After my interview with you, yesterday, I was impressed with the idea that you had received from some quarter erroneous and unfavorable views in regard to this great national enterprise that I am so deeply interested in. I trust, however, that you will not permit any such influence to operate in your mind without affording us an opportunity to be heard. I consider it a duty I owe you and your high position to explain, in a frank and upright way, the true object we have in view in regard to this project; it is to test the merits of this route for a mail communication, the benefit of which will accrue to the country, the government, and those engaged in perfecting it. We have asked no remuneration from the government while pursuing this enterprise, but have gone to work, at our own expense, and proved the entire feasibility of this rapid communication, without the least hope or expectation that the department should in any way be subjected, either directly or indirectly, to an acknowledgment of responsibility for future remuneration. We desire to establish a great national highway from ocean to ocean, over a route in which there is a saving of 1,800 miles, between New Orleans and San Francisco; and the day is not far distant when all the present routes will only be secondary to it. This opinion is based on reasonable grounds: first, the saving of time; and, second, the beauty of the country, and the salubrious climate over which the route passes. There is but one opinion on this subject among all Californians. We have conceived that, in offering to our government the facilities of a rapid mail communication on so important a route, we have a right to expect from that government a liberal encouragement, at least by an expression favorable to an enterprise where so much energy and capital is invested. Our project has been fully investigated by the late cabinet, and, after their mature consideration, it was acted upon. The contract was sustained by an appeal of one-half of the United States Senate in a memorial to the department, and by the personal solicitation of the representatives from the South and West; also, by a memorial from the most influential citizens of Louisiana—the same being now on file in the department. General Rusk, who framed the law under which the contract was made, also urged the advantages of this communication on the department; among others were Senators Gwin and Soulé. This communication must depend entirely on its merits, and by its advantages for the public welfare. If it cannot offer greater inducements to the government than the present routes, it cannot expect to succeed; but if it can be proved that this is the speediest route, the law seems not to be violated while offering facilities on the part of the government to test so important an object. We have, however, proved beyond a doubt that the transit can be made from sea to sea in from three to four days, and I hope you may offer us your liberal co-operation, without involving in the least a compromise of the public interest; it is no more than we have a right to expect from the department. Governor Marcy, without looking into details, has expressed to me similar views, and says that our communication seems to hold out great national advantages, and he did not doubt but that you would look on it in a proper light. I feel confident that Congress will support any measure that can be proved of public utility for the South and West; and this is a southwestern measure, without any demands from the public treasury, to build steam-ships or railroads. I know the feeling that existed last Congress on this subject, and I feel confident that it will be supported by the South and West.
I have spent several years of intense labor and a large amount of money in bringing this enterprise to its present position. I have passed through many deep and almost impenetrable barriers, and no impediment shall stop the consummation of this great national work, save that of the hand of Providence. I am sustained by capital and energy, and I know no fail where perseverance can do the work. My future reputation and welfare is largely involved in the success of this project, and I sincerely beg that you will form no premature opinion on this subject against my interest. I do not, however, believe that you would do so, without an honest conviction of your judgment; but I do know that all enterprises must expect opposition from various causes. Envy is no small feature to contend with; and we have had to combat against it, solely upon the ground that we have not been disposed to divide our interest with others. The late administration was made aware of these facts, and they received with great caution any information coming from doubtful sources.
I most respectfully ask that you will give an order, permitting me, as one of the contractors, to carry a mail over this route from California, leaving it optional with persons to send by this way, and to designate the same on the letter; and in giving such an order, I wish you particularly to state that the department will in no way be bound for any future remuneration for the service.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. CARMICK.
Hon. James Campbell.
Office of the Mexican Ocean Mail and Inland Co.,
November 23, 1853.
Sir: In accordance with a request from Messrs. Ramsey and Carmick, the contractors named in the contract hereinafter mentioned, I have the honor of reporting to your department the real character of the relations this company sustains to the contract; the obstacles to the non-fulfilment of it by a date as early as was anticipated; and a few remarks explanatory of the route.
On the 15th day of February, 1853, a contract was made by the United States government, acting by the Postmaster General, with Albert C. Ramsey and Edward H. Carmick, of Pennsylvania, to carry the United States mails between San Francisco and Vera Cruz, at certain definite and specific periods mentioned in the schedule of the contract, for the sum of $424,000 per year, for the period of four years, with the privilege of extending it one year if the Post Office Department thought proper. This contract was not of that liberal form heretofore characteristic of all the other ocean mail contracts, but was in a form of that specific and detailed character peculiar to any short land service, where time might be insured to a minute. The contract was, in fact, so stringent as to be incompatible with any but an honest intention to fulfil its spirit and letter, in which spirit it was, in fact, assumed by the parties associated in its performance. This contract was printed and sent to the Senate at its last session, and is now on its files. By the 5th section of the law of 1848 it is illegal for contractors to assign their contracts; and although aware that the department is not bound to recognise any but the contractors, yet, frankness enforces the propriety of saying that, by specific covenants, this company have agreed with Messrs. Ramsey and Carmick to fulfil all the conditions of the contract on their part, to be kept and performed in relation to the land service between Vera Cruz and Acapulco, and that similar covenants have been made with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company (William H. Aspinwall, esq., president) for the sea service between Acapulco and San Francisco. The contract distinctly specified that its schedule time (and in fact the spirit of the contract) was to the intent that it should form part and parcel of the contract for the gulf service, being an extension of two of the trips between New Orleans and Vera Cruz, made (under a specific law, August 30, 1852) with Mr. Carmick, so as to form, in its own language, “one through-line in sixteen days between New Orleans and San Francisco.” The gulf contract is without any condition as to an appropriation; but the larger or Pacific contract is made contingent upon an appropriation by Congress for its approval. The question might be gravely raised, in looking at one contract as an integral part of the other, whether the appropriation by Congress of $70,000 (a trifle more than it was bid for and taken by Mr. Carmick, viz: $69,750) for the gulf service, was not an approval in terms of the Pacific contract, and discharged the condition of approval contained in it. But inasmuch as the parties associated in the enterprise have no covert policy to pursue, and have not yet been able to carry the mails in contract schedule time between Acapulco and San Francisco, (although they have carried it repeatedly in six days, or two days less than schedule time, between New Orleans and Acapulco,) they have no disposition to raise issues or ask for unearned appropriations. They presented their claims to the last administration on the sole integrity, feasibility, and celerity of their route; the proposals for the service were regularly advertised, and the contract awarded to the parties as the lowest bidders, but not until the most critical, searching, and minute examination was made of the practicability of the whole route. The investigation was pursued by the late Postmaster General Hubbard with a critical acumen that must have detected any imperfection. The grants made to this company by the Mexican government, and authenticated according to the highest forms known to the Mexican laws, were not only critically examined, but verified at Washington by the Mexican legation. These grants, instead of interfering with treaty stipulations, will, if honestly developed, prove most conservative elements in sustaining such stipulations by the promotion of commercial, social, and domestic intercourse, and by the infusion of fraternal comity in political and civil relations.