The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-12
THE REPU BLIC.

Hoe PduoC W uClCuu tho 1CSioeoiy VI eiiS IL
terror from the direct application given to
the Union's general charge; for, if the
character of man who has been eminent
ly the artifcer of his own fortunes-of one
who, without wealth or other adventurous
aid, has raised himself by force of talents,
intensity Of application, and integrity OF
life, from the humber spheres Of labor to
the highest places of public trust and con-
fdence-cannot withstand abuse from
such source, there is no virtue in good
name.
What foundation has the Union for this
savage onslaught 1t has heard that Col.
Calhoun, the Indian Agent for Santa Fe,
General Wilson, the Indian Agent for the
Salt Lake, and MIR. Collier, the Collector
for San Francisco, and their "families" OF
"parties,' have been furnished with trans
portation and an escort to their respective
destinations by the Government. The
Union asserts, most positively, that "Me
returns are IN the QDartermaster's Depart
meat shouting that one hundred anu sirteen
horses and mules hare been tarnishedto Col.
Collier at the expense Of the Government,
and that urge amount of transportation
has been flrnishedto Genl Wilson, the In
dian .Agent for the Salt Lake," and dares
us to publish them. 1t italicises the above
quotation to help out, by typographical eff
feet, the wonder this announcement is de-
signed to excite. The Union lays claim
to knowledge of the contents Of the Quar-
termaster's Department which we pretend
not to possess; it had better, therefore,
publish the returns itself. This, however,
we do know, that Indian Agents, and their
"families' or 'sparties," have generally,
from the organization of the Department,
gone to the places assigned to them under
the escort of military expeditions, and been
provided with forage and transportation by
them, whether the fact appears in the re-
turns of the Quartermaster's Department or
not. In the present instances the requisi-
tons were, it is more than probable, larger
than usual, because the distance to be over
come was greater than usual. How could
these agents reach their destinations over
the prairies, through treacherous Indian
territory, and especially over the noun
tains, unless they were protected by an es-
cort3 and who would go there unless trans
portation was furnished them and their
"parties"-the necessary adjuncts ofevery
agencyl The aid furnished them was re-
quired by the nature of their duties and
the location Of their respective agencies.
But the Union is petrifed at the thought
of Mr.. Collier and his ''family" or Spar
ty" being sent to San Francisco with an
escort, and furnished transportation to boot.
When the revenue laws of the United
States were extended over California, Con-
gress made it the duty of the President to
see that the customs were collected. The
appointment of collector was not enough
to execute this purpose-assistants, such
as deputies, inspectors, &C., were quite as
needful as the collector himself.
All accounts, public and private, Official
and unofficial, from San Francisco, agreed
in representing the state of affairs there to
be such that it was next to impossible to
procure the services of men competent
for these trusts, in the country, at any
price, and completely so for compensa-
ton within allowable figures. There was
every probability, therefore, that the reve
nue. law would be entirely defeated unles:
Mr.. Collier could collect such officers il
the United States and take them out with
him. The offer of safe conduct and ia.
, cilities of transportation was large par
of the inducement to most OF his party
to engage in the revenue service. Such
being the condition of the country and the
, probabilities in relation to the service, the
| President, sooner than risk the entire de
J feat Of the revenue laws, consented tina
, Mr.. Collier should accompany the troops
; about to be despatched to San Francisco
J and gave directions that transportation
t should be furnished him and his "family'
r or "party." We have seen it stated tina
. some fifteen persons, all told, went on
= with Mr.. Collier Whether any Of thes'
, were post-ofhce agents, or all of these per
I sons were connected with the revenue
d service, we are not precisely informed
n After surveying the whole ground, ant
: weighing probabilities, presented by infor