The Placer herald., 1860-06-16
MIR. GwIN'S REPLY.
WASHINGTON CITY. Nav 9. lS

|
SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON CITY, May 9, 1860
To George G0rd0n- Dear Sir: am in receipt
of your favor dated yesterday inclosng prin-
ted letter addressed to me by committee of
| Californians temporarily in New York, dated on
the I tn inst. Coming as this does from a com
mittee of gentlemen representing portion of my
constituents, feel justified in adopting differ
ent line of conduct from that | have heretofore
pursued in regard to similar publications.
The Committee of which you are chairman,
and those they represent, have, in my opinion,
been led into error in regard to my action and
that Of the Posoflice Committee of the Senate, of
which am member, by signing men, the
most adroit Of whom is l. G. Woods, well known
in California us the manager Of the Adams Ex-
press and Banking Company The Postoflice
Committee has been besieged by these men since
December last, to induce it to shape its action
not to promote the public interest, but to put
money in their pockets
1t has been the object of the Committee from
the first to establish permanent overland mail
service that would entirely supercede the ocean
service. The first and great obstacle to the
accomplishment of this policy was the trans
mission of printed matter, and especially franked
documents. The Committee, to remove as far
in its power this obstacle. reported at an early
period of the session bill abolishing the frank
| ing privilege. which passed the Senate by an
almost unanimous vote, and is yet pending in the
| House
| The Committee next proposed to establish a
semi-wceky letter mail from ST. Joseph to Pla-
cerville, service to be performed within twenty
days, and to form semweekly connections from
! New Orleans with the present Overland mail
| from ST. Louis to San Francisco, and to arrange
the schedule on the several routes so as to have
the departures from the Eastern termin as fol-
lows: Departures from st. Joseph, Monday and
Thursday of each week. st. Louis and Memphis,
Tuesday and Friday; New Orleans, Wednesday
| and Saturday. to connect with the st. Louis and
Memphis mail at Comanche Springs, north Of
| San Antonio. This would have given daily
departures from the Eastern termiDi, (Sunday
eXcepted) and four times Il week from San
| Francisco and Placervlle and at the expense OF
about ST 100000 per annum. This service would
have carried all the letters to and from the At
lantc coast and intermediate points of the
routes, and left provision to be made only prin-
ted and franked matter. Responsible parties
assured the Committee this could be done by cX-
press companies for $l50,000 per annum, and
upon this assurance that sum was inserted in the
bill Subsequent investig cation made it doubtful
whether the printed and franked matter could be
conveyed for this sum, and the Committee in
tended to leave this open Tor subsequent legisla-
ton.
In order to create perfect mail system for
the Pacific coast the Committee also proposed to
| establi weekly service from Lake Superior to
| Oregon and Washington Territory, and daily
mail from Sa ramento City, California, to Port
| land in Oregon.
But this programme did not suit Mr.. l. c.
Woods and his contederates. 1t superseded their
connection with the mail service by abolishing a
route established at extravagant rates of compen'
| sation to be discontinued, by the express terms
OF their cOntr ct, when the POstotice Department
established other and more efficient service on
the route. They have opposed the programme
with skill and activity and brought to their aid
powerful lobby influence. and have up to this
,,Ynl ., ,x
the Senate. The bills subsequently reported by
me were intended to neutralize the effect of this
combination, and secure, if possible, speedy leg
slaton on the subject
The only hope that Mr.. l. G. Woods and those
acting with him have of success. is to break the
contract made by the Government with Butter
field u Co. | am opposed to this. Cong esq
passed law creating this service. 1t has been
well performed and is now our most reliable
mail service to the Pacific coast The contract
has more than four years to rum and if unim
paired we are assured of a certain overland ser
vice for that period.
The great want of the people Of California ant
the Pacific coast is, at least semi-weekly twenty
J days service from St Joseph to Placerville
weekly service from Lake Superior to Washing
) ton Territory and Oregon, and daily service
from Sacramento city to Portland. II Congress
be for the present For this | shall labor will
my colleagues from California Oregon, an(
Washington Territory, eagerly and earnestly
II majority Of the Senate determine to breal
: the Butterlield contract, then | shall, with my
colleagues. as earnestly urge daily mail from
st Joseph TO Placerville, with the daily service
from Sacramento city to Portland and the semi
weekly service from Lake Superior to Oregon
and Washington. Every section of the Union
from Maine to Florida, has daily railroad con
nection with St. Joseph. The mails can be con
veyed there as rapidly from New Orleans, Mo
bile, Savannah and Charleston, as from New
York to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
2 ton, and there find daily conveyance to the Pa
3 cifc Coast. The whole mail matter, letters
printed and franked documents can be conveyed
over this route for 81 100000 per annum, which
! with 100000 daily service from Sacramento tC
Portland, and 100000 for weekly service from
Lake Superior to Oregon and Washington, will
make the aggregate service Sl,5OO.000, and gives
us all the mail facilities we desire.
AS to the stale SANDER that l am favoring the
Ocean Mail Service to California, treat it witt
the contempt always have. There never shall
be letter conveyed under steamship contract
to California, after the first of July next, if
can prevent it. If steamship contract is made
f to convey printed matter it will be caused by
the impossibility of getting it transported over
land.
, Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,