The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-21

/ on me gun 81 which long Doat may DC rpaired-
without Qualifications to defend the mouth Of the
gulf-with BRUSH islands bordering tho mouth Of
that strait, at which have been collected materials Of
war sufficient 10 last five years-with steamers ply
ing there having cannon as ballast, and British
naval officers ready, ut any time, 10 take COM
mand, as passengers, the condition OF the ma
uona defences, in that important locality, might
DO readily imagined. They had no vessels in
lhe navy OF thnt description which were adapted
for efficient service in defence of the gulf. What
then was wanleai The addition to the navy
OF steam vessels, that by their light drsnght Of wa
ter would be suited for the shallow waters of that
sea, ard at the same time constructed on such prn
clples Of propulsion as would enable them 10 speed
hastily from position 10 another as emergency
required Regarding this, then, as a necessary mea-
sure, not with reference 10 war, but proper and
permanent provision for tho defence Of portion of
the country entirely defenceless, he considered
that the ball was Justly entitled TO the favorable con
sidefation Of the Senate. On the other grounds 10
which lac had alluded--the economical and efficient
system which the bill sought 10 iniroduce--t Was
entitled 10 consideration. The great principle on
which lis provisions wee founded was, that the
vessels should be built by contract BY that system
the cost Of construction would be reduced one-haf
And the bill also provided the augmentation OF
the naval force, by constructing vessels Of such ma
I eral as were not liable TO decay. They would no,te
Obliged TO expend in continual repairs, the course
OF a few years, sum EQUAL 10 the original cost of
construction. The vessels proposed TO be built
would not become entirely useless in ten or fifteen
years. He begged, then, that the Senate would re.
cur TO the question particularly before them--hatthe
| gentleman from Arkansas win Withdraw his motion
lie desired also that the motion take il up as early
as Tuesday next he withdrawn also, and that the
| ball would be allowed IN take It's course But what
ever course was taken by the Senate he would PRO
test against the bill being elias ed with The question
OF peace or war, or thrown into the trail of the Ore
gon question. lie did NOT perceive the propriety Of
he nd l.rk r.
believed that he might with oil due Difference TO him,
MIR ALLEs,l be permitted 10 attribute his remark
and, indeed, he might say, with rropriety his i'm.
puiaiion upon honorable senator's on that Aoor. To
the same cause to which he Mr.. ALLEsl had aiirib.
uted the remarks Of the senator from Indiana TMr
| HAssEaAE la somewhat over-e xciled imagination.
| He would ask him, did he Mr.. ALIEsl really he.
lieye thai any senator could possibly, on question
Involving the peace and destiny Of the country be
| influenced by so low a motive a selfish jealousy
with regard 10 the share which his section of.the
country might have IN the expenditure OF the pub
| lie money! Let him tell the gentleman from Ohio
that the thrust which he made struck at his own
| friends in the West; and why so' IL was west
ern measure, made so by the bill specifying the
materials TO he employed-that provision had been
construction of these vessels for the western peo
pie and the western waters But let him ask the
honorable gentleman, as friend of Oregon-as
friend Of no,ice--as desirous that the country
should assume attitude Of manly resoluteness
which will secure to 1t the right position in the
! further prosecution OF this question with Great
! Britain-leI him ask him whether he [Mr. Al
LEN was prepared 10 go forward with the notice
which he says will lead To war, in one hand and
in the other the petty, the Llliputian provision of
three steam-frigates and FIVE smaller yesselsi Was
that the preparation that the gentleman from Ohio
would maker Was he indeed willing to make this
a war question, aud present to Great Britain the
! vast provision Of three frigaes and five sloops;
! No; open their treasury-not the public treasury
alone, but the Golfers Of every man in the country
in order to procure the necessary means, naval
and military, for the prosecution OF vigorous and
therefore succesSful war. He trusted, in conclu-
sion, that the propositions would be withdrawn
and that they would be permitted TO act on the I'LL
in the ordinary of legislation, when il came
! up on the calendar for examination.
