The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-14
The Pacific Mail.

we md, In the Plcayune OF the TN
instant, the annexed letter, from the Post
master General, in relation to the contract
for carrying the Pacific mails, made by the
late Secretary Of the Navy in pursuance
to an act Of Congress approved March Sd,
1847 Some misapprehension seems to
have existed in New Orleans as to the
control of the Post Office Department over
the contract ocean steamers, which is cor
rected by the Postmaster Generals letter.
1t will be seen that the Department will
do whatever it legally can to remedy any
inconvenience arising out of the exact
wording Of the law and the contracts
made under it,
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Oct. 81, lS49.
Sin: have received your letter of the 10th inst,
enclosing article from the Picayune on the sub
ect of the California mails.
There is mistake in the declaration that the con-
tract with the Atlantic and Pacific steam mail line
makes il obligatory on the steamers going to and
returning from Chagres TO touch at New Orleans
and still greater mistake, in asserting that the
omission of New Orleans from the last trip TO Cha
gres was 'the determination of ''the Postmaster
General"
~ 10 dppd CIV lIoii youi icitef, anu iion tHc
newspaper extract by you forwarded that both you
and the community of New Orleans suppose that
the arrangement of the time of departure, and con-
nexion of the mails from the United States to Cha
gres, was under the direction and control of this
Department. That is error. The steamships
carrying those mails are in respect subject to
the order, direction control of the Postmaster
General, has he ever been consulted on the sub
ject.
The true condition of that business should be
more fully understood by the community, and es-
pecially by the postmasters, particularly at the
offices where those mails are made up, Of which
your office is one
The situation of that service is this. The Post
master General has power to enter into con-
tracts for carrying mails out of the United States,
except by some particular act of Congress- in the
instance of the mail TO Bremen. His only general
power that point is to send foreign mail by any
ship, paying two cents per letter therefor
BY an act of Congress entitled can act providing
for the building and equipping of four naval steam
ships" approved March 3, lS47, it was provided
that the Secretary of the Navy should contrast with
A. G. Sloo to build certain steamers Suitable for
ships,) and for the transportation therein Of
the United States mail from New York to New Or.
leans twice month and back, touching at Charles
ton, Off practicable,) Savannah and Havana and
from Havana 10 Chagrcs and back twice month"
Such the words Of the law.
Pursuant 20 this act, on the 10th day of April,
ls47 Mr.. Mason, then Secretary Of the Navy en-
tered into written contract with said Sloo, by
which Sloo agreed 10 build said steamships, and TO
carry the precise words OF the statute said mail,
aud fOf this Ific GUN crnuIcnt pay $3.50 100
annually. This contract assigned by said
Sloo 10 George Law, Marshall Roberts and b. II.
McIlvain, who have entered upon the service. This
contract being with the Navy Department, the
Postmaster General has order, direction or con-
troll over the conduct proceedings of those steam
ships, any power 10 enforce any order he should
make in relation thereto. Therefore no order has
ever been made by this Department on the subject
All that has been done is 10 require the mails 10 be
made up and sent by those ships whenever they go.
But the Postmaster General has not considered
that the community should be confined 10 the
use Of the naval steamers in sending mails to Cha
gres and he has, therefore, ordered mails sent by
other steamers when going sooner, whenever they
would take them Mt the legal rate Of two cents per
letter; and this he has directed 10 be done even in
| steamships going the same day with those mail
steamers, 10 all those letters which the writers
marked 20 be sent These direct tons apply as well
10 New Orleans az New York, and seem 70 the De-
partment 10 be the extent Of its power on the sub
ject II thus appears to be all the necessary result
OF the law ofCongress, and the action Of the Execu
tive under that law in ls47.
] would only add, have endeavored, and shall
continue my cxertions, 10 induce the owners Of
those ships voluntarily 20 make arrangements to
be far satisfactory az practicable. And in this
know shall be aided by the cheerful corporation
of tho honorable Secretary Of the Navy. Whether
any arrangement better than the present can be-
made with those ships IL is impossible at present 10
say. Respectfully, your Ob't sery't,
J. COLLAMER, Postmaster General
Michel MU,soS, esq, Postmaster, N. Orleans.