The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-11-28
A. H. SANDERS, ESQ.,:

Dear Sir The accompanying letter re-
ceived to-day from the Hon. Frederick p.
Stanton, Member of Congress from the Mem
phis District Tennessee, will explain my OBJ
ject in handing it TO you for publication.
Imost certainly did not intend in the Memo
rial presented to the Convention, to mis-state
facts, or do injustice TO any individual, much
less to MIR. Stanton, who is personally I'M
known TO me. The simple object | had in
view in introducing the African mail appro-
pEiation into the Memorial, was to illustrate
the great inequality between appropriations
for mail service on the atlantic and the Vest
ern icaters. 1t is true that the direct allow
ance to be made under Mr.. Stanton's report
for carrying the pai!, isas he says, $4,000
per annum, or $4,000 per trip--but in addi-
ton TO this, the Government by the terms Of
the report, CT have not seen the bill. are TO
advance two-thirds o! the cost Of construc-
ton of the steamers from time TO time as the
building progresses, "-the advance to be
made in five per cent. stock payable at the
end of thirty years-the advances TO be re-
repaid by the contractors in equal annual in
stalments, beginning ana ending with the
service, fifteen years, from the completion OF
the ships. That is 10 say, the Governmen;
advances to the contractors two-thirds OF
s., .OOO the cost of the three steamers,
equal to 81, 100000, in FIVE per cent. Govern
ment stock, equal in the market TO SIP for
every 500 stock issued, payable at the end
of thirty years, TO be repaid by the contrac-
tors in equal annual instruments, beginning
and ending with the service. Now if this ad-
vance is to be taken into consideration with
the actual sum paid for carrying the mail,
SlSO,OO0, my estimate Of 81, 22l 900, is rath-
or under than over the mark.
What contractor in the West would not
readily enter into contract with the Gov
ernment to build five STEAMBOATS, for carrying
the mail on the Western waters, valuing the
steamboats, at 100000 each, and receiving
from the Government five per cent. stock for
two-thirds of the amount TO aid in building
them, in addition 10 the sum allowed for car
rying the mail frem Pittsburgh to New Or
leans. and delivering it at every post town on
the Ohio and Mississippi am inclined to
think such contract would be readily sought
ior-yet this would be less than one mn Of
what is proposed TO be appropriated ior the
African line. The language Of the Memoir
al is, after speaking Of the appropriation pro-
posed, "this may be all right, but may we
not ask the honorable Chairman (of the Ma
val Committee,) and especially the members
of Congress from the West, whether one
tenth or one-twelth of these sums granted
and asked for, for an object exclusively do
nestic and Mathematician an increase OF mail
facilities on the Western waters, where they
are so much needed, would be at all extrava-
CANT 2" And | repeat the question. Mr.
Stanton says: I" It viii give him (mc) the
greatest pleasure TO accomplish tins great OBJ
iect, Ga proper system OF postal arrangements
on the Western watcrs,) and the success of
Western men in securing this, as well as all
other great interests of the Valley" | do
not doubt it-and can only hope, that he, as
well as other Western members, at the ensu-
ing session of Congress, will show their faith
by their rorks.
Yours respectfully,
JOHN LAW.
-