Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

welkin ring with denuncistions Tin advancel OF
the expected action of these functionaries in the
premises, had the grace to admit that they had
done their Intentions injustice, through i'm
proper information, and the bowling of the rest
| of them over the subject ceased for the time
| being But, as not to grumble at the Post OF.
fee Department would be for them to change
their very nature, they are already at it again
The Washington correspondent of the New York
! Corner and Enquirer, among others, is again
in full cry over this matter. Of course, his al
legation is-Undue favOritism to the South, in
making Memphis starting point for this i'm
pOrtant mail, as we'll as St Louis: the latter
point having been especially urged by most Of
those from the North who sought to influence the
decision of the question-s-y which route should
be adopted? In essaying to make out his case
against the decision, he misstates important
iacts, and omts to state others of perhaps more
| importance which if stated, would have
proved conclusively 10 the Corners readers
who are sane on the slavery question. that his
hostility to everything Southern, and that only,
is at the bottom of his evident incapacity TO
comprehend his subject, and his consequent mis-.
representation Of it.
he says that st. Louis was favored by the
Nerthern States as the starting point. Well, is
not St Louis one Of its starting points Does
it injurc St. Louis or incommode the Northern
States that Memphis should also be another
starting point for the Southern people? Nearly
all the railroads from the Atlantic States are
ccnteilng either at st. Louis or at Memphis,
and the Postmaster General and the President,
in making two starting points, accommodated
all the States, both North and South, Was
that wrong!
But he says that the two routes were to con-
verge at Memphis. That is not true They
TN not concentrate at Memphis and then go
west together to Little Rock" If they did,
there would not be trro lines. That statement
is therefore in itself refuted by its impossible
ty. He insists that all this has been done in
the way of a compromise. Now, if this is true,
Is that bad compromise which accommodates
the interest and convenience Of all parts of the
country
But after laundering over the subject Of the
two starting points, he at last settles down on
the objection that the road is located nearer
along the thirty-second parallel (of north lati-
tude) than on the thirty fifth parallel. II is so
located, and for substantial reasons self-evident
to all who have taken occasion to inquire into
the subject to any other end than that of using
1t for lever with which to stir up unjust
Northern Jealousy and prejudice against the
South
Inquiry In proper spirit would have salts
fed him, among other things that the greatest
elevation upon the Ell Paso route lin crossing
he -, q G. A. a.
est elevation necessary to be crossed on the AL
buquerque or middle route, for which he so
strenuOusly contends. He would also have
learned that in securing this great advantage
the President and Postmaster General decreas
ed, rather than increased, the length Of the
journey. Or, in other words that while it (the
Albuquerque route) is 3.492 miles long from
Boston via New York and Philadelphia. to San
Francisco, the FL PasO route is 3,4O2 miles long
from Boston, via New York, Philadelphia and
Memphis These facts he could have found out
by proper inspection Of the results of actual
surveys, and he might also proftably have ex-
tended his investigations further ere venturing
To make his sweeping and so baseleSs allega-
tons upon the subject. Thus, he might have
learned that, in the winter, the weather in the
vicinity of Albuquerque renders the use of his
tayurite middle route for the ordinary travel Of
the emigration, practically an impossibility
This fact is demonstrated by the record Of the
thermometers kept at Albuquerque, and Fort
Defiance, ninety miles further west According
to these records made last winter, the mercury
was below zero at both points. Indeed in De-
cember, January and February, it was often 6,
z, s, 9, 10 and ii degrees below zero Obser-
vatiOns have been recorded there for several
years past. On one occasion the record showed
20 degrees, and another even 50 degrees below
zero or Ga degrees below the freezing point. How
Is It possible that ordinary emigrants with their
1amllles, stock, &c, can use a route in those
months situated in such climate for the
road is to be opened for their accommodation.
as we'll as for that of travellers in the stages.
which, by the by, would afford poor protection
to women and children in such weather.
lie growls not little. too. over the idea that
the country along the FL Paso route is a bar.
rem waste or wilderness which he would hard.
~ have ventured to do had he taken the trou-
bic to consult the authorities (bOoks) within his
reach: which one and all contradict that idea
fatty If he will study the subject as he should
ont, his wonder will be how better selection
than the one made, could possibly have been
made
We are glad that ne has thus afforded us
legitimate opportunity for dispclling the bug
bears and correcting the misapprehensions con-
corning this important action Of the President
and Postmaster General, which the negrophi-
lists have generated by their complaints without
cause, and their persistent statements of fiction
concerning this matter, for facts
Congress directed the Government to open an
overland route 10 the Pacific The choice was
necessarily between TIVE, Of nearly equal length.
one passing over mountains Of 1000 feet greater
elevation than the other. impossible for three
months In the year on account of the rigor of its
climate the other being located from end to end
ID a region with as genial climate as is to be
found on the continent. In all other respects-
as to wood, water grass, &c.-they offered
nearly equal advantages Both were eon,u,,