San Andreas independent., 1858-04-17
INTERESTING LETTER.

respondent of the Independent, writes as fol-
lows
1Hr. Editor From the appearance of things
in Congress it is hardly to be expected that
Pacific Railroad bill will be passed this ses-
sion. Nothing will be done as long as there
remains the slightest opportunity for display
on the Nigger Question. Even if the Kansas
lmoroglio was satisfactorily got rid of, there is
stiii an opening where ultra politicians of ev-
cry hue may spread themselves to the great
edltcation of the country. The Niger ques
ton will get mixed up with the Railroad some
how or other. Whilst no one denies the util-
ity of the measure, not only commercial
necessity, but as an absolute necessity for a
means of national defence, it is to be feared |
that the debate on the bill will not be confined
cality for the road ? which is the shortest |
route? where can it be constructed in the
most economical manner, with the greatest |
ultimate advantage to commerce and emigra-
ton but to how will it affect niggers If it
inclines southwark, Mr.. Nigger-worshipper
denounces it as a propitiatory offering to sla-
very; and Mr.. Fire-eater does not hesitate to af-
firm that his opponents would willingly sane
tion a detour round the North Pole, so that it
might be as little benefit to the South as pos
sible; whilst every individual member of Con-
gress has an innate conviction that it ought to
run exactly by his own door. But happily for
California, your ultra politician is extremely
sensitive to the soothing effects OF a little pa
tronage, and the prospects of generous dis
tribution of the large amount of plunder and
pickings involved, in the shape of fat con-
tracts, Offices, &C., will tend to harmonic sec
tional discord and pass the bill. But even if
1T had passed. some years must elapse before
we could derive any great advantage from it
and what is to be done in the meantime? We
consider ourselves pretty smart people; and
SO we are, in the aggregate but in detail
some of US are smarter than others.
Take, for instance, the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, who have managed to monop-
olze the whole passage trade between the Pa
cifc and Atlantic States. How have they
done it They receive from Government
between four and five hundred thousand dol-
lars annually, for carrying the mails-iHother
words, few tons of freight. By the aid of
this sum, they can pay Vanderbilt $500 per
month for the sole and undisturbed right of
fleeing the travelling and treasure shipping
community at their pleasure, varying the mo-
notony by drowning ship-load every once in
a while Let any other line attempt to share
the trade, and Vanderbilt to secure his $4O,-
600 per month, would come out with his whole
fleet and help to break up an Opposition,
which would have rather slim chance of
succeeding against a Company, who, mana
ging to make the Government bear part of
their expenses, could carry passengers for al
most nothing
What is the remedy for this state of things?
Let US have two or three mail routes, (Mr.
Broderick has broached that measure in the
Senate, we believe,) by Panama and Nicara-
qua or Tehuantepec. 1t would be rather ex-
pensiye, but in matter of such vital impor-
tance as the encouragement OF communica-
tion between our Atlantic and Pacific coasts, |
the mere matter of dollars and cents should
not be taken too closely into account, as it |
would only be required until the completion
of the Railroad.
The Overland mail route by way of San
Diego, is utterly useless except as an expert
ment. AS it is at present, with only one mail
route by sea, the Government is actually aid
ing to remove opposition. Only think of it
The people of California and Oregon, for their
communication with the Atlantic States, are
virtually at the mercy of Company which
they have enriched with their patronage. We
have got to pay just what they think proper
to ask, or stay where we are 1t is said that
efforts are being made to put on another line,
independent of Government support; but it is
not likely that any company can be formed
with sufficient capital, and willing to risk it,
in holding out long against a company with
the mail contract to back it. 1t is idle to talk
of travellers taking such line in preference.
People, when the accommodations and speed
are equal, will always prefer the cheapest
AS we said above, the only permanent reme-
dy for the evil appears to be in having two
or three mail lines to carry passengers, and if
considered necessary, at a maximum rate, to
be fixed by Government. That the travel
would increase approximately with the low
ness of the fare, can be judged from the in
crease when there is shadow of opposition.
Would not such an arrangement be to the in
terest, not of California, alone, but of the
whole Union; and is it not the duty of the
General Government to consummate the same?
Will it be done?
QUIEN SABE.
s6- A private letter from Victoria, in Van
eouvers Island, states under date of April 3D.