The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-10
For the Richmond Di patch.

IcsthSe on NeWspHpeIs.
The decision of Postmaster General Reagan,
prohibiting the Transports lou of newspapers
By Express, or otherwise, outside of the mails,
has caused much Gissattsfac tion, as the ia
ciiiuss for getting papers regularly are thereby
cut oS From some UnacCOuntablc cause.
large packages hsve never reached their ueg-
tinaGon with any degree OF regularity when
sent by mail, and, conseq quentiy, news dealers
Were comp PEELED 20 resort to other means to
get their supplies transported. These irreSn-
iayities have now be come Of more freQue
occurrence than ever, and II may we'll be
doubted whether the system viii ever be i'm
proved. Had thera been any iaT passed oy
Congress authorizing this restriction, there
s:in would be room for complaint, as the sys
TEN is altogether unjust, as It is yies an
horsitant tax OF particular branch OF trads
altogether unheard of but, when 1t is stated
that, after q searching investigation, your COR
respondent, with others better informed has
failed TO find single paragraph au .hori2jus,
or that would even Justify, Postmas ter zen.
eral ReaRan's const ruction CT the law, sure
ly. thors is Sufficient excuse for bringing this
matter before the public.
While l would be on~ of the las on earth
TO And fsuit with our Govsrument operations
in these trying times, justice 10 that public
which tho postal arrangements are intended
10 Denst!., and fairness az that branch of busi-
ness which has not only been singled cut and
so exhorbitantiy and unequally taxed, but
suddenly thrown into confusion without
moments warning, with the most 0isas trous
results TO those engaged in 1t, demand that
this matter should not be passed over in ST.
lencs, but should be thoroughly ilvestiga ted.
] am not one Of those who would inpute to
MI Reagan anything like arbitrary use OF
power; but think, with s. host Of others, that
his conclusions were hastily formed from
misconstrnc ton of the law regulating postal
affairs. The following, which appeared In the
Montgomery Advertiser, is sensible view
of the matter, and will 10 doubt be read with
much interest, and II Is hoped 20 advantage,
by some Of those Interested. LrscusUxe.
"rhe recent decision Of the Postmaster
General in relation TO the transportation of
newspapers and periodicals, does not seem TO
rs TO have been warranted by 4 strict con-
| struction Of the postal laws OF the Contedsr-
ate States. We are unable to find in the acts
| Of Congress any laws or parts of laws which
prohibit the carriage of newspapers outside
of the mails without the payment OF posi- stoge
The law OF the FIRST session OF Congress pro-
vlded for a csrtain rate of pos tage on letter S
carried my mail, and then, in srder to secure q
monopoly IN the ietter-carryiag business, a
| clause was inserted enacting that no let ers
| shall be carried by the express, or other char.
| tered companies, unless the postage on such
| letters shall have been prepaid; but the pro-
| hibition does not apply 70 news papers. Books
weighing less than four pou nds are deemed
| maiiabe matter, the same as newspapers and
| periodicals., yet they arc exempted from the
| operation OF the prohibition We can hardly
think the Congress In tended TO axe the postal
! department z huge monopoly. II sucn was
| thsir linton tion We must confess we cannot see
| the wisdom Of the act. The postage on news
papers, under ths laws Of the Confedsra- 9
! States, IL more than three times what II for
merly was; but the increased burden has beer
| borne without murmur, Notwithstanding
the tendency Of Increasing the rates OF pos Lage
Is 20 decrease the number OF Subscribers
| HID the Postmast ter General merely de-
cided that for all papers sent from the office
| OF puelice sion 70 actual subscribers the regu
| lar rates Of postage must be paid, the ruling
| would not have seemed SO entirely arbitrary
| but IL goas further. and applies TO all III oes
| purchased by nswsmsn tor sale, as well as
those sent TO subscribers. This IL new
| reading Of the postal Law and one which we
| believs has never before been tried In this
country.
1--WE doi not desire unnecsssarily TO fina
| fault with the operations OF tho tioverumen
| We are aware how desirable 1t Is for the co.
| pie TO have entire confidence In the honor and
capabiltfy OF It's mem osIs. bu' the { fffc-rs Il
| Government should themselves be extrem ly
| careful never 10 overstep the bounds OF u 4
| letter Of the law. Strict construc lion should
oe the motto, and no arbitrary decision ey
| bs given ON q point where, 70 say ths least
/ The law leaves the matter In doubt. In the
present instance We think Mr.. Reagan has
| though doubtless unintentonally, exceeded
| the powers conferred on him by the post tal
| law
According TO our unders landing of the
| posal system Of the Confederate States, Il
| was designed for the benefit Of the citizens
| Those who choose could patrouizs II, aud
those who felt differently could employ some
| other method. When Oongrvss said 20 much
| should - paid for every nswspApsr carried
BY the mall, We do not nndsrstAnd that II SAID
20 mach should - paid for every newspaper
sent from tAs once Of publica ton, though
that sAenS - ~ the Interpretation placed %