Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-25


these terms of settlement by Gen. Cullom and the
seconds of the parties shall be considered a COM
pliance Herewith, and restore the former reia-
tons OF the parties. J. J. CRITTENDKN,
r. TooMBs,
go -....A -E- A. KENNEDY. ..
GENTLEMEN defer to your decision commu-
nicated Yesterday, and, on behalf of Gen. Gull
lom, am authorised to accept il.
Very respectfully,
FIX ZoLLIcorrKR.
Hons-J J. Crittenden, R. Toombs, and A. Ken
nedy.
FEBRUARY "a, 1853.
GENTLEMEN: In your Judgment have entire
confidence, and 1 accept the award you have
made In the controversy between Mr. Clay and
Gen Cullom.
1 am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
r. W. JOHNSON,
Friend of Mr.. Clay.
Hons. J j Crittenden, Robert Toombs, and A.
Kennedy.
OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA
In his communication to the Post Office and
Post Roads Committee Of the House Of Repre-
sentativss, on the subject of an overland mail
route to California, in answer to a resolution of
inquiry, the Postmaster General, Hon. AV
Brown, starts out by referring the committee
to his elaborate report made to the President
on that subject which, he says, contains his
best convictions, after the most patient and
laborious research, as to the proper route to be
selected in order to carry out the true interest
and purpose Of Congress. Although constantly
met with the suggestion during his investiga-
ton Of that subject, that, owing to natural OBJ
stacles lying chiefly west of the Rio Grande,
the scheme was impracticable and the service
desired by Congress could not be performed,
the route was established, the contract duly
executed, the foreboding disappointed, and the
practicablity of four horse coach service,
carrying passengers and travelling with the re-
quired speed was practically demonstrated
This was along the route established by Con-
gress, from San Antonio, by FL Paso, through
the Gadsden purchase or Arizona, passing Fort
Yuma to San Diego. Many trips have since
been made, and that, too, with the happiest
results. This line is the same with that from
the Rio Grande near Ell Paso to Fort Yuma, or
the Colorado, and is to be discontinued when
ever the latter begins.
This is an established route, and to abandon
1T for another yet untrod, would the Postmas-
ter General thinks, be giving up certainty
for an uncertainty. And, he asks, what is pro-
posed to be substituted for this assurance to
the public and the Depar tment that the SER
vice can and will be well performed? Nothing,
except that the whole field is thrown open to
contractors to 60 here or there as their own in
terests may suggest, or as they may be infu-
enced by such large sectional or railroad COM
binations as may appeal to their cupidty The
Postmaster General does not assert that any
such combinations will influence the contractors.
but considering it bis duty to point out the con-
sequences almost certain to attend the confer
ring Of such unlimited power on a company
who owe no responsibility to the public, he
says:
= In this very case, IL the action Of the execu-
tive government is to be dsatt rmed by comforting
the power on Messrs. Butterfeld, Fargo & Co
what will be at once their condition Z, The South
Pass and Salt Lake route was zealously advo-
Gated, and great railroad interests aud the in
tefest OF cities lying above st. Louis were in
voked to sustain that route. Well, suppose these
cities and railroad companies combined shall
apply, not to Congress, not to your committee,
not to the executive Of the United States but to
Mr.. Butterfeld, Mr. Fargo, and the rest of them
In the srsTctSe Of their discretion to start on the
mississippi above, or even at st. Louis and
thence by the South Pass, Salt Lake, &c. What
answer would they make, why, that the route
was utterly impracticable f:om snow, ice and
mountains, for at least four we months Of the
year.
the laws OF human nature would be, ave know
1t, but we have such large private interest vest
ed In our railroads, town lots, &c, all along
much OF this route that if you select it, we will
promptly pay all the fines and forfeitures which
the Post Office Department may impose This
might satisfy ''the bond" il is true but in the
meantime, for the four or five months the public
would have no mails, and the means of trans
portation Of passenger as well as mails would
be entirely LOST
The impracticability Of the Salt Lake route
the Postmaster General considers fully demon
strated; as shown in his report, and also by the
present situation of the army in Utah.
lie insists that the route to be chosen should
be positively specified by Congress, and that
the proposed contractors, Messrs Butterfeld.
Fargo 4 Co., should not be set up, not only
above the President and the Department. but
above Congress itself, by being left to their own
discretion He urges that all the present mail
routes are established by law, and inc uires
What would be thought of proposition to over
turn all these routes established by law, and
specified in every contract, and turn the whole
loose, dependent upon the selfish interest of tho
contractors themselves? Such q proposition
would startle the whole country but on prin-
ciple itwould not differ in one jot or title from
the one now under consideration.
Reference is also made to his report to show
that the different parties bidding for the con-
tract on the route named in this communica-
ton bid for the route specified, and asked no
discretionary powers to select route for them
selves BY allowing this discretion In the bill
the Postmaster General contends that Congress
not only commits wrong to itself, the Depart.
ment and the country, but confers privilege
which the contractors would not have asked.
He notices the criticisms which have been ut
tered respecting the route selected by the De-
partment, and answers them by reminding the
committee that he was not selecting for a rail
road, but for a stage line, to be put in opera
ton within twelve months, and to be run in
twenty five days. The complaints made relate
TO it as . selection Of railroad route to the
Pacific. The desired service related to popula-
ton, to present correspondence, to the imme-
date transportation of passengers, and not to