The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-18
From The Portland .4merieaa.

LETTER FROM THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.-The
following letter from Hon. G. A Wicklfe, the Post
master General, we insert with pleasure We re-
peat what have had occasion TO say before, that
the suspension Of the Sunday mail, SO far as our own
city is interested is productive OF no endorsements
and meets with no complaint. II is in harmony, we
are satisfied, with the wishes of the great majority OF
our citizens. With reference TO the general ques
ton involved, have desire TO stir the ashes oil
an old and impassoned controversy; but must be al
lowed TO say that in all where the people VIII
consent to it, the transportation of mails on Sunday
should be stopped. The religious views-or preu-
dces perhaps would prefer 10 call them-of the
people on this matter should be respected far as
they possibly can be without deriment TO the public
interest.
The article from the Belfast Journal to which the
letter refers is as follows:
Tie Post Office Department is certainly most mis-
eraby managed, and requires sweeping and radical
reform. If 1.-THE of the blunlers, careessness, laz-
ness and general stupidity, evident in the management
OF ITS affairs at Washington, had occurred under MIR.
Kendall the federal presses would have rung unceas-
ing changes upon the String, from one extreme Of
the Union to the other until FALL the nervous people,
at least, would have thought the government itself
was tum5ling into pieces. We had no mail here from
the West on Sunday nor Monday nights last we
have Mail on Monday night; and on every night
in the week. it arrives several hours after it is due
and always some hours later, told, than it is
received at Bangor 80 miles east Of US. We believe
the want Of some conveyance across The rver--and
yet the same eTpense is undergone for the mail stage
comes in with Portland papers and etcrs, while with
a little management the whole western mail might
of course easily be brought There was no
such mbocllity in the department under Mr.. Kendall
and we wish that gentleman was in the lace Of
the present Inefficient incumbent 1t is TOO bad that
the important commercial and other interests of
great State shoad thus be affected by the ncapacty
| or most culpabe Indifference to his duty al single
fhnthe-fost Master General.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Sept. 9Th, lS43.
| Mr.. BENZ KINGsBURY, JR,
Edo Of the Portland american
| Sir The enclosed copy of an article taken from
| the Belfast Republican Journal, which some person
sent me, has imposed upon me the necessity of re-
uuesting you " i'll give place to the following state
meet Of facts that those interested in the mail service
may understand the TRUTH and judge the Department
by the facts
The editor of the Journal has right to form what
opinions OF me he pleases, and he may publish them
in his own language they will give me neither pain
nor pleasure. My object is TO satisfy the public Of
Maine that, as Postmaster General, have done for
them the best in the power of the Department
Prior TO the fall Of 1912, there was daily mail in
h. coaches between Portsmouth and Portland. In
October, 1872 the citizens of Portland pettoned
that the mail should be sent upon the Rail-
| road, then completed; and, 50 soon as
contract could be effected with the Company it
transferred from stage to the railroad. The
! Railroad Company would not consent TO
their train on the Sabbath. Upon being assured that
| the service six DAYS in the week upon the Railroad
between Portland and Portsmouth would be more ac-
ceptable to the public than the coach service daily,
readily consented TO accept the service. Whenever
the state of public sentiment Is such will autho-
rlze me to dispense with the mail service the Sab
bath day, | am most happy TO do The evil Of
which the editor complains if evil exist, arises from
| the fact that the Railroad Company will not run a
| train and carry the mail between Portsmouth and
Portland and must be better satisfied that the pub
lie wants and public interests deman this mail to be
sent between the two places on the Sabbath, before
order il to be done.
AS to the other failures ard delays Of the mail com
planned Of in the article, have no official report
from the Posmasters whose duty it is report upon
the subject When such report is made, the deln-
quent contractors, if any, will be attended to.
Very respectfully,
Your OBJ servant,
G. A. WICKLIFFE.