Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-12
THE MAILS,

THE MAILS.
The fredericksburg Arena, has devoted one or
two articles recently to the irregularities of the mails
subject which We had designed taking up our
selves, and in its structures upon the mail agents,
has extorted from one Of them MIR Z l. Reynolds
card in reply. MIR Reynolds IN his reply throws
the responsibility upon the Post Masters or rather
divides the blame between them, and the printing
Offices, and he holds the agents, what we have ever
conceived them to be, irresponsible officers. His
reasoning, however, is fallacious, and he by no
me meets the questona issue. The writer Of this
having for several years paid attention to the mail
Ing department in this Office, speaks from expc-
r'ence, when he joins the Arena in saying, that,
whatever may be the of the present failures,
nisvery "certlin that we had nothing like these ir
Irregularities before the plan of Travelling Agents
was adopted" and among the many reforms which
we hope to see carried out under the new admins
tra,ion, tina Of abolishng Travelling Mail Agents,
VIC trust, will DC among the first. The only argu-
ment in their favor is little despatch to the
mails, amounting to two three hours between
New York and Richmond, for which the Govern.
ment pays an annual sum fnear SIS 900. Upon
the whole great Northern and Southern line, the ex
pense Of these Agents, including salaries at $500
each, cars fitted up specially for Post Offices, Sc
cannot fall much short OF $4,000. And for
what is this enormous tax levied upon the Govern
mcn2 Merely for the sake Of few hours expedi-
ton to the mail, which is but prei,nee at best.
The plan was originally an Ofiice-making scheme,
and should be abolished without, delay. But our
business now is more particularly with MIR Rev.
nolds's Card.
Here Is the only portion of IT, that touches on the
failures the rest being devoted to the Editor Of the
Arena;
The Post Office Agents have not as YOU may
suppose, the hauding OF oil the matter intended for
the fredericksburg disiribution-iar from it-Oth-
erwise, It would be impossible to perform one fourth
part OF the duties required Of them Special Mails
are made up at the Washington CITY Post Office di
rect for Fredericksburg, also at one or more of the
Pnntrg Offices, in Richmond. Being instructed
land very properly tool-to touch no mail, not d.
reeted TO us, IS not to be expected that we are to
pry into such Mails, TO ascertain whether or not
every package is properly sent. This is not our
provinee-and, indeed, il il were, it would be more
than we could perform, and, at the same time. mete
ont an equal degree of justice all other offices on
the route, equally interested. Then, sir, YOU will
at least, exempt us from whatever blame NAV at :.
taeh to the offices, where such mails are originally
made up.
"You complain OF ''Rickmond p1pers going to
Washington and returning to Frcdericksburgn I
can only add, that the fault lies not with the Agents
l learn that, at the Washington CITY Post Office
In the paper mail which they receive either from
the Richmond Post Office or the Printing Offices.
u Is frequently the case that packages of papers
are received, which should be sent 10 the FEEDER
icksourg Post Offiee-even directed to Fredericks-
burg"
The attempt here to shift responsibility by say
ing that the "asents have not the handling Of all
matter intended for the Fredericksburg distribution
Is a poor one, indeed. We cannot speak OF the
moce OF mailing the papers in Washington, but
we can Of that in Richmond; and we emphatical-
ly say that by the system OF mailing here especial.
ly in the two political Offices every package intend.
ed for distribution at Fredericksburg, as well as
the Fredericksburg package itself, and those tina
branch off at the Junction aud take the Louisa
lne' must pass through the hands Of the mail agent
if he is true to his trust. No Especial mail" is made
up at this office, nor do we think in any other print
ing office in the city, "direcr" for Fredericks.
burg.
The mode in .his!ofice land it is one that was
given to usiby the Post Office here) is to put up all
paek'ses,-those that take the Louisa line at the
Junction, those for the intervening Offices between
This and fredericksburg, as well as those that are
distributed at that Office, in one bag. labelled
"FTedsriekSbTg Rail Road agent" IL is his du-
ty to open this bag and drop the papers at the
various Offices the line and TO separate those that
take the Louisa line, and give them the proper d.
reciion when he gets to the Junction. Should he
Tail to perform either Of these duties, the pa
pers are thrown out Of their regular course Of
mail and it is several days or possibly week before
subscribers living within 50 miles Of the city get
their papers.
Under this system, it is evident that all failures
land there are not few to receive the Richmond
papers at Louisa c. II. on the day of their pubca-
ton, and in fact that entire line alone nttribu
table TO the careessness Of the agent on the Frede.
rieEsburg Rail Road, who has thcm under his en-
tire control ofter they leave this city IL has been
urged as reason for not not making up separate
bag for the Offices on the Louisa line, intervening
between this and Charlottesville, that in that case
the whole mail passed the Junction and returned
from Fredericksburg the next day, whereas. by put
ting all together in bag, at least some Of the
packages obtained the right direction.
Our object m being thus particular in stating the
mode Of mailing papers at this Office, is to place the
blame where we believe it justly belongs, upon
the heads Of those who distribute the mails after
they leave this city.
Irregularities are also caused through the system
Of travelling agents, by the substitution Of stranger
on the line, in cases where tho regular agent is sick
or absent. Unless a perfect connection is kept up.
which is impractcsbIe, the whole system is a mere
farce, and should bo done away with at once. Give
US the old mode Of mailing. Let Tho mails be distri-
buted al the regular distributing Offices lie, the pro.
per direction DO glvon to the papers by the post
masters IN the place where they mailed, and then
the responsibility is with tho printer and the post,
master at his door, and any neglect Of duty on the
part Of either can be traced at once.
TVS PoroHGo BoGrs-Tho Potomac is free
from ice, and the boats have resumed their daily
frins "N