, 1857-12-04

ltle Columbia river and dreturned-the Capt
at that limo determining not to hazard the
crossing Of the bar; that when she did
cross out, every person on board was more
or less alarmed-each having in readiness
his life preserver, in case necessity should
require its use that when she rolled in the
sea, her waterway seams opened to an ex'
tent capable Of admitting a persons hand !
that she was generally regarded by the
passengers as an old trap, that would some
day perform the functions Of "deadfdH.'
Whilst on this subject we will take the
liberty Of observing, thatin their discussion,
and in their conclusions in favor Of and
against the sea-worthiness Of the various
ocean steamers in the Pacific trade, the
ship carpenters" and Ship caulkers" deci-
ded that the Constitution was in good con
dIfion, Inoe her repairs" " Her timber is
represented as sound ana she eds IN good
condition rhen she lef San Francisco, hav-
ing been Thoroughly repaired" This is the
language of the associations alluded to.
With the foregoing statements Of what
we are induced to believe are stubborn faeis,
staring the p. NJ. S. S. Co. In the face, it
certainly appears to us singular and mex
plicable, that they dare so act with their
contract, and it will be to us still more
mysterious, II, after violating the same in
every essential particular, they can manage
to pass the hands Of government unscathed.
The arrogant, presumptuous and reckless
manner in which they have thus far de-
meaned themselves towards the govern
ment and the public, is without precedent
or example within our knowledge, in the
history Of U. s. mail contracts Many OIL
the Company's vessels by competent sur
veyors pronounced rotten and unsea-worthy
(amongst others the RePu6lie,) their arri-
walls and departures to and from Puget
Sound suiting their own convenience only
their failure, Gas per contract, to connect
San Francisco with Olympia-immense
sums drawn from the Treasury annually,
and new contracts given to ihem-again
we soy It will be regarded as most mysteri-
ous II they be permitted TO continue in the
violation Of their contract with impunity.
Another matter. We have, of late,
heard much blame attributed to the owners
OF the Constitution concerning contract
they are said to have entered into with the
company for the transmission Of the mailI
from Port Townsend TO Olympia. We
have been at some pains in making enquiry
in the proper quarter and are fully satisfied
that all complaint on that score is entirely
groundless. and without cause. 1t is true,
as we are informed, that they did make an
! o6er to the President Of the P. NJ. S. S
Co in New York, to connect at Port
Townsend with their steamer, at a price
that was considered rather exhorbitant
and therefore the offer was declined. Since
then, and after determination on the par'
Of their agents Messrs. FoRBEs & BABcocK
Of San Francisco, to make Port Townsend
snaDMOt Olympia, the tsrmini on the north
ern end Of the route, Capt. HUM, we art
told, agreed with Capt DALI, of the Co
iunbia, to bring up his mails, but no stiPu
ldsiCh SOds agreed upon as 10 forming con
nectiOn. 1t short Il has been refused as i'm
practicable, owing to the irregularity of tht
arrival Of the company's steamer at Port
Townsend, and the performance Of the
Consultations contract for weekly service
1. We are thoroughly convinced that the
owners Of the Constitution have endeavoret
to the utmost Of their ability to perform
their contract faithfully-to accommodate
aud benefit the people Of the Sound aud ter.
ritory at large. They have exhausted al
their means and taxed their energies tC
their utmost 10 place upon our waters
steamer that no one can honestly find faul
with. and it looks to Us as being in exceed
ing bad taste, and as displaying a specie
Of reprehensible ingratitude, that the off
GERS and agents Of the steamer should b,
denounced because eireumstdnceS may pre-
vent her arrival and departure at the yer!
hour and minute specified in their contract
1t would be the part Of ,risdom for oar citi
zens to remember that she cannot at all time
reach the wharf.
To our professional grumblers we submi
the question-hOw many times has th,
Constitution failed to be at our wharf o.
Friday since the performance Of her con
truct has been entered upon? We are in
formed that she is almost invariably akeat
Of time at her northern termination, (Bel
lingham Bay,) and she made her last triI
4 from fhot FIaca 70 Olvrnn;a a d;etoroa n