New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-10
sggsg. sATURoAY r1oEssEN DECEMsER 10 ssaa

to you, that Congress should then legislare upof
this subject. Nothing has occurred since TO cause
me 10 doub. the correctness of the opinions theT
expressed. On the contrary. subsequent develop,
renrs have strengthened the views then obiruded
upon your consideration
Without the ght in ;ha Department to control
the arrival and departure OF the mails, regularity
and despatch cannot be expected. This il a right
which the railroad companies, in their periodical
contracts will not yield willingly; and, when they
do Weld it, make il ground to increase their de-
nands upon tho Department FOR Transporting the
mail. For the service Of railroad transportation
there never can be competition Why, then, sub
iect tbs Department 10 the useless ceremony OF
advertising periodically for bids to carry the mail
on railroads. requiring II TO take the lowest bid,
when there will be but bid for the same route
Each letting has therefore been. and wil!hereatter
be- but an invitation to the companies to increase
the prices previously pad.
1t is in vain TO disguise the fact that the United
States are compelled to employ these roads as car
riers of the mail Justice and policy alike require
OF the Government 10 send the mail by the most
expeditions means OF conveyance, and 1t cannot
employ any of It's creation equal to the raul
roads. Asa Government, II cannot, b. legislation,
control those companies which have their corporate
existencehy State enactnents. The United States
must therefore purchase the right, and the ques-
ton presented is whether it is best to purchase
this light every four years, for the period OF the
charter Of the road
It's more question of ability at this time, on
the par; Of the Government, than policy, in my
humble petition
The plan which | proposed that Congress
should authorise tho Department to purchase this
right into the sti pulations OF contractwhthe
companies, and report those contracts, as made
from time to time 10 Congress, TO be binding only
when ratified by Congress. Nothing dangerous
can arise from thus treating with the companies
No enlargement of Executive power is asked On
the contrary, it is proposed To Subjec: Executive
power directly to the controlling influence OF Con-
gIess. As the law stands. the Department
has the power to contract with these companies
for four years, with nominal limitation as to the
amount to be paid them per mile. Surely no dan
ger can arise to public liberty Legislative au-
ihority by authorising the Department to make
provisional permanent contract, subject to the aP-
prevail of both Houses of Congress.
The great question involved is, whether Con-
gress should make these contracts, and pay the
consideration out of the resources OF the Govern
ment, or whether the Department shall levy the
amount by continuing the present rates or post
age upon letters, and in all time to come, devote
so large portion thereof to the payment for rail-
road transportation, as to deny even the hope to
the more distant and less favored portions of our
country of any increased mail facilities The cost
of railroad nspertation for the last year stands
ut S432, 568 The whole length Of mail road in
the United States is 1922 miles, costing So
O97 ,7o6. OF this length Of mail road, Only B, 0ol
miles is railroad transportation, at cost of s432
sos. Only one forty-eishth part of the whole
number of miles costing one-seventh part OF the
gross
repeat the inquiry made former occasion.
Is it Just that the whole burden of the public
respondence, now nearly equal 20 halt million OF
dollars annually, should be sustained by tax upon
the business and friendly correspondence of the
community? If the Government eXacts from the
citizen no more than the and expense of trans
porting b, letters, he has ri ht to complain,
but when an additional SUMS wanted to defray the
expenses of transporting the correspondence OF
the Government and its officers, that sum, like the
tax for every other public service, should be drawn
from the common resources of the country.
1t is proposed that, in lieu of an annual drain
from the Treasury to pay the postage upon the pub
lie CORES ponderce, the United States secure
and pay for the perpetual right to transport the
mails over railroads Can this right be now Sc
worthy to be tested by fair experiment. am OF
opinion it can be secured upon most, if no1 all OF
the important roads uaon reasonable terms and
and with ample guarantees
1t is no part of the business of this Department
to speak of the effects which such contracts with
the railroad companies would produce upon public
credit both at home and abroad. The effects,
whatever they may be for good, are not lncldenta!
to the great object be attained in reference TO the
mail service OF The United States.
Entertaining these opinions upon this subject, |
pray you to allow me most respectfully to press
them upon your consideration.
Public opinion seemed SO strong in favor Of re-
duction of postage upon letters, that it could be
regarded in no other light than demand upon
those having the power over this subject nave
felt It's influence but have been unwilling to act an
advisedly in any recommendation might make
upon the subject. 1t twill be remembered that Eng
land recently reduced her rates of postage. ne
effect upon the revenue, and upon the amount OF
mail matter, | was anxious TO know. For this,
and other objects connected with the operations OF
this Department, availed myself OF The services
Of General Green in November last, who was about
to visit England and France upon private business,
and instructed him to make certain investlsat,oss
and inquiries. The result of his Investigations
may De seen by reference 10 MS report " "''
copy of which accompanies this.
The dissimilarity in the government OF the two
countries as well as the difference in the extent OF
territory, induce to doubt whether the same
system of mail service and rates of postage could
be safely adopted in the United States.
One fact, however, is clearly developed by the
report of General Green, that, since the reduction
of postage in England. the number of letters maled
has greatly increased forbear to tfoable you
with any particular suggestions upon this SUBJECT
because ii has been duty devolved upon me by