Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-08-22
Overland Press vs. Mail Contracts.

In the two last issues OF the Ocerlaa d
Press notice one article headed The Ir.
regular Mails" and another 1.-THE Mails
Again." and from the frightful manner in
which the editor pitches into Government
agents and contractors ono would suppose
that he had met with some serious injury. and
that nothing short Of abolishing every mail
contract in the Territory would restore him
to his equilibrium again. He goes on to say
that contagion for robbery and plumber had
taken possession Of every mail agent and con-
tractor in the Territory, and in fact every one
else. He seems to be in great state Of 10.
mentation in regard to the manner by which
the mails are carried on Puget Sound, and
will only recover from his working condition
when he has cast the bile from his filthy
stomach. In his issue of August Sd, he
makes no exceptions. his charges are general
and he is only known to wavrr when his pen
become to hot With foul rpitllets; but mark,
in his issue of August 10Th, he skins back
part Of the charges made in his previous
number, and says that it was not intended
for Mpssrs. Winsor and Lamon, as they are
NIL right. l am glad that the gentleman has
moral honesty enough to rectify mistake, if
it was one. But what does the gentleman
mean by this TRADE upon Government Off
Gals? Does he seek to intimidate by telling
us what we shall, or what we must or what
we are to do? Is he hired to assail every
contractor and Government officer in the
Territory? For my own part, l care but
little for the windy paragraphs that appear
weekly in the Overland Press, for l know,
Mr. Prpssman, that the more you blow the
less wind you will have to cool yoqr portage.
Much has been said by the gentleman about
carrying the mails in canoes, and in fact one
would suppose that the mails had been car.
ried that way, if they were to take his word
for it. But permit me to say that never
since the contract was awarded to me- have
! carried the mail in canoe; but If, through
any accident or detention, should find it
necessary to do so, in order to be up to time,
| would not hesitate to place the mail in
canoe. or on a shinge, or any other way to
get it through safely and in time. Again.
Mr. FRESHMAN tell us that there never has been
n regular mail service in the Territory since
ts organization, and that he has lost thousands
of dollars on account Of irregular mails
deeply regret his losses, if he has lost any
thing. which think very doubtful. and l
would rrcomrnd for his benefit since he has
evincpd so much so mucl, interest in my well
noes between Olympia and Victoria for the
express purpose of carrying the Overland
Press and the balance Of his valuable mail
matter over the Sound in safety. There are
but few, however, who know SO well the i'm
portance Of his paper as he does himself. !
think when he gets it fairly into circulation it
will have wide run
The FRESHMAN has great deal to say about
secession. and seems somewhat alarmed for
fear he may be accused Of favoring that class
Of reptiles. suspicion always haunts the
guilty mind. and fear, 10 use the language
Of his candidate for Delegate to Congress, that
he is not only little "fshy" but absolutely
stinks. He seems not content in his weekly
haranguc against present contractors, but
thinks it proper to make n general sweep. and
thereby assal Mr.. Parkinson. and goes on to
say that contract was awarded to n man
who had never owned, did not then. and prob.
ably never will own a steamboat, the result of
which is the present occasional service in ca
noes. Now it appears, from the drift Of the
gemtleman's remarks. that he has either been
misinformea. or is willfally mean, when he as.
serts that the mails have been carried in Ca
noe as no such service has been performed
since the contract was awarded to me, but on
the contrary, ever since the 9th day of April,
the mails have been in safety and with as
much regularity as ever before since the or
ganization Of the route. lie refers to Mr..
parkinson's contract to illustrate mine. and Ia
tors hard to convey the idea that he is in "a.
vor Of sustaining monopoly. from the simple
fact that great guns carry heavier shot than
small ones. This is a very good argument
for him. aud have no doubt puts money in
his purse! am now, and ever have been
friend to the laborer, and do not believe in
letting the big fish eat up the little ones. I
believe in equal rights among white men. mig
gers excepted, and 40 far as am concerned,
I shall. to the best Of my ability, endeavor to
sustain myself in this community without fear
or favor. or without trying to rob that Gov;
eminent to which owe my allegiance; and
although may be assaled by hirelings. and
slandered through contaminated press, it
shall not hinder me from faithful perform.
ance Of my duty. a duty which owe to my
aclf. my family, ana my country. But
it l should fail in any part Of my duty.
it shall not BE- for want of a disposition to do
right. That the editor Of the Press, as we'll
as Others, have had some right to complain, I
admit, but cannot admit that he, or any 9th.
er man. has right to class mo among thieves
and robbers. If anybody has suffered in this
Territory through Government contracts, il
has been myself. I have probably had more
Government contracts than all the balance Of
the Sound put together. within the past ten
wears, and have discharged them faithfully.
During the past twelve months / have had to