The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-16


New Orleans presses contain no notice OF the news
brought, but learn that the intelligence Is believed
TO be pacific. Capt. Connor am informed forwarded
depatches TO the Secretary OF the Navy, informing
HIM OF his arrival AT Vera Cruz, and l understand
that he saluteu the fort and his salute returned
and he had been treated with great kindness and
courtesy by the authorities, and all his wants offered
10 be supplied. This news does not look much
like non-lntercourse or war either and would ind
cate that the sober second thought had over
the Mexicans and very probably the presence OF an
American nanot-war would tend very materially
10 deepen the sober second thought, and render war
improbable believe that the Administration here
are under no apprehensons whatever OF a war with
Mexico, but believe that all our affairs with that ma
ton viii be amica5y settled
WASHINGTON, l4th May, ls45.
The Railroad Companies and their Erorbitant
Charges for the Maiis-1he Outrageous Conduct
Of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad Company-Ceternination of Gaze
Jl,nson not to Submit TO their Dictation-IHe
Magnetic Telegraph between Ne,c York and Phaa-
delphia
In my letter yesterday, gave statement of the
exorbltant charges, which the steamboat and rail
road companies make for carrying the mail, amount
ing to 100 per cent more throughout the Union
than is paid for the same distance by horse and
coach conveyance, although the effect in all other
cases of the use of railroads and steamboats, has
been reduction instead of increase in the rates
of passage and freight. A most garing instance of
outrageous conduct with respect TO The carriage of
the mails, has just been furnished by the Phadcl-
phia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Compa-
MES, which fully ustifies all tho condemnatory state
ments which have appeared from time to time
speeding these soulless corporations. Soon after
Mr.. Johnson had assumed the discharge of his du-
charge OF his duties Postmaster General he, as
will be remembered, succeeded in eficcting an alte-
ration IN the transmission of the mails between this
city and New York, by which letters for New York
arrived there at noon, instead of four or five
o'clock in the afternoon and letters for this
city arrived at II A. M instead Of Z P. M,
the difference IN time previously having been
lost by the mails lying over in Philadelphia
Tor several hours For some time past Mr. john
son has been endeavoring to effect arrangements,
still further TO facilitate the transmission ofetters
and from this city and New York, and last week the
agent OF thus Philadelphia and Wilmington Railroad
Company has been in this ctyon this business and has
had several interviews with the Postmaster General,
who Is anxious to perfect the arrangements. All the
preliminares understand, were agreed upon, and
Mr.. Johnson announced himself to be in readiness
TO complete the bargain, If the Philadelphia and New
York Railroad would agree to allow Post Office
agent to travel on their trains with the mail, and the
agent lett this city, to proceed to Philadelphia, and
see II this arrangement could not be made. under
stand that these arrangements were more advantage
Gus to these companies than the present ones, and
Mr.. Johnsons object IN having an agent to travel on
the Philadelphia and New York line, was to detect
and prevent the private expresses carrying let
tiers out of the mail. Mr.. Johnson was thus only
awaiting, and confidently expecting the assent Of the
company to this proposition, to carry the arrange
ment tor more rapid transmission into effect when,
on Saturday evening last, letter was received from
the Philadelphia and Wilmington Railroad Company,
giving notice that they should change the time Of
running, so as to revert back to the old plan, by
which letters from New York for Baltimore, this
city, and all the South, will lie at Philadelphia
at least ticeipc hours, without being forwarded
There can be no other cause tor this action the
part OF this company, conceive, than desire to
force the Postmaster General into their own terms
by compelling hun to give them their own terms for
the increased facilities, without any reference the
desires OF the Department the convenience of the
public, but merely to benefit their own pockets,
the expense of the public purse.
! am, however, glad to learn that Mr.. Johnson is
determined not to submit to these outrageous pro-
ceedings on the part OF this souless corpotlon for
learn that at once on the reception OF the notice to
which have referred, wrote to the company, stating
that if they did change the time of running, and per-
sisted III II, the Department would not send the mail
by them at all No answer has syet been received
from the company to this annopncemen,t which is
possibly owing to delay in order to call meeting
OF the Board OF Directors. In the meantime, the
company put the new Tor rather the old exploded)
arrangement INTO operation on Monday, and for the
past two days the letters and papers have arrived at
seven IN the evening instead of eleven IN the morn
ing, as heretofore. / have no doubt whatever but
that Mr. Johnson will carry his notice into execution
II these rapacious companies persist in these proceed
Ings; nor have any doubt but that he will be sup
ported by the public in honest endeavors to facilitate
the transmission OF the mails and at the same time
10 reduce the expenses of the Department so as if
possible to make its receipts cover its expenditures.
Mr. JC f.uson must, however, have the cordial, I'M
waye:ing support OF the people, if he is to prevail
against these railroad corporation monopolies,
and they must remember that with reduction of
postage they ought also to have reduction of
pense. Understand that if this Philadelphia COM
pany persist in this notion Of thers of forcing the
Department to pay their prices, and tn comply with
just such terms as they choose to dictate, Mr. John
son will forward the letter mail by horse express
from and to Baltimore, and for the bukier matter he
will contract will the steamboat companies running
between those cities We shall if public
sentiment cannot overawe these companies, and
learn also that this is only the commencement of
Cave Johnsons operations in this line, but he means
TO operate upon all these railroad companies much in
same way, and there can be little doubt but that the
public voice will be so potential as to compel them
TO agree 10 something like reasonable terms
The stockholders in the Magnetic Telegraph be-
tween New York and Philadelphia, had meeting in
this city asnght, and resolved toappont Mr.. Corco-
ran Of the firm of Corcoran IL Riggs. money brokers'
and q B. French, Esq.,, the gentlemanly Clerk of
the House OF Representatives, Trustees for the Com
Pany; The amount OF stock, / learn is S15, 600
which sum will be amply sufficient to erect line of
two wires between the above two cities, as under
stand well known gentleman has offered to con-
tract for its completion for that sum- This evening
the stoGkhoiders VIII have another meeting, and will
proceed TO determine the rate of assessment for
commencement, and operations will be Immediately
commenced, and probably in sixty days, or possibly
less, there will be this line complete and in full opera
ton between Gotham and the City of Brotherly
Love- II will need no more than this line to be sue
cessfuly completed and put in operation to induce
capitalists to embark in the undertaking, and possi
bly, before the meeting OF the next Congress there
wall be complete line of telegraphs between Bos
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond
Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, and New Orleans
with branch lines from Boston and New York to AL
bany, and thence to Rochester and Buffalo, and from
Philadelphia and Baltimore to Piusburg and Wheel
ing, and thence TO Cincinnati, and from whence it
Will not be long before IT will reach to Saint Louis
Indeed, when / consider the comparatiyelv small
cost. of the establishment Of these lines of teis-
graphic WIRES il is difficult to abstain from giving
anticlpatlons which, if now uttered, would be look
accomplished. -
This decision of the examiners, appointed by The
Postmaster general to test and report upon the fitness
Of the models of balances for the use of the Post on
hce Department, has yet been made public, but il
Will probably be so Tomorrow I believe that H.