The weekly Butte record., 1866-06-09
Argumentum ad Hominem.

:
California. place our opposition thereto upon
the ground Of simple abuse of JoHS BTDwELL,
We cannot help thinking that they are simply
endeavoriug to beg the question. We con-
cede to Mr.. BIDwELL all that be Is justly enti-
tied to, as q citizen Of the comfy and an hon.
ored ard elevated man. What We do objec.
to, is the selfish mauner in which he has ar
ranged, or rather disarransed, what should be
an important overland route between Idaho
and California. The case stands about this
way: The trade of Idaho has been princi-
pally carried to Oregon by steamers. and thence
overland to its destination or, it has been
carried over the mountains By the way of
Dutch Flat or Shingle Springs, 10 Nevada,
and thence to Idaho. Both OF these routes re-
quire greater length of wagon road, to reach
the important points Of Idaho, than the route
from railroad communication al OroviIle. The
business community Of Idaho have called per-
sistently upon California to open an overland
route that should relieve them from the costs
and impostions of the Oregon and Dutch Flat
routes. In furtherance of this demand, the
delegates in Congress, from Idaho and Nonta-
ma, demanded 40 overland mail to California
that should assist in opening the way for freight
and travel. Government acceded to this al
though no such route was advertised. Upon
the representation of these delegates, and Of
BIDwELI.. if you choose, the route was let from
Boise City, Idaho, to Susanvile, to Mr..
WILLIAMSON for $4,000. At the time this
announcement was made to the public Of Cali
fornia, it was also stated that the route from
Susanvlle to railroad communication at Oro-
vile was not then let, although the route to
Oregon, and other mail routes in California
were. With this understanding we will give
BIDwELL's organs chance to be heard, for
one originates and the other copies and en-
dorses the following:
What possible interest can a paper in Butte
county have, 10 representing its Lending and
wealtbest citizen, who is strninning every
nerve. and spending bis means. TO draw the
immense trade and travel of Idaho aud Mon
tana. into the very heart of that county, as
public swindler for SO doing What interests
can a paper at the county seat have in repre-
senting that the interests OF another and i'm
por,aDt section of the same county, are so an
tagonist, and so hostile, as to render any CON-
bued effort for their mutual benefit impossible?
Could more ehectual argument than this, be
used in Javor OF division of the county?
Now, this was the way BIDwEiL strained
every nerve" to draw the trade of Idaho and
Montana. lie was willing the route from
Susanville to Boise City should be let as it
was. The fact that the route was never con-
tinued to railroad communication n California
is pretty good evidence that he strained every
nerve" to carry it to Chico instead. The
pause that occurred in letting that portion OF
dence that the Postal Department desired the
route continued on the one already established
from SusaDville to railroad communication at
Orovlle, and the the delay that occurred was
occasioned by BIDwELL's solicitation to have
it diverged to Chico. At Chico, freight costs
four times times as much, from San Francisco.
as it does at Portland, Oregon. That is the
way be strained every nerve" 10 draw the
trade of Idaho and Montana away from the
Oregon route. Would his apoogists and ad-
vocates have US believe that BIDwELL is
fool? 1t was simply determination on the
part Of JoHN BIDwELI, Member of Congress
from California, TO make this important over
land mail route between those territories and
California, run to aud end at his residence or
not extend beyond Susanville at ALL He has
from Boise City, as railroad communication
10 California, and that point is his own resi-.
dence. If the route should be extended to
railroad communication in California via Chico,
it would be increased % miles more than is
necessary, in order TO carry it by BIDwELLs
residence Is that "straining every nerve" to
draw the trade Of Idaho and Montana, or is it
straning every nerve to compel it to go by this
CoDgressman's door, or continue to endure the
tance from Chico towards Susanvie to the
point where the Chico road intersects the old
established mail road between Oroville and
Susanville, is perhaps forty miles, more or less.
Upon this distance there is not single Post
Office. Yet BIpwELL induced the Post Office
Department to pay $4,000 for carrying tri.
weekly mail over this forty or fifty miles, doub
ling the route already established from the in.
tersection of the roads to give it respectability
That is what be strained bis nerve to do
Had the Oregon and Dutch Flat routes em-
ployed him 10 destroy this overland route, so
that they could still con,inue TO do the bust
ness, he could not have succeeded better in
doing it. Hence, the candid public of those
territories. and of California, will bear Us out
10 saying, that BIDwsLI.'s 5 action in the matter
was utterly and irredeemably selfish, and the
$4,000 extorted from the Government to car
~ the mail to Chico from Susanville, when the
same service could have been performed be
tween Susanville and railroad communication
for half that sum, was swindle and a fraud up
on the Department. If they DO not, it is none
the less so. The California Steam Nayiga