The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-03
THE POSTAL CONVENTION.
The Resolutions Adopted by the Conycn'
ton at Old Point Comfortable Nsesss
Uria1 tn Nnugpnss

/ nrtAH NJ shUkFess.
| RESOLVED, /. That the recent increased
interest in the defects and wants Of the
mail service in the South, and the
efforts sof the President and Cabinet
and of the members of the Postal Com.
mission appointed by Congress to OBJ.
tain full and accurate information In
that regard, that ample justice may be
done, meets our hearty and unqualified
approval. :,
| q. That while the postal service should
not become too great q burden upon the
government, and as far as practicable
should be made self-sustaining, still,
| due regard to the interests Of the whole
people demands that economy do not
become parsimony, and that such addi-
tional appropriations be made by Con-
gress as will enable all to obtain benefit
from public money expended in mail
service.
Resolved, l.. That the value and i'm
portance Of trade between the United
States and various States and Colonies
upon this Continent and its islands
lying south Of us. and also important
countries reached across the Isthmus Of
Panama, and the advantages in speed,
convenience and economy which would
result to our postal communications
with those countries, justify and require
the immediate establishment of steam
communication between the most con-
venient Southern ports of this country
and the ports OF Rio Janeiro. Havana
and Aspinwall respectively.
g. That the corporate authorities of
the various longitudinal railroads COM
posing lines of direct transportation be-
tween Southern ports and commercial
centres Of the West and North, as we'll
as representatives of other interests con-
cerned In trade and postal intercourse
between us and the countries referred
to, are respectively urged to combine in
cooperative movement to establish
forthwith an efficient steam service be-
tween such Southern ports as may be
selected, and the ports of Rio Janeiro,
Havana and Aspinwall respectively.
United States and Postal Department
are respectfully requested to afford aid
and encouragement to the above desig-
mated enterprises by means of liberal
mail contracts and such appropriate
legislation as ray be consistent with
the constitutional powers and policy Of
the government.
To the Honorable Senate aud House of Repre-
sentatives:
The memorial of the officers and
members OF the convention assembled
at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, on the
25th Of July, 1877, respectfully shows:
FWst-That said convention is COM
posed Of delegates representing the
cities and towns Of the States OF Vir-
GINA, North Carolina. South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana; and that,
from similarity OF circumstances and
needs, 1t is believed that the convention
is fairly representative Of the postal
condition and wants Of the States Of
West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri. Ar
kansas and Texas.
Second-That throughout the inn
mense area covered by those States the
postal service of the government Is less
complete and efficient than 1t is In other
parts Of the Union, and quite made
quate to the needs of the people.
Third-That these needs are not only
commerce ial, local and social in their
character, but they also embrace those
with the great centres OF modern
thought, the wants Of q more general
and prompt newspaper circulation, and
OF closer participation in the discussion
of topics of wide or national interest.
Fourth-That 1t Is in the power Of the
government to supply those needs by
bringing the postal service within the
territory here represented up to the level
Of its efficiency elsewhere, and to this
end we respectfully ask that the Post
office Department be authorized and
enabled to provide for greater speed in
the transmission OF our mails; greater
livery, and more frequent and trust
worthy communication with outlying
points.
FUNt-That the following important
measures be provided for: 1. The estab-
lishment Of limited mail service pass
ing through Washington and connect
ing the great cities OF the Atlantic and
Gulf States from Boston to New Or
leans. 3. The establishment Of other
through or trunk lines of fast mail COM
munication between each point in the
East, North and Northeast, on the one
hand, and such points in tn 3 Southeast,
South and Southwest on the other, as
will bring the benefit Of these lines
ton and the most important centres OF
trade and influence. g. The establish
ment Of lines Of quick transportation,
with railroad postoffices subsidiary to
the above described limited mail and
trunk lines, and operated in close con.
nection with them. 4. The extension OF
railroad postoffices over mail routes
within the area Of the above named
States. 5. The extension and improve
ment Of the rail service, Of the service
by river and coasting steamboats,. and of
country mails generally throughout this
area. 6. The establishment, on some
substantial basis, Of the mail contracts
of steamship lines between Southern
seaports and ports OF South America,
Central America and the West Indies.
Your memorialists respectfully ask
that their deficiencies and needs, as
above set forth, be carefully considered
by your honorable body, and that such
measures of relief and amendment be
provided as may be found to be consis-
tent with that impartiality which should
characterize the administration Of such
a government as ours.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.