Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-09
wAsHINeroN NEWS AND GOSSIP.

bkARDfNG Thk GOVERNMENT, As WELL AS Inn
PuBLrc.-The New York journals are in stew
over Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilts sturdy refusal to
carry their issues on his California steamers They
may fret and fume over g treatment of them to
their hearts content; for as they are evidently
without any remedy at law for the dilemma into
which he has cast their business, injuring them
land the newspaper dealers) 1t already does, to
the extent of between SIS 900 and $4,000 per
fortnight. He Is no longer a mail carrier and
disputes the right Of feigh ters to call on him to
transport newspapers, alleging that they are law
fully, mail matter. That he is clearly wrong
though well known to all lawyers, does not help
their case; as no publisher or newspaper dealer
will venture to measure purses with him In the
courts.
The trouble, we regret to have to state, origi-
mated In the policy Of the Post Office Department
and the Government in unwittingly having shaped
their policy with reference to the reopening of
the Nicaragua route, wholly to the end of ad-
vancing his schemes to monopolize the business
OF transporting passengers, ocean-wise, between
our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. There was
time, as all know, when boldness and emphasis
In dealing with Nicaragua on the one hand and
the selfish schemes of Vanderbilt on the other
would have secured the reopening of the Mica
ragua transit route under auspices rendering II
certain beyond peradventure that the country
would be secured in the existence of com petition
in the transportation of passengers and freight
between New York and the Pacific coast a con.
summation beyond measure desirable.
Those who saw behind the curtain we re well
aware that influences in Government EN- ployment
symPathizing deeply with Vanderbilt's interests
proved powerful enough to defeat every propo-
sition that babe fair to interfere with those in.
terests. The President and Cabinet unfortunately
could not pc made to comprehend that g object
was simply to rivet the yoke of his grinding and
gou2ing monopoly more surely upon the neck OF
the public, and that the law gave them the RICH,
to interpose the Governments power to prevent the
contamination Of his wishes The recent refusal
of Congress and the Post Office Department to
yield to his demands for carrying the California
mails, having, for the time being, defeated h 9
scheme to force the Government to submit to biz
exactious as the people are forced to submit to
them through the Governments failure to secure
composition as explained above, he has simply
" PUT ON the screws" to obtain revenge; If not to
compel the Department to succumb to bis de-
mands. He Is thus making the people squeal
because, just now, such music is pleasant in his
vengeful ear, and because he INDUCES the hope
that the unpleasant noise may so frighten the au-
to his wishes to get rid of its din
p. s.-Since writing the above, we learn that
an arrangement has been concluded with Mr..
Cornelius Vanderbilt for the transportation of
the mails between New York and San Fran
cisco, by way Of the Isthmus of Panama.
under the provisions Of the act of 18th of
June, 1850, which restricts the compensation
to the hostages on the mails conveyed, with the
understanding, however, that the President will
recommend to Congress the allowance of such an
additional sum as may be deemed equitable and
just Tor the service. The mails will 60 forward
from New York by the steamer leaving that port
on the 18th inst, and tri-monthly service will be
regularly maintained thereafter until the 18th of
March, 1861, the steamers leaving New York on
the LIST, 18th, and DIST of each month. The reason
that the mails were not taken on the steamer that
sailed from New York on the ID inst, Mr. v.
says In his letter to the Department, was that
the proposition Of the Government did not reach
him in time.