The true Democrat., 1854-07-26
Letter from Washington.

'"o'eS"9eo", O' O., ouly AOOf
 DEAR JOHNSON: 1send you, as a supplement- to the list of mail routes established by laav late- ly published by Senator Johnson, one contain ing the routes in operation, and the l,;.snos o the contractors to whom they were recently awarded. Its use is obvious. Responsibility for the many failures which create just complaint, will thus attach to the proper persons
 The mail lettings for the ensuing four years have been concluded, and by this time the suc- cessful competitors for this service, have been duly notified of the acceptance of their bids.- In reviewing the conditions of the service, it is hard to say that it is materially improved, while the wants of the country have grown with it's population, and in an increased ratio. But this defect, if any, is not chargeable to our del- egation, as they did all within their power for its increase and betterregulation. Many small Ter routes have been accommodated with addi- tional trips weekly and arranged upon shorter time, while several new routes have been es abolished. But the main stems, arteries, or base lines of our system of mail facilities and communications, have in many instances been left where they stood, or made positively worse. few instances within my knowledge. may be mentioned, in which the Post Master General acted against the earnest and repeat ed protests and remonstrances of our delega- tion. The steamboat line on the Arkansas rv- CT was superseded for ''star bid," which only binds the contractor to carry the mails ".wi,h certainty, security, and despatch" and may be performed upon our great thoroughfares Tn any manner which puts the mail through. withoutregard to the public convenience The contractors in these cases, are all responsible men, and the objection is not to them, but to the service which they have stipulated to per- form. Again, upon the great leading thorough. fare from Little Rock to Fort Smith, stages were allowed upon the upper section and horse service upon the lower-thus virtually destroy- ing the passenger transportation. The service should have been uniform upon the whole route, and IS either too good at one end or too bad at the other. Stages were asked for mon. the route from Little Rock to Bentonyille and thence to Smthville and Pocahontas-from Rockport to Camden, and thence to Ell Dorado There were bids for stage services on these routes, at reasonable advance in cost. Thev were however declined, in favor of lower bids for Jess se,vice. Whether the Post Master Gen. eral was warranted by the terms of ths law of 1845, under which he toook shelter, or not, I shall not say. The attempt to cconomse the expenditures within the revenues of the depart- ment is vain. It is virtually quartered upon the treasury now-what with the reduction of postage on the one side, and the pensioning of foreign steamboat lines upon the treasury upon the other, we are threatened with a dark pros pect Tn the future There is now great ma- ma for cheap ocean postage" and further reduction of postage'' on land, while the ex- pendltures are thus peremptorily increased the revenues thus arbitrarily reduced--the deficit IS left to be made up by the par slmonious curtailment of the mail facilities of the West. The course of the Post Master General has created almost universal discon- tent, and it is hoped, that he may either apply the corrective, or that Congress may pause in its folly. It is rare that any system is prun- ed of its abuses. They grow until their very magnitude breaks down the system itself.