Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-09-21
The WASHINGTON SIiiDiRA
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER II. 1861.
Our Nails Again.

Our Nails Again.
In our issue of this paper of Sept.
7th, we intimatcd that the Postmaster
at this place had not discharged bis
duty as was expected Of him by the
plain requirements Of his official obi
CATION. The Intervening fortnight has
afforded instances innulncrablc which
90 to show that the Postmastcris either
sadly incompetent to fulfill the trust re-
posed in him, or that he is influenced
by those who are striving to derive some
benefit from the future disposition of
the mail service. We are slow to be-
lieve that the Postmaster could be in
duced to further the ends of those who
would defuud the Government did lie
know their design to be such, yet on
the other hand, it is almost impossible
to believe that he can be so blindly ig-
norant as to suppose for one moment
that had he availcd himself of the means
. at his disposal that his action would
not have received the unqualified sane
ton Of the postal department. We
are almost compelled to believe that,
inexperienced as he is, lie has been
taught to consider the transporta-
ton of the mails subject for party per-
rerseness, and, like his ilustrious adj
wiser, is determined to 60 out of office
with kick.
The very facts Of the case are such as
require no explanation. The postal
cnactmcnts are entitled to the same de-
gree of respect as others, and the law
says that the mail service oh the Sound
shall be performed in steamships.
Such serrice uas available, but the Post
master did not choose to accept it, al
tho the interests Of the whole Soundare
depressedand business paralyzed for the
want Of regular steamboat intercourse.
We have in our possession the column
ous correspondence which has passed
between the steamboat owners and the
Postmaster, yet we cannot find sim
gle clause we deem to be sufficient
upon which to base the understandable
action of the latter. AS was stated in
our issue of the 7th, he made the avow-
al that if" Messrs. Fleming and Scran-
ton would agree they could take the
mails at once" and mithout any specified
reservation to avail himself OF other SER
vice should any one propose to carry
the mails on terms more "to the interest
Of citizens along the route, and the adj
vantage Of the department" The use
of such an expression the Postmaster
will not dare deny, although Scranton
in a circular to the public states that he
"desires nothing of this Administra-
tion." The terms, "if Mcssrs. FIem-
ing and Scranton would agree" were
precisely those advanced by Mr.. +.
Besides, if Scranton "desired nothing
from this Administration" then why
those conclaves between Scranton, the
P. NJ. and two or three others? Why
does Scranton thrust upon the public
his feeble defences of the Postmaster.
in the shape of circulars! Why the
astonishing disclosure that the mails
would not be given the anderson, unre-
serredty, until Mr.. Fleming and Scran-
ton should agree! Are the private feel
ings of two men to influence the Post
master in the discharge of his duty?
The loop-hole out of which the p. NJ.
moo attempts to escape is this: He
maintains that he ibid not feel author.
lied to enter into any agreement
which should preclude this Office from
entering into any arrangement that
would insure to the people OF the Sound
. semi-,reekly mail" Now Mr.. Elem.