The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-16

CONVENIENT MAILS FOR CALIFORNIA AND ORR
oN-OBLIGATIoNs OF THE Conference.-The
mails brought by the government mail steamer
Falcon, arrived at New Orleans on the 4th inst;
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 come
direct. BY the terms of the government contract,
this steamer was bound to 60 to New Orleans, by
which arrangement telegraph 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 misled in
regard TO the delivery of the mails at New Or
leans. They seem to forget that these mai
arrangements are intended to benefit alike all
sections of the country; that there is much pro-
priety in the South and Southwest receiving their
letters early, as those residing at the North and
East. Should the Postmaster General assume the
responsibility of ordering all the southern letters
to be brought to New York, and from there
carried by land back, the whole line down to New
Orleans, he would encounter an uncompromising
opposition. The present arrangement is wise
and just one, and its operation does not delay the
receipt of letters a day, and does promulgate by
telegraphic means the important items of news to
all parts OF the country, days in advance of the
mails by entire water communication.
The Falcon has not failed in the delivery of
single mail promptly, as per contract; and it is no
cause of complaint against her that she is not at all
times present when the uncertain arrival of the Pa
cifc steamers may have taken place; nor Is there
the slightest cause OF just complaint that the Anne
rican Consul at Panama, refused TO deliver the
mails TO transient vessels, when he so well knew
the previous rregularity in the arrival of the Pa
ciic steamers with the mails, rendered it impossi-
bic for the Falcon to arrange to meet them.
That there was cause for such irregularity, the
public are, to some extent, aware; but that fact
furnished neither ground for complaint against the
Falcon nor the American Consul.
The Pacific line consists of three Steamers
These vessels the line; bat it must be borne
In mind that they are not performing the service re-
CURED by their contract. If they were, each trip
would end at Oregon instead of California, requir-
ing such an amount of time as to prevent them
reaching Panama so frequently, to be sure; but ex-
tending, the contract requires, the benefits Of
the steam mail alike TO all American citizens on
the lhClIiC COast
The largely increased size of the Atlantic line
from New York to Chagres, has delayed their COM
pleuon ; but the time Is near at hand when these
vessels will be in services and that they will justify
the high expectations Of the government and the
people, no one for a moment doubts, who has
seen them. These vessels are double the sire Of
the Pacific line, and arc, We have before told
our readers, built with an especial reference war
purposes.
We see it stated, by the New Orleans papers,
that Captain uarstien, of the Falcon, went from
Chsgres over TO Panama, and guarded the trans
mission of the gold and the mails to Chagres, not
withstanding the fact that the contract undcrwhich
the Falcon sails, only binds her to deliver and re-
c.ive the mails at Chagres, where the Pacific line
arc obliged TO receive and deliver them, thereby
evIncng an interest not usual among commanding
officers.
But enough. Our object was 10 state facts.
that the public might rightly understand tho dates
of this important branch of our mail service, and
that they nigh, not be mised by those, if there are
any such, whose interest it is to discredt all that
the government has, or may attempt TO do, in sus-
tanning the ereUt plan of steam mail service in this