Mountain Democrat., 1857-12-26
SnperintenSlcnt Kirk,

The editors of the ''great nOrth," clever and
intelligent gentlemen. but somewhat prcju-
diced, who are labOring under the very pleas.
ing and partlonable delusion that they are the
State, have been giving the gentleman whose
name heads this article, "particular fits" for
some time past for some fancied injustice to
that populous and wealthy portion Of our COM
mOnwealth. They have made some terrible
threats, without considering that they might
lack the ability to carry them into effect. The
Butte Record, especially, has been quite free
and rather vindictivc in its comments upon his
conduct. The Quincy .i,yUs edited blythe un-
Obtrusive but erratic Charles WestmOrcland
also has howled fierccly against him, and mod
cstly intimated that at its suggestion the Ad
ministration would remove the "faithless and
unprincipled Kirk" Regardless of their
abuse, treating with silent contempt their
threats, the Superintendent pursued the seven
tenor Of his way" dischargng his duty faith
fully aud efficiently, and pushing forward the
work he was appointed to superintend vigor-
Ously and successfully. He had his instruc-
tiOns and he literally obeyed them. The advo-
Gates of the Honey Lake route, as soon as they
discovered they had an intelligent officer to
deal with, whom they could neither deceive
nor intimidatc, opened all their batteries upon
him, with the vain hope of influencing the
Department ut Washington to remove him.
They permitted their hostility to carry them
too far. GrOundless statements are worthless
when compared with deeds that prove their
ialsity. Kinks official conduct has met the
hearty appreciation, despite the malice Of his
enemies, fthe Secretary of the Interior. The
remarks Of the Record, Argus aud journals Of
that ilk have done him no harm with the Ad-
ministratiOn. A competent and honest officer,
when abused without cause, generally tri-
umphs over his foes, and Kirk, without conde-
scending TO notice his traducers, to give them
any explanation, has received such an endorse
ment from the Administration as any man
might be proud of.
The Washington correspondent of the San
Francisco Globe speaks as follows of the man
ner in which he conducted the expedition is
regarded ut head quarters:
writer In your paper Of the 10Th OF October, un.
der the de plume Of Aeierra" accuses Mr.. Kirk
| very wFongfuly. There many inuendOes that
this anonymous writer has thrown out evidently with
the intention to injure Mr. Kirk, but your readers
may be assured that the poison will do Dir. X. no
| harm where Il ls designed.
l have 1t from the most undoubted and reliable
source-a gentleman high In offcial position here
and who is above shielding Wrong.dOer, that "the
Secretary Of the Interior expresses himself thorough
| Iy satisfied wIth the Mr.. Kirk has pursued
| with his accOunts-with his location Of the road
with the few animals he has lost; and further that
| he holds him In such high estimation, that he (the
Secretary regrets that he did not know his worth
earlier so that he might have conhded more mpor-
| tont trust to him"
Common Justice TO Mr.. Kirk (who Is entire strAn.
ger to mel induces these remarks.