Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


panied his resignation with a copy of his threat
sned manifesto to the people, addressed TO the
President of the United States-a document Of
so great length rs to require hours to deciphsr
it in manuscript. Tho" dodge could have
been for no other purpose than to have calls
made for it through resolutions Of Congress, that
it may be spread on the records and become
part Of the proceedings officially published
His hope evidently was, that the President
would regard it as an official paper, as well as
his resignation, which may have been embraced
in 1T, for aught we know, to the end of securing
for it position among the official papers of the
Executive Office.
Without knowing aught of our own knowl-
edge, we incline to the opinion that the Presi-
dent has accorded to it simply the same posi-
ton he necessarily gives to hundreds of thou
sands of letters sent to him on the subject of
Otice-ior of that subject it treats. 1t is in
reality private and not an Official letter, and
to get it before the people it is clear to us that
Governor Walker must furnish his Republican
party friends with copy. of his own motion.
without relying on the Democratic majority of
either House and the President to step out of
their way to do so.
Whenever it sees the light ii is destined to
be GO blown over" at great rate by the Repub-
! Iican party, and will form the thunder with
| which they will prosecute the war against the
Democracy for some time to come, thus taking
the wind completely out of the sails of the late
| oratorcal effort of the distinguished Senator
| from Illinois
p S.-We find it in exch lnge papers since
writing the above.
OVERLAND MAILs-The loss of the steam
| ship Central America continues to be thu subject
Of more popular excitement than aught else at
| this time in California, and in the manifesto
ton of popular opinion it is bringing about is
teaching profitable lessons, if they be needed
even now, of the wisdom of the policy so long
! and so pertinaciously urged by Senator Gwin
| on Congress with reference to overland mails;
| the only true national system of intercommu-
ncation with California, the feasibility, utility,
| and economy Of which have already been am
ply demonstrated in the success of the mail
line now in operation between San Antonio.
Texas, and California.
The contracts for the transportation of the
mails to aud from California via the Isthmus of
Panama, are about expiring, and, it is said, a
tremendous lobby are on the ground evidently
to obtain another special ooean wise contract
via the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, for which more
| extensive drumming upon members of Congress
is said already to be in progress, than to COM
pass the enactment Of all other measures of
special favor to individuals, besides.
Believing that if the scheme of granting n
| special mail contract oceanwise, via the 18th
| mus of Tehuantepec, triumphs, Congress will
hesitate and halt in carrying out the true sys-
tenn of frontier defence involved in the over
land-mail system, We are Of course opposed to
| it, and shall labor earnestly to make the latter
the system of this Government for its future in
! tercOurse between the Atlantic and Pacific
slopes. To that end we republish to-day a
speech delivered by Senator Gwin on the 9th
| Of February last, wherein the impolicy of re-
lying on ocean steam lines is duly set forth, as
we'll rs the fact that sooner or later the Gov
eminent mustadopt the policy which will alone
| give peace to the frontier and security to the
vast emigration that will essay to cross the
| Rocky Mountains in the next decade
Mr.. GwrS said How can we ever supersede
| the steamships unless we have a mail across the
| continent and how can we let such one until
| we make the experiment California has been
| in possession OF the United States more than ten
years, and yet we have no commun ication across
| the continent within our own territory. We are
| entirely at The mercy Of a steamship company-a
/ gigantic monopoly that never can be broken
down unless you give us mail across the CONT
| hent. now announce that if Won will give us
this route, and give that liberal patronage to
| which We are entitled from the Government of
| the United states, so far ! arm concerned,
| will never go for another steam route, nor will
| go for renewing the onTact of the line now in
existence Whenever we can establish the fact
| that he mail can be carried across the contn mt
rs know ii can, If yon will give US proper aid
| by this measure. We want no steam routes we
| heed none of them.
There Is no question in which the Poop le Of
California take so great AN interest in that of
| 4 mail Tonte across the continent. BY yeTy
large vote, which think indicates the policy of
the Senate, bill was passed few DAYS ago
| giving us a telegraphic communication across
the continent Now give a mail You have
| agreed 10 give US wagon-roads but they will lie
oil no use unless you put mails upon them The
Indians Will burn up the bridges il they are not
KEEP, IN constant use aud what you have done
VIII DE oil no service 10 us unless you give a
| mali communication | indicate no route ct
money find the best ronte TO California I hope
no sectional question will spring up on this prop
osifion; for sooner or later we mist have com
mnnication across the continent with the Pacific
coast, ana the sooner We communicate q he better
This cont faet with the Pacific Mail Steams p
Company, and tue New fofk and Cbagres Com
Pany, expires in October, 1a5s-Only eighteen
months from this time and il will take eighteen
months to ascertain the fact whether IL Is practi-
land and If this measure does not now pass IL is
aguafanty To the country that those who oppose
IL intend 70 force MS into additional contracts 10
| carry the mail thFough two oceans to California
war with one OF the most insig q fcant nations
| would stop all communications between the At
lantlc and Pacific states Of the United States
| Every ship that goes to California and carries
mails or brings them back, passes in sight of
CUBA, and one ship OF war there could stop all
communication We are at the mercy of any
| nation with whom we may be at war so far as
that communication is concerned, unless we have
route across the continent. Ii gentlemen want
| 10 break up the steam lines-if they want to Law
the foundation by which we shall be ind pc ent
OF them, give us mail across the continent; and
the 'ooner we commence the better
| know that the bills which have passed the
senate during this tessiOn, land two OF them
| nave passed both houses of Cong ress,) will be
| looked upon rs bright era in the history of the
| racine possessions of the United States-the
wagon road bills and the telegraph bill. Now
give us this mail IL will show that we shall be
Connected by route within our own territory,