Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-13

TIME ATTENTION OF THE FRIENDS
i and stockholders of the NATIONAL EXPRESS
AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY - called TO the
following communication from the Rich@ond EXAMINER
of March 10th:
- FAIR PLAY-THE ISSUE BETWEEN ThR EXPRESS coNPA-
MES,
eve arc the lovers of justice and fair play and this
journal has known period when 1t not the advo
cate of both The articles published in this
relative to the positions occupied by the National and
Adams Express Companies were prompted by spirit Of
fairness, and mpeled by those motives OF candid deal
ing which actuate and any no insinuates
aught to the contrary is base and cowardy calumnia
tor. We have private or corporate schemes to advo-
cate we make the interest OF man, set OF men,
own; aim directly at the public good and advo-
cate that which, in our own Judgment, seems likely to
promote the welfare of the whole community, and not
minority Of it, To say that in structures upon the
organization known the National Express Company,
we have been influenced by unworthy motives, that
have ignored facts and given way to prejudice, Is too
despicable to call for than an emphatic denial
In this spirit have to aude to advertisement in
some of the city papers, over the signature OF General
Johnston as Precedent Of the National Express Com
pany, which contains statement so extraordinary and
statement SO significant that we call public attention
TO beth.
| liberal advance of money made by the Adams and
Southern Express Companies to the railroads oil the
State for the purpose OF rebuilding and them
when completely Frustrated by the war, that we need
only add that these companies, by this beraiy have
gained the entire confidence and good will OF the rail-
road companies and entitled to the thanks Of he
entire population of the State for thus enabling these
companies open and work these arteries of tragic
upon which, more than any other means, depends tAe
present and future prosperity Of the CommoSNealth-
This advertisement would have the pubc to believe
that these railroad companies have made giants to the
two named express companies whieH are exclusive III
their character, than which aothing can be further
from the truth, and IN order to enable the puDlc 10
Judge will state that the clause in the contract which
denounced exclusive provides that railroad compa-
MES shall not other express COM
pany than the Adams Southern, as the case may Re
the right carry express matter over the various roads
/ n. hon MT al N
companies and that all cypress caPd3hes ShdHce pr
upon LIE and equal terms ~ all Respects II Will be
perceived that far from the clause being exclusive,
il is founded upon one of the best known and most use
full maXims of equity that "eqdlhy Is equity, ana e
object is TO put all parties similarly situated upon the
same footing, and any different provision would sulke
AT tbe undation principles of equity and common law
of railroads No fair disinterested or unpreJudced
mind can fail to that any complaint oil so equaoe
and lust provision in contract Of the kind that must
exisf betw railroad and express companies must
proceed quarter in which fairness and Justice are
blinded by sefneret and In this case 1t Is made De
cause the National Express Company in deAanSe oil the
plainest principles Of common sense pave undertaken
to commence business as riysIs Q! companies with
large capital and great experience without experienced
officers and withou, obging the subscribers TO pay up
its capital, relXag npOn the fame OF its Generals and
the well known sympathy and Jurore with which It's
existence commenced supply the place OF these two
indispensable qualifications for the successful prosecu
ton Of its business.
"As might be expected this company finds thai II
not successfully compete with its rivals and, having
signaly failed in its efforts to ndGce the Legislature al
its late session laW3 pIejudical to the railroad
interests well damaging to the good ailn oil the
state in order that il might etter the Adams and South
ern Express Companies by unwise and hoste leelsa-
ton, is brought to confess in this advertisement that
must discontinue its routes and confne itself to Ees
upon which there is obstacle to islr competition
Where to be found more fully open 10 lalr
competition than in Virginia. 1t Is hard TO say, Tor the
millennium Of railroads has not Yet arrived, ana II Will
be difficult TO find any route on which energy, eA
| perence and substantial capital Is not more IMAM
match for military fame, inexpereDee and ninety
| O.
| cash If we owned any of this precious stock We
should follow the example of the Legendary rAts ana
Quit ship so evidently sinking.
"Now for some facts concerning the National Express
and Transportation Company. " has, we understand,
recently undergone an e9'e yo 5acnma 40 mncb
dissatisfied with the mismanagement oil the ahalrs OF
the company and 1.-THE way in which their innds were
being dsbursed, that they preferred TO orelt their
stock rather than pay the further instam their
subscription, which being so loudly and persis
tently called for The control oil the institution has
now fallen into the hands Of new parties. And what
has been their first sct2 Tie appointment of Mr..
BENJAMIN Ficklin as General Superintendent, whose
rs ofeial act was to order the peremptOry aud mme
diate discharge without moments notification, of
eigty-fre OF the comPanys employees, who, without
fault OF their are lett at TINS untinelY season Of
| the wear without employment, which many Of them
abandoned TO take positions so emptngly offered them
with n assurance that would be permanent in this
new company goteH Ip 80 r me- said Sr
late service. And holc many brave soldiers
has II given employment And how many sleek and
nd enturerswho heard the fire of the
eaemys guns and who were enscoSced in bomb proofs
Snriny The hole war-have found place in the com
panyY We give perhaps, the names of some of
these nice, kid;slGysd gentry yhe National Express
poor Impoverished soldier lcho had lost and suffered
ali for his eountry-J it had done this as it promised
nopaper in tle South you'd hare supported il Nth
more drdor than The RICHMOND EXAMINER. Vas Mr..
Feksn IN the cdr or did he make his million Of dollars
Dv blockade rInniRgl
an the National Express Company can dispense with
this REGIMEN Of It's employe in day, why they
appointed and employed? This statement of facts
ought satisfy all as to what the Southern public has
to expect from the National Company, organized SO
it was rumPeted, to give work TO- Southern soldiers
tronizing company independent Of those bloaied
mohopolies, who having served the public faithfully
were to be wiped out and give place the new favor
He." mhls-lt