The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-28

Dst,rersd "a ne House Of Representatives Feb n 1851
IN az HprASER teei deep interest in The fac Of th
n now before the House II provides for establishing
New Orleans, and intermediate points, for The purposs
carrying The mail with regularity and certainty Al all
sons OF The year The Importance and necessity OF th;
members WHO represent districts adjoining the Ohio AMI
In no portion 81 the Upied States bias The mail seryes
been grossly neglected and overlooked than that be
tween the cities of Louisville and Evansville and fa
below as the district which have the honor to represent
extends and presume the same fault exists all the way
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers TO New Orleans
Aud allow here TO say that whenever there has been
any attempt made to regulate the matter It s the unyer
sal complaint that some such objection as that offered by
my friend from Kentucky [Mr MARsHALLl has been
urged am sorry that he has not taken up and support
ed this measure, . .1 t,.
The contractors that have heretofore carried the mails
between Louisville and Evansville and far below as
my district extends have failed altogether TO meet the
pecatlons OF the people on the river have recently
ceived letter from the postmaster at Cannelton on the
Ohio who informs me that, notwithstanding seven mails
are due per week. more than three are rarely ever re-
ceived
Mr. MARSHALL, (interposing would ask my
friend from Indiana how another contract would be bene
hclal His contractors have failed.
MIR. ALBERTSON. will inform the gentleman,
The present bill provides sir for carrying the mail with
regularity and despatch between those cities and all inter-
mediate points. For that purpose line OF steamboats,,
with sufficient strength and capacity to at all
OF the year. is 10 be established One OF the great diff
cuties the present time is that the contractor at Louis
willie makes the lowest contract he can Tor taking each
mall-perhaps paying ten dollars trip The boat that
will carry i the cheapest is employed and generally
sequeny, no regularity. In many instances the slowest
and poorest boas used because the best boats cannot
afford to carry the mail and make the necessary landings,
for the price offered and they could, would not
edy the evil What we want is regular Gne-an esab.
lshed daily eneone upon which we can rely, SO that i
we have occasion ,ouse it. we shall know that our mail
will be carried with due facility .. ~.
Why sir, so great is the uncertainty OF the mail on this
route that our business find il impracticabe 10 send
their letters BY mail. have received information from
wholesale merchants in New Orleans, who say that they
dare not trust the mall and consequently are compelled
TO send their letters by individuals Neither ex-
pect them to use It until our mail facilities are I'M
proved
During the recess Of Congress gentleman, engaged
in manufactures in the West. informed that he had
10 wait five or six days for letter from Louisyileas it
took tina, time Tor letter to get from Louisville to Camel
ton, a distance OF only seventy or eighty miles. k
Another object that this bill con,empates that the mail
boats shall make regular landings the villages along the
river as The people are very much in need OF mail iaci
ties Sir, the population OF the West is rapidly nceas-
ing-lhe country is filling up with an industrious popua
hon-vlases are spnging up-commercla interests are
yearly becoming more and more important
In view OF this state of facts, is il not duty,
mperous duty, 10 lend this portion OF the West helping
hand-to render il all the facilities which other portions
of the Union enjoy? 1t is singular iac that while
other parts OF the country attended towhe neither
nor expense are spared to facilitate the mail arrange
mentsour part Of the country has been almost entirely
the Postmaster General to remedy The evil a,J4r. .,.I
Mr., STANTON, 4 desire merely to say that since l
have been in this Congress have received my mails with
approach to regularity; generally receive a whole
weeks mail IN bundle, and sometimes for longes
time, and sometimes do not get my mails Tor twenty
days What is the reason OF hsi Ii 10 because the
ryer routes the mails sent IRON point TO point by
transient boats Public attention has been called TIN,
subject and my attention has been called 10 the fact by
public meeting which has lately been he'll at Memphis.
for the purpose of demanding that the mr service shall
be placed upon different footing from what i, has been
heretofore have friend interested in The matieT-no
constituent that imagine wishes to gel the contract
have such object IN yew-ny only object that The
mail should be placed The best possible footing
and with my friend that such basis that
proposed would be best -
I Mr. ALBERTS0N. | know nothing OF the contract
and do know that have any friend who desires 10
get it. My only object is TO the same justice
tended OF the West that is extended TO other por-
tons of Union and do hope that western members will
step forth, and assert aud temaHd their rights. The
defect sir appears 10 be below the Falls OF the Ohio
II the mail be attended to with regu
anty and certainty above the alls can II not be below
Look sir, al the mail service between Cincinnati and
Louisville. There is mail IN the country more regu
larry attended TO. Many seem to think that II Their own
interests secured nothing more is required. They
will Tor millions, even, 10 favor their own peculiar
interests but utterly disregard those which Tar
important and necessary is this right lis patriotic
do hope that the appropriation may be made