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WASHINGTON, _October 26, 1853_.
DEAR SIR: The Mexican Ocean Mail and Inland Company, and Charles Morgan,
of New York, (through the agency of the undersigned,) present the
following facts, and ask such decision as an impartial consideration
of this memorial may produce. The company (having obtained from the
government of Mexico peculiar and well-authenticated privileges, whereby
they were enabled to present to the United States Post Office Department
a schedule of mail service which should insure the transmission of mails
between New Orleans and San Francisco in the short space of sixteen
days) urged the department for a mail contract authorizing the service,
which was granted, subject to an appropriation by Congress for payment.
Thereupon the company commenced proceedings for putting the route into
active operation. Proper agents were despatched to Mexico, and have been
actively engaged in overcoming such obstacles as, unremoved, would have
impeded rapid transit across that country. Roads were improved, others
made; coaches, harness, mules, and horses have been purchased, and a
large portion of them are already on the route, ready to commence the
carrying of the mails. In connexion with, and forming a portion of, this
through-route, a mail service from New Orleans to Vera Cruz has been
put into operation, the schedule for which was so arranged as to meet
at Acapulco with the mail steamers on the Pacific, insuring a proper
connexion on that end of the line. Thus nothing stood in the way of
the successful operation of the route, save the obstacles on the land,
which, being overcome, would enable us at once to perform our contract
in the specified time; but now that arrangements are completed for this
portion on the service, your memorialists find that an alteration in
the running on the Pacific has thrown out of gear this well-arranged
system. By the present schedule between New Orleans and Vera Cruz,
it is impossible to meet the Pacific steamers, as they now run, at
Acapulco, without suffering long delays at the latter point, entirely
ruining the efficacy of this otherwise desirable medium of transit. The
undersigned, C. Morgan, now urges that a knowledge of the existence of
a through-service to San Francisco was the inducement for his accepting
the portion of service between New Orleans and Vera Cruz; as, upon the
successful working of the through-route, he depended for any profits that
might inure to his ships from his connexion therewith. He has already
put upon the route a first-class steamship of over 1,100 tons burden,
and is building another of about 1,500 tons burden for the same purpose;
which two vessels will embrace an investment of nearly $300,000 for this
first portion of the enterprise. The company depend upon appropriations
by Congress for the means of remuneration; and as such appropriations can
only be secured by proofs of the practicability of the through-route,
as per schedule, they, together, ask your consideration of the efforts
they have made, and the moneys they have expended, under inducements
the Post Office Department held out to them, for such efforts and
expenditures, _by granting a through-service and arranging schedule
for connexion_; and respectfully petition that you will so alter the
schedule between New Orleans and Vera Cruz for the two trips per month,
now being performed, as will give them an opportunity of proving to
Congress that this is by far the most expeditious route yet opened to the
rich commerce of California; which proofs, they feel, must necessarily
insure the appropriations that shall furnish the means to enable them
eventually to carry the mails between the two great points in the short
space of thirteen days! Believing that your sense of justice, and desire
for advancing the mails in accordance with the progressive ideas of this
essentially progressive age, will induce an assent to their prayer, they
have the honor herewith to submit such _temporary_ schedule, for the
said two trips per month, as shall furnish the desired proofs; and, with
sentiments of regard and esteem, subscribe, respectfully, yours,
The MEXICAN OCEAN MAIL AND INLAND CO.;
and CHARLES MORGAN,
per HARRIS & MORGAN, _of New Orleans_.
Hon. JAMES CAMPBELL, _Postmaster General United States_.
_Schedule._
Leave New Orleans 7th and 22d;
Arrive at Vera Cruz 10th and 25th.
Leave Vera Cruz 14th and 29th;
Arrive at New Orleans 17th and 2d.
* * * * *
OFFICE OF THE MEXICAN OCEAN MAIL AND INLAND CO.,
_New York, October 29, 1853_.
DEAR SIR: Herewith please find a letter addressed to our firm from the
president of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, explaining why the
schedule of running on the Pacific has been changed, (thus rendering
_useless_ the _present schedule_ between New Orleans and Vera Cruz;) and,
further, approving the schedule which we had the honor of submitting
for your consideration in our memorial, dated in Washington, D. C.
Trusting the views of our case, to which your attention has been called,
will induce a favorable decision, we have the honor to subscribe, with
sentiments of regard and respect,
Your obedient servants,