The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-14

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It's accession power vast and raniied as this sys-
tenn had been il was nevertheless confined to the
populated districts of the Union. At the expense Of
at enormous stipend the government maintained
regular mail service across the Atlantic; and, at
st more exorbitaat outlay, had established fort
nightly mail communication by way of the isthmus
with California Bat, with these exceptions, ia
both Of which splendid lines of transportation
presented a ready means Of mail carriage the postal
system Of the United States was confined to lines
studded at every step by habitations and popula-
ton.
ID remained for the present administration to add
a new feature TO this important service and TO un-
dertake the difficult and perpexiug task of supply
ing the scattered settlers throughout vast trans
Mississippi wilds, with the conveniences with the
blessings of regular mails. To this important and
arduous task the Postmaster General, with the cor
dial approval of the President addressed himself
from the outset of his official service and has de-
voted to it, without internsson since, all his
rare energy, excellent practical talents, and perse-
yering zeal
The results Of his efforts in this behalf are set forth
In detail by the ST. Louis Republican, in an article
which copy in another column Several great
lines of semweekly mails have been established, run
ming intervals from each other entirely across the
continent, from the Mississippi TO the Pacific; and
these are traversed right angles by shorter lines,
which make, with the main ones, network of mail
routes oyerspreading our whole extended western
domain.
If the vast region which has thus been brought
;nfo ,agular communication with the rest of the
Union possessed any of the facilities for such a
service which almost all countries afford in greater
or less degree there would be especial cause of
admiration graduation in contemplating what has
been effected. but this region is peculiar in its al
most utter restitution to great districts of IT, of
these facilities The task of establishing mail ser
vice over it is not accomplished, when all the mules
stage coaches, drivers, and their equipments are
provided when the stage stations and post offices
are fixed upon and all the usual arrangements for an
efficient mail organization perfected. But over
huge and appalling distances on these routes every
thing had to be provided nothing could be taken for
granted TO build stables, the materials did not
abound upon the spot and need but the mere labor
of workmen to be availed of for the purpose, but
required to be transported from long distances
The same was the case as to provender for the ami
mails food for man, and very often even water for
beasts, drivers, and passengers. Besides all this,
there wanting along very considerable portion
Of the routes even road to travel upon; the com
pass or landmarks familiar to the eyes of prac-
tised guides alone marking out the of travel.
1t is not possible, however, in mere terms of Ian
guage, to impress upon the reader full realization
,-ac- n 4 4
overcome by the indomitable Postmaster General
and his agents in the great enterprise they have
been engaged in. The world over there is not to be
found system of communication comparable in its
vast extent and in the great obstacles surmounted,
to the overland extension which our postal system
has undergone under the direction of Gov. Brown.
That the great routes sketched by the editor of
the ST. Louis Republican have been established
permanently and successfully is attested by all
who have made themselves familiar with the facts
of the subject There is but danger that
threatens the permanent success of any of them;
and all parties agree that there is great cause of
apprehension from this That danger is the
enmity Of hostile Indians. Accordingly, great is
the enthusiasm Of the Republican over the estab-
lshnent Of the routes it is especially urgent in its
call for the requisite protection from the Secretary
of War, upon whose military offices and friendly
protection the fate of these routes so absolutely
depends. The Republican is warranted in ex-
pectng from the military of the government full
protection for the great enterprise in question; and
we are that the War Department viii strain every
nerve and exhaust every resource at its command to
protect what the Post Office Department has created
at so much pains
If any be disposed to ask-in view of the estab-
ishment Of these routes, and the prodigious expan
sion OF our mail system they have involved at the
expense of much energy and money-cui bono 2---by
what authority has this been DONE and what is to be
the advantage gained by it all Tit is not diff
cult to answer them- 1t may be conceded that the
outlays which this addition to mail service en-
tails will not be reimbursed at in revenue to the
treasury but no school Of statesmen have ever
contended that the government should restrict itself
in the establishment of mail routes othose lines which
repay the OUTLAWS upon them. The constitutional
power Of the government to conduct postal system
is express and the authority il possesses to prohibit
private enterprise from engaging in the business
imposes the corresponding duty of supplying all
citizens with reasonable mail privileges. The gov
ernment cannot excuse itself by considerations Of
mere economy from the duty of supplying the