The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-05


lions OF pleasure, and desire to reward the pro-
genitor Of the same, and from none more especially
than the miners Of California When this great
reduction OF postage 10 looked into, it becomes no
mseral reduction At all, at any rate as far IS this
State is concerned, merely in at the 'spiggot aud
out at the buug;" and for this reasoa, every
man who sendsa letter to the States. in nine
cases out Of every ten, accompanies il with a
steamer paper Of the day. A Large number who
have not the time to write, DO not send any letters
at all, but merely ne Fspaper, with their initals
who are familiar with their handwriting. that they
are still in the land Of the living Formerly the
postage on letter was forty cents, snd On ne VS.
papers, three cents paid and I'VE ceIts unpaid. Ana
now for the benefit We derive here from cheap
postage Letters are charged six cents or more,
and ne wspapers in accordance with their weight,
and the result is that often times from "ten to
forty cents have been charged on double sheet
steamer paper brought "wet" from the ofli;e OF
publication. In such cases, "cheap postage is PEE
cisely just where it always was, "no where"
Our newspaper propriesors here, with liberslity
view Of these things, to send free all newspapers
bought directly Of them, and thus the difficulty is
in measure obyiated; but Why should the press be
taxed to such an extent, for the pccpose Of throw
ing off from their patrons an onerous burden, which
their representatives in their asinine weakness seek
to put upon them. We would just as leave 60
without our meals in California our newspapers.
Calfornians cherish and respect their press, and
honor those by who n it is conducted. They know,
and We all know full well, that the columns of the
press Of our country stand unequaled for their in
trinsic merit, and we also know that they are as
good school for q to educate himself in IF he
has any perceptive qualities at aiD there is ex-
tant, and many man now IN high official emf.
nence and learning, has, from tae weh written and
truthful articles OF the press laid the permanent
foundation Of all his greatness. Take our news
paper from US by any lrdensome tax, and you take
away al light, happiness, and pleasure; for who IS
there that lives under the American flag viii deny,
that to the press, and free and Independent press
pecially, indebted for many of tie civil and
religious liberties we now enjoy. 1t i; the only
safeguard Of our republic.
One other circumstance IN connection with the
post Office wish to direct your attention to, and
ask towards its graduation your best efforts and
influence. it is this: Before the Cheap Postage
bill went into operation it was customary for the
miners to have their letters from home directed to
san Francisco and Sacramento, and by handing
their names to express agents, and by paying the
fifty cents they would have their letters procured
fro the post Office, and brou ght TO them 10 safety
This pl an worked admirably and gave plee salts
faction, until Mr. Hobbie came ont here TO arrange
postal difficulties, and he has, as far as the miners
are concerned, most sadly disarIanged them for,
failing to make an arrangement. with the various
express to carry letters throughout the mining
districts, he has absolutely prohibited postmasters
from delivering letters, except by the written re-
quest Of the persons desiring them twhen at least
half Of those in the mines cannot wrlte) aud tnen
they must no: be given to express men, on account
of the cheap postage, but must be sent 70 the near
est post Office. Now, how perfectly ludi:rous that
I
| only POO miles from the poor dsconsolate miner,
who wishes his letter, and cannot spare the time.
pay the expense Of the 200 miles travel, and is
never IN tae same spot more than week az
whereas the express man, TO use very plain term,
would chase him up, and hand him the letter, at
charge of 90 cents II at the extent. The
above two things which, on behalf Of thousands,
| wish to call your attention, and through your
columns, that OF the Postmaster General, namely,
the postage on letters. and imposition on miners
The amount of the business is, the whole Post
Ohi,e Department ia California is managed in
disgraceful manner, and in no place more SO than
San Francisco. By advocating thorough reno
walton OF the whole affair you will receive the
heartfelt thanks of every miner in the Safe Of
CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francesca, July ST. P. VI.
The Nicaragua Route-AGairs in Orsgon-GenaQ
Lane ID, San Francis % The Oregon and Cali
tornia Mines, Sc, Sc, &c.
! send to- day my first despatch, directly by the
Nicaragua route, to the Atlantic side, per the
steamer Independence, which leaves in the course
ofan hour or two. The Pacific, the pioneer vessel
on this route, lef, the 18th, but would proceed
to Panama, as well as Del Sud, giving the passen
gers the choice Of routes. The Independence, how
ever, will go no further than the latter point,
les she be met there with the intelligence that the
boats, on the o.her side, are not in readiness.
jury to the route that could not be remedied in
lwelve month.
The Independence is commanded by Captaia
Wakeman, who gained little notOriety for
running away from New York with the steamer
New World, with the Sherifs officers on b,ard.
lie is exceedingly popular on the Pacific side, and
capital sailor His instructions from the agents
here are, to run the boat to the Pacific terminus of
the new route in eleven days, which will make
about twenty two days to New ork. should the
trip be made in this space Of time, the old CON-
panies will be obliged to take efficient measures
to prevent the general diversion of travel by that
route.
Stree my last letter to the Herald, nothing of spe-
cal interest has occurred in California. The scenes
Of bloodshed and executions, by the popuace which
characterized the previous two weeks, have not
again been enacted. The courts Of san Francisco
are now fearessly doing their duty, and although
the Vigilance Committee still continue their organi-
Zatiop, they act detective police rather
than the executors Of the law, handing oyor the
villains arrested by them to the officers AMI courts.
Quiet again rcgns not only here but IN almost every
section vi the state, although awlcss It's of violence
still too frequent TO give our state the high 20.
sition Of peace and morality which j. 80 desirable
TO give Va reputation abroad
Within the last forty eigh. hours, three steamers
have arrived from Oregon--the Columbia, the sea
Gull, and the Chesapeake. There is no special
news from above Several skirInish rad occurred
between the United states troops, under M,ior
kearpy, and the Indians, the latter being general
ly dispersed AT the last advices. Gen. Games was
endeayoriDg to effect treaty with the Rogue River
Indians, with some prospect Of success.
Among the passengers who came down 10 the
Columbia was Gen. LaIe, the newly elected dele
gate to Congress from oregon. lie leaves iOr the
Atlantic side in the Oregon, to morrow, designing
to make visit to his old iriendsin Indiana previous
to preceding TO Washington. grand supper
was given him at Jones' Hotel, last night, by Gov.
McDOugsl, at which were present most Of the state
oficers Senator Gwin, and host Of digni.arcs.
greater assenblage Of talent never together
Toast and speech followed until late hour Of the
night The f" Marion Of the Mexican war" is eX-
ceedingly popular. not only in Oregon but along
the entire Atlantic coast.
The steamers brought down from Oregon about
$4,000 in gold, most Of il the product of the Ma
math and Rogue river mines, which, as fas as
worked, are proving satisiactoryrich.
During the quarter ending June 30th, there has
been exported from this port the OF ~, Ei9000
This would give 81 $4,000 for the year, in which
is no. included, Of :our.c, the amount which has
gone forward in private hands