The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-09

course and he hoped thar ia this instance IL would
not be thought proper 10 depart from il. He object
ed to the amendment, certainly not on account Of
any want Of confidence in the Justice Of the claim
but because he did not wish TO open the door TO the
practice of individuals seeking and obtaining an ex.
preston OF the opinion Of Congress 10 the validity
Of Their claims against foreign governments II So
where would u end He thought that all the ends
OF Justice would be attained by referring this matter
TO The Secretary Of State The expression Of their
opinion would be thus theoretically given. At all
| events would be given as far was proper.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON could see nothing i'm
proper in calling the attention Of the Executive 70
The case II were improper 10 do so, the present
would not be the FIRST instance, by any means, in
which that had been done. But this was a most re-
markabIe case. For period of more than thirty
| years these claimants had been seeking redress
The senator from Massachusetts would perceive
that even the reference Of the memorial and report
as proposed by him was, according to bis view, an
improper interference
| Nc WEBSTER. Not at all.
| Mr. CLAYTON. II hey could refer the opinion
OF the committee, why not the opinion Of he whole
body Where the difference II the senator
believed that this was just claim against the gov,
eminent Of Portugal, why not honestly say sol
Mr.. LEWIS INSISTED on his motion TO post.
pone.
Mr.. ARCHER said that the senator from Mas
saehusels had represented this as a course Of pro-
eedure without precedent. IL was not 80. There
had been hundreds Of such cases.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Name one.
Mr. ARCH r.R could not at present name a case
but II he had the records Of the COMMITTEES on For
egn Relations before him, he could refer 10 many
similar cases referred to the State Department
Mr.. WEBSTER. Certainly.
Mr.. ARCHER. And TO be presented to foreign
governments
Mr.. WEBSTER do not remember any such
case.
Mr.. ARCHER made a few further remarks, and
then the motion 10 postpone being put and agreed
TO- the Senate proceeded to the special order Of the
day.
PosT oFFieE APPROPRIATION.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill
making appropriations for the service Of the Posi-
ohee Department, for the year ending June 3Oth,
l647, when
MIR. NILES withdrew the amendment submitted
6y him day two ago, approprsling s25, O0O
for steam mail service to Liverpool, England, and
submitted the following
And the Postmaster General ), hereby luthonIsd to an
ply twenty-five thousand dollars u the moaey appropr8
or nal transportation for line Of ma'eansTs from IN,
United states to Bremen, and further sum Of twenty
thousand dollars foT line Of malEteame from the Jaitrd
states TO Liverpool la England. but further 81 ms
be directed 10 any other objects than the Of
the mail within the United states
Mr.. NILES then said that he would reques, the
u h.
had 10 offer IN explanation Of the amendment
Mr.. DAVIS requested the honorable senator 10
state the general terms Of the Contract
MIR. NILES replied, that by the terms Of IN, Bre.
men eosuaet twenty trips were TO be made annually
70 mat port, touching at Cowes, at saSOooO Der an
mum for term offour years. The contractors were
to furnish four steamshipA each Of tonnage Of hf
teen hundred tcns. The contract, in contemplated
TOR The conveyance Of the mails to LiveuooJ, EN-
braeed Ave steamships making the same number OF
trips as 10 Bremen, each ship 10 be Of two thousand
tons or upwards, The Senate would understand
that these contracts depended on the action of Con
sress and that the appropriation was intended essen
tally, IT not entirely for the purpose Of giving the
sanction Of Congress 10 the contracts az he mone,
would not, IN all probability, be wanted ill mex
year. The Postmaster General considered this Al |
great Importance, and was not disposed TO proceed
further without having Thus received the sanction nj
Congress Altogether independent Of its bearing on
the general interests Of the country the project was
Of great importance viewed an indirect means of |
securing TO tho government in llme Of war the use
OF steam navy. IL any thing was to be done h. |
was satisfied that action must be immediate The |
Cunard line about 10 be durIiratrd IN, |
tups to be made alternately from New York |
and Boston That addition would however, nroh-
ably depend upon the fact whether the American
hhe were established or not. 1t would appear TO be
somewhat uncertain whether the Cunsrd comnanv
would proceed in duplicating their line in cas-. 81
the establishment Of the line now contemplated bv
the Postmaster General He had Il word or two n
say with regard to the importance of this line; and
he hoped that he would receive little mora alien
ton from the Senate than he had been so fortunate
as to meet when he addressed il on the same sub
Jeet the other day. In commercial point ofyiew
the line to Bremen was not, perhaps, so important
as the other but there were connected with il nu-
merous political advantages To the people of Ger.
many and Prussia the enterprise was one of great
importance. The Prussian minister took deem in |
terest IN II, and special agent had been sent from
Bremen Tor the express purpose Of aiding in the
completion ef this work of commencing a direc,
communication between the United States and the
German states, which would materially enlarge
the commercial and political intercourse and extend
the relations OF both countries Bremen was rapid
~ increasing IN commercial importance. Its COM
merce had doubled within the last year. II was the
terminus of many railroads which extended to va
rlous parts of Germany; and it was supposed
hat the business intercourse Of a large nor
oR7 Of Germany and Prussia, embracing
population OF forty or fifty millions, with
his country, would centre at that point That
would OF course make Bremen the great mart in
which the staples of this country would be ex.
changed. With regard to the other route, every
'ne was aware that the trade Of the United States
WIN inc port OF Liverpool Was very great, and the
course of that trade would be accommodated good
ieal to this line of steamers. The most valuable
merchandise was now transported by these steam
,rs and the whole benefit Of the transportation &C
'rued to Great Britain. There was an urgent ne.
'essity for some legislation tina, subject and he
rad had the honor of reporting a bill to meet that
iesideratum. Letters sent by these steamers were
ubject to a postage OF twenty-five cents, and all
eters conveyed in private ships we're subject to
hip postage Of six cents. The United States re-
:eived nothing of that postage. They had no law
or taking any postage on letters going to Europe or
coming hiher from Europe in private ships. In
addition 70 all that, u was TO be borne in mind that
he United States were thus maintaining, by their
money, ships which in time of war would be turn.
ID against them. They were public ships-a, least
hey were designed to become such at any time
when II was deemed necessary. They were under !
contract to be taken into the public service when
occasion required And it was therefore, intend.
ID that the ships to be employed by the United /
States in conveying the mail to Europe should be
liable atany time to be taken into the public service {
u the valuation of three competent appraisers
Whether they viewed this matter, therefore. with
eference to the various matters connected with il
n time of peace, or as connected with the defence
# the country, appeared to him that by delay they
Tot only abandoned profitable enterprize to rival