The question being demanded,
! Ths PRESIDENT stated that it would be taken
first upon the motion Of the gentleman from Arkan-
sas, Mr.. SEVER, TO postpone the consideration of
the bill TO the 10Th Of February that being the long
| est time asked.
Mr.. ALLEN asked for the yeas and nays, which
Y Mr. WEBSTER said that he was disposed to
consult the wishes Of the cor ittee who had charge
Of the bil if the honorable chairman Of the COM
mittee said he desired TO take up this subject on
Tuesday next, he would vote Tor IL; bu, lift be
matter Of immsteria consideration with him, il
then appeared to him Mr.. WI that the motion
should be Withdrawn, US il was, after all, only
matter of seven days. ~
Mr.. FAIRFIELD said tina, day or two would
make no difference TO him personally, but he was
| DESTROYS that the bill should be considered on some
day previous to the 10Th of February, not wishing
il to be made part and parcel of the other qies-
tons Oregon notice, &c. which had been made the
special order for that day, and he therefore not
disposed TO withdraw his motion,
! The yeas and nays were then called upon the
ronf le btrM S1 Nd ,ttad,
nays 81, as follows: e
YEAs-Messrs. Allen Atherton, Archer, Bagby Benton,
Ecrien Breese, Bright Calhoun Cameron ,orwn, Crit
tenden Evans, Jenness Niles, Pennybacker, Sewer,
| speight, and Turney-l9. n.
| NAYs.--Alessrs Ashley, Atchson. Barrow Chalmers,
: NJ Clayton, Dayton, Dickinson Dix Fairfield Greene.
johnson of Louisiana, Lewis, Miller, Pearce. Phelps
simmons, Sturgeon, ppham, Webster. Wsscoii, Wood
bridge, and fuiec-~2g.
So the motion was not agreed to-
The question being then taken on the motion Of
Mr.. FAIRFIELD to postpone the consideration of the
bill to Tuesday next, resulted in the affirmative
without a division. -
a....~. PosT-RoUTEs IN TEXAS. ...t ... ...
Mr.. ASHLEY moved that the previous order of
the day be postponed, and that the Senate take up
for consideration the bill to establish certain post
routes in Texas, and for other purposes which was
agreed to.
| The bill then read second time, considered
as in committee of the whole, and amended 10 read
as follows: .a.
| A BILL establishing certain post routes.
Belt nced By the Senate and House of Repyes n1iirts of
The Eird Siaes Of .4Bisrica Congress dssrabisd That
there be- and is hereby established posroute from New
Orleans in the State Of Louisiana, along the gulf coast
Galveston thence 70 vcasco to Matagorda Aran
and 10 Corpus Christi in Texas land water at
the Postmaster General may deem expedent: that post
route be also established from Galveston TO the city OF
Houston, thence TO Montgomery to Washington to inde
pendcnce TO La Grange to Bastrop, and the city
Of Austin; from Galveston via the city Of Houston, fan
Felipe &c Austin. La Grange, and Bnstrop TO Austin;
and that he the duty OF the Postmaster General 10
contract for carry ing mail said
conveniently be done after the passage of this act Also
the following rones from Fulton In the Of Arkansas
via Boston Llarksyle kpnham and halls OF the Brazos
| to Austin; from NatchNehes, via Sabiuetown Nacordo
cAes Crockett md Washington 10 Lagrnnge from
port IN the state Of Louisiana via Pulaski to Nacogdoches
IRON Nelasco via Brazora Tcxann Victoria and Goliaa
to san Antonio de Bexar; from the city of Houston
INNS Ferry; from Apstinto ST. Antonio de Bexar
The bill being reported to the SENATE, the amend
innnts were concurred in, and the bill as amended
was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
/ On motion of MIR. CAMERON, the Senate pro-