| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| August 23, 1864 |
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| The mails and the {Virginia}
Central railroad |
| The Whig of Saturday took a very proper
view of the matter of the disagreement of the Postmaster-General and
the President of the Central Railroad about the transportation
of the Confederate mails upon that road. It deplores the occurrence of
this disagreement, and expresses no opinion about it, because, were it
to publish an opinion on the merits of the difficulty, it might
embitter the misunderstanding and delay its settlement. We have always
observed that when the press took sides in difficulties of this kind
just that effect was produced. |
| We appeal with the Whig for the re-opening
of the question and the intervention of persons of influence and
judgment, who might aid in settling the matter in dispute and
restoring the mails to the railroad. |
| The public and the Government cannot
afford, in a time like this, to dispense with the railroad as a
mail-carrier. If ever we stood in need of rapid communication with the
country; if ever there was a time more than any other which demanded a
constant, quick and certain intercourse, through mail, between the
capital and the interior of the State, this is that time. To reduce
us, then, at such a time, to tri-weekly communication, by horse, with
the Piedmont country and the Valley, should not be dreamed of. No
difference or disagreement between the officials named should be
permitted to lead to such a result. Neither people nor Government
should permit it. Then there should be instant steps taken to remove
the difficulties in the way and restore the mails. Those difficulties
could be settled by impartial umpires, which might be easily obtained;
but it is plain that the Postmaster-General and Colonel Fontaine
cannot settle them. So important do we regard the matter, that we
consider it worthy the President's attention. He ought not to allow
the great official and public inconvenience, we apprehend, to be
matured. We commend the subject, also, to Governor Smith's attention.
The State and the Executive of the State are eminently interested in
the subject. It is only necessary that a fair and friendly
investigation of the matter should be made to settle it properly and
promptly. |
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