Democratic banner., 1849-02-12

Having copied, on the flrst SIDE OF ou'
paper, the article of the Courier alluded te
in the following card, we cleerfully copy
also, from the S~eventy-Six, Mr.. Moslty'ss
statement of the causes of the many fail.
ures of the mail.
TO THE PUBLIC.
In the Missouri Courier, published at
Hannibal on the Isl inst, will be found, as
| think, an uncalled for attack upon me as
contractor for the route between Bowling
Green and Palmyra, which my sense OF
Justice induces me TO repel. Tie article
in question was doubtless called forth by
an attack made in the columns of the rs,
at Bowling Green, upon the
General. Now it must appear TO any sane
man that defaults on my route are no'
chargeablc to the contractors, and 1t Is IN,
just and wrong to censure those who could
not control the elements. If the contract
or possessed the power to flood the whole
country with the most unprecedented fresh
It which has Of late made rivers of the
smallest rirulets-wlich has destroyed
bridges and mills, and carried ofFferry boats
in vast numbers, then there might be some
excuse for this charge Of negligence.
II is said that other persons have travel
led the same road and crossed the same
and therefore tho mails could
have crossed. Perhaps if the editor had
thought a moment, lie would not have
this statement. lie should have
known, that, like ordinary travellers, the
cannot cross a stream upon any day,
but they are only allowed to pass upon
regular days, the Postmaster not suf-
them to have the mails after the reg
ular time, for fear Of missing the succeed
ing mail.
Now for a statement Of facts; From the
18th of January to the Both there have been
but five failures. The first took place on
the 18th of January, and Ezekiel Ferrel, a
CITIZEN of Pike county, makes
this statement, that the stage arrived in
due time, but that in attempting TO cross
Peno, the third crossing, one OF the horses
drowned, the whole team endangered,
that he crossed over with this loss, and
detained so long between the cross
ings as TO prevent him from making the
next trip.
The next failure took place on the 25th.
Joln A. Wright, ESD. gives me this state
that the mail arrived at Peno in due
but that in consequence of a rise in
the creek and the breaking up of the ice, ii
was impossible to cross, either with safety
to the mail or the driver.
The next in order was on the 9th, aud
Samuel Smith, p. NJ. at New London, Ger.
titles that the ferryman at Salt River re.
quested him to give notice 20 the mail con
count of the Eighth Of the water aud the
quantity nf ice running.
The next failure took place on the 30th,
and William Jones, Esq, whose respecta-
bility is vnuched for by the P. NJ. at Frak-
fert, says that the mail arrived in due time,
but that Spencer Creek, on account of its
could not be crossed without endan.
the mail and the driver.
1t would not be improper TO state, that
on the 9th inst. the stage could not cross
Creek, but such was the anxiety
Of the driver, that he took the letter mail
on his shoulders and crossed that creek,
but was stopped by Salt River, as as shown
by the certificate Of Mr.. Smith.
In justice TO myself, and that the public
not suppose me guilty of this negli-
gence, ! have made this statement of facts.
have made every effort 10 discharge the
duties imposed upon me by my contract
with government. When I am censured
shall not regard the lash, but,
when innocent, | must at least attempt TO
pindicate myself. The editor of the Cou-
rier has unintenlionally, | believe, done me
wrong in this matter, aud believing him too
generous to persist in this wrong, afterthe
'acts are stated, | hope he will publish this:
that those who have read his article, may
also read my reply.
JAMES MOSELY, Contractor.
N. B. The public will recollect that the
stage is compelled to make eight crossings
Of Peno Creek.
More GOId---ChiIi.
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