The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-13
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC-The

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.-The
\ Honorable Postmaster General OF the Con-
federate States having withdrawn the mails from
the Virginia Central Railroad, it is dueto the pub
lic as well as the stockholders and friends Of the
Company, state that the Board of Directors have
desired that for the purpose OF mail facilities, their
road should be used by the public the sgne hbe-
ral terms that it has been for military purposes
daring the war. Although the Postmasfer-General
has refused 10 pay anything for the transportation
III the mails since the nrst of July 1868, the Board,
unwilling to subject the public and our noble SOL
diers and their families TO Inconvenience determined
to continue to carry the mails, trusting that al some
time Congress would do them jastice; and he was
distinctly informed, both by the President and Gene
raj Superintendent of the Road that such was their
design.
The Postmaster General required, as "a condition
of the payment for the past services actually ren-
dered fOr more than twelve months, that contract
for the next three years should be signed, under
which, i'll the previous tenn, he had exercised ITO
the language Of another OF our railroad Presl-
dents) arbitrary and unreasonable authority
and in consequence of which the gentleman, like
myself, refuses to sign this contract At ole time.
I understood, nearly every railroad President in
Virginia had some cause OF complaint against his
abuse of power in some particular. Some OF them
have settled their difficulties but not such as sup
pose have practically arisen with this company He
claims and exercises the right to fine for any mail
failure, although the same may haye been from the
necessary interference of the military authority.
lie excludes the Board of Directors from the mail
apartments, although he has conceded that the in
presence CT Of their officers III that car; to Ne
his own language, ''to prevent anything improper
being carried IN them" Having but five directors,
who rarely travel more than one AZ time, the mail
apartment having been fitted up for service under
the franking privilege Qf the old government, ami
being double large rs necessary inconvenience
could result from their admission, unless ne appre-
I hended thor robbng the mails. Knowing the fact
that other passengers invited into thus ear, be-
sides the right Of supervision refused, II WAS rather
1 calling to observe that these directors have been
compelled Ia sit on boxes III the baggage car whGt
unable To get sests elsewhere. exposed t. inl,is
tiee OF the departure from the practice of the old
government III another, important MATTER which
l need not be mentioned now
tri. to comprG5ise our difficulties by proposing
that in case he exercislsny Of these doubtful pow
els objected to- would submit the decision Of the
Secretary of War, but he was inexorabe.
in letter this subject, of the 9th instant, |
said Officially and individually have made ami
expect to make when necessary sacrifices to sustain
our Government i'll its struggle for Independence,
and that principle this company like most others,
have undertaken to carry the mails for a sum inf
nitey less than the space occupied by them would
yield in the cheapest freight transportation, and
therefore, for the public accommodation, We shall las
you have been before fully advsad continue carry
them even if you continue withhold payment for
service actually rendered. But though willing TO
make pecuniary sacrifices, (whatever others may do)
with my experience OF your course, | cannot, by
signing your contract sanction the exercise of aTbi-
1fary and unreasonable authority, which, ii ac-
quiesee Ill, will make the Postmaster Genoi ii
| a despot i'll his sphere Of action"
70 relieve the public as ffr practicable, te
company will carry letters and papers that may be
delivered to them to any post-oiics immediately on
their line without amy charge but that nothing shall
thereby be abstaeted from the public treasury, the
postage in such cases must be paid.
f. FoNTAINE, President.
| OFFICE VIR6IsIA CENTRAL X. X. Co.,
Richmond. II. lSfjt. l3-tt