Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

1Washington City 23 Apl 1835W^m T. BarryEsq.[Esquire]P.M. Gen^l[Post Master General]Dear Sir
I do not know how I can better show the injustice, that appears to me, to be done by your department towards me, in charging penalties for failures that I could not possibly Controal, than by presenting the facts connected with my unfortunate Contract for the route to Mobile & New Orleans. You will recollect, that for three mails a week you paid us $25.000 per Annum you then added four other weekly mails to it, and instead of making a pro-rata allowance, you gave me but $15.000 a year extra—being less $73.000 in four years, than the pro-rata allowance. I have further to remark, that the proposition was made by the Department to me, and not by me to the Department, to increase the number of mails on this route. With a sincere desire to serve you, I promptly put my full energies into operation, and furnished every means, as I beleived necessary to effect your wishes, I selected an agent at Mobile whose high standing, was then such

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as to be your Post Master in that City—that agent was furnished with all needfull money to execute his agency, that I faild in the fulfilment of my Contract through him I have but too much cause to deplore. My losses on that route have been very great, sinking more than the whole capital employed. My agent alleges that he put all his powers into force to carry the mail.

I can in truth say that that route has caused me more anxiety and distress, than every other Contract I have made with your Department. I cannot for a moment believe that your great good sense of justice will permit you to exact money from me in the shape of penalties, for failures & delays that I could not possibly controul. I believe you are already satisfied with my personal exertions on this route, & that you are also satisfied that the delays are not to be attributed to eithre my ^want of ^ energies, or the want of the most ample pecuniary means to effect the object. Feeling confidence in your justice I must hope & believe that you will see the propriety of directing the penalties not to be charged, & in doing so, you will not only do me a favour—but the public real justice. All the facts I have set forth, can, if necessary be corroborated by Gen^t[Gentlemen] well acquainted

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with them, but I feel as though you were personally satisfied with them already, and will at once yield to my most reasonable requests.
Most respectfully
yourobt Sert[Obedient Servant]Edwin Porter

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04/25/1835
Barry, William T.

I considered the claim for a recompense of the fines in this case well forwarded. It was a difficult and hard service in which by the perfidy and mismanagement of agents, the Contractor have lost immensely. Under existing circumstances I do not think it proper to act in the case ^if I did I should grant this application^ but recommend it to the favorable consideration of my successor & of the President
25^th Apl. 1835W. T. Barry

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H^on W. T. BarryP.M. Gen^lWashington

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A

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Letter from E Porter to the Post Master General and the Post Master General[’]s endorsement thereon
See within

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In this letter the PM General admits that the fines of 6.684 show in justice be remitted

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route No 197.
Mobile & New Orleans from 11 Jany[January] 1833 to 31 Dec[December] 1834
6.684

1This document was included in the papers of the Committee on Post Offices and Postal Roads in the 30th Congress, of which Abraham Lincoln was a member.