The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-21
From the Ne,c York Herald.

GOVERNMENT MAILS FOR CALIFORNIA AND ORE
GoN-OBLIGATioNs OF THE CoNTRAcToRs.-The
mails brought by the Government mail steamer
Falcon arrived New Orleans on the 4th instant:
that portion Of the letters for New York and the
North arrived at our post Office at meridian ON the
18th, the earliest possible day they would have
reached the city by any steamer, had she como di-
rect. BY the terms of the Government contract,
this steamer was bound 10 go TO New Orleans by
which arrangement Geographic communications
reached this city the 9th instant thereby placing
the whole country In possession of the California
news at least seven days earlier than would have
been the case had the steamer not delivered her
mails at New Orleans.
The public at the North are being mIsed in re-
gard to the delivery of the mails at New Orleans
They seem to forget that these mail arrangements
are intended TO benefit alike all sections of the
country; that there is much propriety in the South
and Southwest receiving their letters early as those
residing at the North and East. Should the Post
master General assume the responsibility of order
ing all the southern letters to be brought to ~ York
and from there carried by land back the whole line
down to New Orleans, he would encounter an un-
compromising opposition. The present arrange
ment is wise and just one, and its operation does
not delay the receipt of letters day. and does
promulgate by Geographic means the important
items of news to all parts of the country, days in
advance of the mails by entire water communion
ton.
The Falcon has not failed in the delivery of a sim
gle mail promptly, az per contract; and 1t is no
cause Of complaint against her that she is not at all
times present when the uncertain arrival Of the Pa
cfc steamers may have taken place nor is there
the slightest cause of just complaint that the Amer
can consul at Panama refused to deliver the mails
to transient vessels, when he so well knew the pre-
vous irreguarty IN the arrival of the Pacific steam
ers with the mails rendered II impossible for the
Falcon 10 arrange TO meet them.
That there cause for such rregulari,y the
public are, to some extent, aware but that fact
furnished neither ground for complaint against the
Falcon nor the American consul
The largely increased size of the Atlantic line
from New York TO Chagres has delayed their COM
pletIon but the time is near at hand when these
vessels will be IN service and that they will Justify
the high expectations of the Government and the
PEOPLE, no one for moment doubts who has seen
them. These vessels are double the size of the
Pacific line, and are, we have before told our
readers, built with an especial reference TO war pur.
poses.
We see IT stated, by the New Orleans papers.
that Captain Hartstlen, Of the Falcon, went from
Chagres over to Panama, and guarded the trans
mission OF the gold and the mails to Cbaeres not
withstandmg the fact that the contract under which
the Falcon sails only binds her to deliver and re-
celve the mails AT Chagres, where the Pacific line
are obliged to receive and deliver them. thereby
~ '"'N''S' Hot uhuhl hfnonp commanding
officers
But enough. Our object was to state facts, that
the public might rightly understand the duties
OF this important branch Of our mail service and
that they might not be misled by those f there are
any SUCH whose interest is TO dscredit all that
me government has, may attempt to do, in gus
tanning HE great plan Of steam mail service in this
country.
NEw BooKs.-Tayor and Maury have received
the first number Of Thackerays History Of Peuden-
ms, which we cannot too highly commend to the
reading public. They have also received Wbotely's
standard Elements NJ Logic; the History Of The Ma
ionai Constituent .assembiy, by j. F. Corkran, esq;
md The Magic Of Kindness, by the Brothers May
lew All these works are from the press of tlar-
YER and Brothers.
The masses are abandoning Gen Taylor.
Washington Union
All but the M Louisville Journal.