'lon oi the mail hc wcCn The c;;y of Washington
ahu rev ioTk, letter, copy vi which, md the
report OF the First Assistant Postmaster General
upon this suhiec', are herewith submitted
An anxious desire 10 effect some permanent ar
rang with the raj road companies for the
transportation o. b. mai, upon bas's which sh /.
be Doth lus and uniform, cons dering the nature of
he service performed by each, induced me 10 in
v.te Z meeting OF the presidents Of the lifT.r.n.
companies, 10 the city Of Warrington on the Isl
OF January next, and ! nm sra'iirI O, the p-omnt
manner m which all VINO have been heard from
nave Consented 70 attend, aud hope is cherished
mat som. arrangement, satisfactory TO al parties
and beneficial 70 the public, may yet be eiFtc.eG.
The iupT, we'd N Ic OF INSTRUMENTATION by
RAJ. road I'd steam, operating under chartered rights
granted 10y the Stt;=s, AID OTer which It Is not pre-
t."iei mt tie q neral Government, much less the
Post Once Department, can exercise any contrcI,
lmHo.es upon Congress, IN my opinion, duties
an" Obligations. which can only be cancelled 10y the
a'opi.pn OF some u.faguTe whereby the Post Office
Dep m n; may, upon adequate consideration, Sc.
cure ~ compact the right 10 transport the mail IN
me cIrs OF ro!rnad companies, and at the same
time give to the Department the power to control
the departure and arrival Of the same.
There IS now paid To the different railroad com
panes, annually, over 100000 for the service, with
out power IN IN. Department to regulate the travel
arrival, and departure Of the mail; and Constant and
frequent difficulties, 10th in entering into and the eI-
ecution OF contracis, are presented.
Ut has occurred TO me that the present was mosl
favorable period tor the adoption OF some measure
by Congress, whereby TO secure N the United States
the risht 10 transport the mail upon these roads in
Tine 10 come. free Of any annual charge upon the
Post Once Department, by the advancement of
sum IN gross winch may he agreed upon, to each Of
lbese companies, such OF them us may he vii inr
to contract. Many or the railroad companies. and
some OF them constituting most important Inks IN
The great chain OF IntsrcOmmun.catIonb between Bos-
ton ana Charleston, owing TO the great arrangement
VI me monetary concerns OF the world md the de-
tlt'7''H "l h'l olile anu company Stocks md hem
selves lGhoung under embduassns nts and difficult
ties, which The aid Of the General Government, az
Pisd ~ the way proposed, would efFectually re-
move aud az the same time secure to the Uni. ed
STATES The ADVANTAGE and the ample equivalent Of
transporting the mil upon these roads.
Tie credit NJ the United States to an amount no,
greater than the sum necessary to produce at five
per cent interest, the amount paid Oy the Post Office
department to these companies annually, would |
have no doubt, be sufficient to accomplish this des.
rab'e end. The prompt and favorable action Of
Congress upon this subject az the present. time.
YOU'D tfsciUa,iy secure the Government against the
Danger OF being calico upon Tor occasional and large
appropriations TO meet the balances due by tho DE
plrment
Do ask the United States 10 do more for the Pos,
ONE Department shan Justice would seem 10 de.
mand, specially when It Is remembered that the
whole expense Of the official coreSpondence Of the
Government aud the public, and private correspnn.
dencs Of those entitled by law 10 the Thanking pti
vIiege, IS sustained and paid by tax upon the cor.
Tespondercc of the community H. w TIN. ar.
rtnsemeut, the Department 10 relieved from the
heavy annual charge as now rated, tand 1t has noi
ther the power to essen IL prevent It's ncresse)
II may be hoped that the object 80 much denanded
by considerations Of public justice THAT OF reducing
the tuA uiOn the friendly and business correspond
ence OF individually will he attained, and al the
same time, the usefulness Of the public mail greatly
enlarged and extended those portions Of tine Union
hitherto meesUrlJy denied the necessary mail facili.
ties.
u the Government was required 10 pay postage
upon official correspondence, and II the Thanking
privilege was abolished or reduced 10 proper limits
TIE revenue Of The Department would be increased
10 on amount Sufficient Of itself 10 pay the nteres,
upon the debt 10 be incurred by the proposed or.
nnsemen', and Nqul5ale the pnncipt IN less than
80 years.
] respectfully submit 10 the President the pro.
pue'y Of communicating 10 ConVress the Viz