NP, RD 8/23/1864

From the Richmond Dispatch
 
August 23, 1864
 
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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