New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-03
THE PUGET SOUND MAIL CONTRACT r.

To the EltO, Of TAeN y Trbuae
SIR: Nv attention has been called to an article that
recently appeared in your paper, headed The Way
the Money Goes which is a personal attack upon
myself and associates contractors for carrying the
mails between Olympia and Whatcom on Puget
Sound and which is tissue of fasehoods and dis
torted statements. Although dated at Washington,
D. c. it is certain that it is not the production Of
your intelligent regular correspondents there. In
deed il bears on its face evidence that it was con-
cocted by some one personally acquainted with the
route on which we carry the mail. Nor do hesitate
TO assert that it was written by at the instance Of
a Mr.. John Ferguson, who has openly threatened to
thus revenge himself upon the firm with which am
connected in this contract because refused to submit
10 his black mailing extortions.
This Mr. Ferguson is one of those feeble supporters
of the Administration who expect TO be supported N
return for imaginary political services; neither has he
been coDtented with the regular emoluInens OF Office
lie employed III the San Francisco Pos-Otice, but
has been removed has been enabled to ascertain the
amounts due to contractors on the Pacific routes and
he has made annual visitation to Washington, to
advance the settlement Of accounts for consdera-
tion or to obstruct them if his demands not COM
piled with.
In this capacity of negotiator department broker
he presented himself TO me when | arrived last in
Washington, for the purpose OF settling our accounts
as contractors for carrying the mails Puget Sound
and demanded fee. He even had the assurance to
hand me form of promise to pay this black-ma de-
mand, which read thus:
washington. y. C., Jan. q, 1859.
I'VE hereby % john Ferguson order,
oc Warren street. Ne~Yok the Of three hundred aud
fifty dollars"
Having no desire TO obtain his services, and no fear
that he could invadate claims under contract
respectfully declined this proposition, although e1
hbted to gentlemen in official position at Washington
this evidence of the attempted extorton. Afterward
he renewed his demand in this city, and wrote threat
fotip hat bo had
Nassau street TO compel payment Of this requsition.
Our determination not to submit to his self.imposed
tax, made him threaten the revenge which he sought
TO obtain by incorrect statements in The TRIBUNE,
viz:
Ii is asserted that We, the contractors instead of
procuring frst-class steamer, purchased an old,
WORKOUT, and laid-up steamer called the COnstitu-
" ton, which had been condemned, &c. Now, the
records of the Insurance Companies and Of the Pacific
Mail Company will show the falsity of these sweeping
charges. The Constitution not old steamer,
neither had she made but few trips, and she was sold
TO us by the Pacific Mail Company, because she
too small for their purposes although amply large for
the service for which destined her. Nor was there
& merchant steamer on the Pacific suitable for
war purposes than this same propeller Of 90 tuns
burden.
We had the Constitution taken 20 the work, Of the
Pacific Mail Company at Benicia, thoroughly over
haned newly coppered, and placed in complete repair
under the supervision of Capt John G. Hoyt and other
agents of the Board Of Underwriters. The fact that
upon their recommendation she was when ready for
sea, insured on the same terms other irst-csss
ocean-steamers are, is complete disproval Of the
false statements concerning her. We admit that ON
occasion in a severe gale, some Government
stores her deck had TO be thrown overheard; but
this is not solitary occurrence and the marine regis
tiers Of the last ten years viii show that the stannchest
and most sesworthy vessels are subject to the dan
. gers Of the seas
San Francisco paper, The Alta California 1.-THE
original of which is sent to fHE TRIBUNE with this,
said of her on the morning OF her departure:
The Constitution built in NewYork in the year la5-2
to P.lsns Sandwich Islands after which .hs va.
laid B-nc where she has remained live having been
in service bur eighteen months in sill since she wa launched
Lately the Constitution has undergone the thorough
pairs urder the .uPeriutendeuee Of scientific nshin.
painted newly .zed and furnished elegantly throughout She
hes also been rewy coppeed cked aud otherwise repaired
=. ha, soc is now IN 2. cSPe; oftrI on the day when her
tie Broadway wharf where e eie'e much admiration Her
accommodations are iy elegant sad Unsurpassed by any
Other equally just notices appeared in the San Fran
cisco papers.
II could not have been reasonably expected that
pioneer mail service Puget ~ und could be per-
formed with the exactiiude in longer-.etted
country, but the contractors did everything in their
power to tranSnlt the mails with regularity. In the
srtiCle in The TRIBUNE however, they are censured
for chsrterng, a heavy expense, such steamers as
could be procured when accidents rendered necessary
10 obtain extra vessels stop the conveyance If the
mails But the official records sent by the posma.ters
on the line of the route show the puDctusity with
which the service performed. And the Post-Of-
fee Department, after imposing fine lin obedience TO
reguation for what slight tsriness accidents caused
settled the contractor accounts up 10 the nt OF Janu
AIRY last. This, too, without the Intervention Of Mr.
Ferguson.
But the article in The TRIBUsE quotes certain reso.
luons eensurng the contractors for various causes
which il asserts were passed Jy r0,c "
in the Legislature OF Washington Territory. Another
uutruth The preamble and resolutions were introduced
into the Territorial House of Representatives by po
Itcal opponent of mine personally and there carried
a. other matters often put through" legislative
body. But the Upper House, or legislative Council.