The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-27
lTo BE CONTINUED.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SONORA, Aug. 20, 1858.


To The Editor of tie National Era.
| wish to inform the public generally at the
east, and especially the Postmaster General, of
the present condition of the post ufh.e depart
ment in California, or rather of the cause OF
the Indignation to which the people have been
aroused
According to the Post Oaice law that was
passed in 1851, concerning three cent stamps,
1t is the duty of every postmaster in the United
States to keep constantly on hand a supply of
said stamps; which, Of clurse, is no more than
right and proper And | will wager my inter
cot in California, though | am not betting
character, that from the northern boundary of
Oregon 10 the southern line OF California, fifteen
dollars worth of these STAMPS cannot be bad.
But why? Excuse me, sirs; had like to have
forgotten tho almighty dollar. Aye, fine
business this that on account OF the scarcity OF
small change, if you ali agree not to keep che
stamps to supply the public demand, las there
is seldom found 10 California especially with
postmasters or their deputies, any SMALLER o'an
than one dime, which is current hero at twelve
and a kalf ceuts) you are enabled TO realize
from one TO three hundred per cent profit on
nearly evory letter or paper you mail For
evcfy'Asster that you mail to any subor dinate
Office 10 the States ii prepaid, you get not less
than IA half dime) f,e or six and quarter
cents; while, If you kept the stamps, you would
only get one for u paper and three for ~ letter;
while now you seldom get lees than cents.
True, when one has more than one letter to
mail, if he is acquainted with the law, and a
little smart, as the phrase is, he will got them
mailed cheaper or he will get two mailed for
what had he bat one, he would have TO pay
for it, But if we give for three cent letter or
ono cent paper what is here termed n biz (i2H
cent? We seldom, if ever, get any change IN
return.
Now, VIC do not knop that the posm asters
or their deputies pocket the proceeds Of their
unjust and highly unsatisfactory system OF ar
Engagements; but one thing wc do know, and
that is, if they remit oil to the Government, then
are tho governed being swindled ont OF their
rghtful and hardea treasure by the Con
eral Government.
Again: through s0me dersngemsnt somo-
whore between here aud Now York, we are
seldom able 10 get newspapers from tho Allan
tic States either from thoir respective Offices or
from the loved ones ut home. As for myself,
am entitled to no less than nine newspapers
each month, of which | seldom got tuo but
what il tho cause Of this am IN able 90 de-
eide Nor am alone, by far in the failure OF
getting papers or in the difficulty Of solving the
mystery. But We are told that an agent is
employed on tho mail steamers 10 sort the mails
to California, between Panama and San Fran
DISCO; but others have it that the difficulty Is
orfned within tho cfhce at San Francisco.
Wo hope that there will DO others who will
claim the right Of laying their grievances be-
fore the People, until those in the East who
have inhuence-though they may suher less
than We do-unti such An influence shall have
been enlisted "a will enable ~ root out all
that is corrupt in the whole Department and
we believe there is more or less OF foul play
praoticed throughout its entire limits And
that there has been such in San Francisco oan
DO proved for men have bought papers, and
paid fifty cents per copy, which, when opened,
il was evident had besn mailed to themselves,
rs they bore their own names on the inner
margin but the envelopes had been torn Oh,
either to deprive the rightfuI owner OF tho
pleasure Of reading for himself what might bs
taking place in HIS native land, or to enable
the peipetrstor Of the Infamous sct to sell
him his own paper, and swindle him out OF
half dollar.
Again men 10 the interior Of the State have
repeatedly sent to the Atlantic States for
stamps, and as often been disappointed; but
this should have mentioned above.
My object in writing TO you arises from tho
extensive circulation of your valuable paper
in all parts Of tho United States, notwith.
standing the Southern people are 30 antago-
nistic to the principles OF Liberty and Right it
30 ably cxpounds.
do not know that can write anything in
the line Of news that will DO interesting TO
you, save that thore prevails throughout the
state not little excitement rs ~ the result OF
the pending State election, 10 be decided on
the 7Gii of next month The choice tor Gov
ernor il most important The legislatorlal ca
reer OF the present Governor, ever sinoe Cali
iornia became a State, merits and receives the
united disapprobation Of every free and indie
pendent thinker, 0f ordinary Intelligence and
good intentions, who had an opportunity land
improved i'll of informing himself as touch,
ing the merits of his course, excepting certain
political demsgogues, Whose pecuniary inter
e-ts arc TO be affected either pro or con. by the
result of the election. SO that Mr. B,sler's
past official acta are held up by the Wings, to
prevent his reelection and voters reliet bill
passed by the Legislature, remuncratpg Mr.
Waldo (the Wing nominee fJr Goyernor) tor
self-sacri6cos made by him in behalf of come
suffering imm grants who came 10 California
across the plains in 1881, and his not being q
public speaker, are held up against him by the
bglerites.
On the night Of the 18th, our young noun
tain city was fred by an inceodiary, aud dam
age done TO the amount Of $4,000 dollsrs
aud from the repeated attempts that have been