The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-11
else and certain basis for the adjustment of their compen

cse and certain basis for the adjustment OF their compen
It affords me pleasure to say that very large pro-
portion OF the companies owning railroads and steam,
boats have accepted the terms Of the department and
perform the public service with great energy ana iegu
lay and to the satisfaction of the public as well as Oh
the department.
The service to Oregon, from Charleston and Panama,
directed BY the 9th section of the act OF the Sd March,
ls47 has not been nut in operation The usual adver
tsements for the service were made and no bid was re-
ceved for the whole service within the limitations OF the
law that could be accepted. bid for portion OF the
service from Charleston to Havana was made by Mr.
M c. Mordecai, of Charleston, which was accepted by
the department upon condition that should be approved
by Congress, and an appropriation made for the payment
This was done upon the superstition that Congress might
still desire the establishment of this important line to
Oregon, if money had to be paid than the sum
limited in the law The whole service win probably
more than double the amount appropriated The con
tractor is of undoubed ability and VIII put the line In
operation should it be the pleasure of Congress to
ton the contract An estimate for the necessary sum for
his payment will be submitted.
Much anxiety has been manifested in some parts of
Florida for this line to touch at St Augustine and other
points the peninsula; but as no bids We're received
for such service although invited could not be done
AT the earnest solicitation OF the citizens OF Florida
have invited proposals, under the Sth section OF the act
Of the Sd of March, ls45 to provide for the anspora
ton OF the mail between the United States and foreign
countries fora line of steamers touching at the prnc
pal ports on both sides OF the peninsula, IN smaller
class OF steamers than those contemplated by the 9th sec
ton of the act of the Sd March. 1si7 AS i is not
probable that any will be received from the
offices to justify such an expenditure, thought proper to
invite the proposals at time when Congress would be
in session, that might be decided by that body whether
other considerations than those connected with the Post
Office Department would induce it to make the necessary
appropriations for the service Such class OF steamers
could readily enter the different ports the Gulf OF
Mexico, in the service of the Post Office Department,
would be of great importance to the citizens residing on
the coast, who almost entirely destitute of mail ia
elites and would rapidly the be sale and l. settle
more Importance in the protection OF the general reve
nues.
1t has been suggested that this service may be per-
formed without much additional expense to the country,
by the employment OF the steamers under the
troll OF the War and Navy Departments, and belonging
to the government whenever they be diverted from
their present service During the past year. the vessels
in the employment of the War Department have trans
ported the mails between New Orleans and Tampico,
ceved why similar service may not be rendered, after
the close Of the war; to the different ports on the coasts
OF the Gulf.
Europe was authorized by the act OF Congress of the Sd
OF March, 1s45. Under its requirements eamship
line from New York to Bremen in Germany, was or
ganzed, touching at the port of Cowes Southampton
trips al Havre in France The plan was submitted to
in my report Of DECEMBER
has partially been put in operation The first ship, the
Washington entered upon the service the lst of June,
and returned in July She has performed second trip
commencing in September. and is now abroad on her
third voyage Her construction barely completed,
before she proceeded with the mails to Europe. The per-
sarly Of experimental character Defects in OF
the details OF her construction and machinery manifested
themselves owing to which, her speed ala not equal pub
lie expectation; but subsequent alterations produced
decided Improvement and her last voyage, as compared
with those of the English and French steamers, furnishes
gratifying evidence in her avo both S tor speed and
tive supervision of Lieut. Thomas Brownell, OF the Uni
ted States navy whose attention is continued to the
building OF the other ships OF this ne now in course
On commencing this service, it became apparent that
more knowledge than was possessed in the department
concerning the mail service in other countries with which
this Line was to be connected, should be obtained and
that It should be ascertaned whether special arrange
ments with those countries would become necessary
and II 80, to have them made without delay For this
purpose sent out as the special agent OF the department,
the First Assistant Postmaster General, s. r. Hobbe,
esq, who went in the Washington, and remained in Eu-
rope during the interval between her two voyages.
On his arrival at Southampton the 18th of June,
Mr. Hobbie met hostile movement of the English gov
eminent against the line of American mail steamers,
post Office order issued the 9th of June by direction OF
the Lords Of the Treasury This order subjected all let
tiers and newspapers conveyed by the Washington to
been conveyed in the British steamers, their
pense The mails made up in this country for France,
subjected to- the charge, and all required to be
sent TO the London post office It being his duty to pro-
coed directly to Germany, Mr. Hobbie made full com
municaton to our minister at London, and placed the
matter under his immediate charge Shortly afterwards
he repaired from Bremen to London, and united with
Mr.. Bancroft in efforts TO effect withdrawal of the or
postal arrangement between the two countries The Brit
ish government pesstng in their ORDER he returned to
the continent and resumed the prosecution OF his mail ar
rangementS there.
In the time, notice having been given this de-
parment of the adopted by the British post Office
the undersigned Immediately gave notice to the Postmas
ter General OF Great Britain for the abrogaton of all
agreements existing between the two Offices which, at the
expiration of three months annulled the agreement enter
mails through the United States to Canada; as well
the arrangements heretofore made for the collection and
payment OF the hostages of the United States in Canada
This was followed by offer of terms for postal
rangemen between Great Britain and the United States
informally submitted to our minister by the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Hobbie having again
joined Mr.. Bancroft in London the application foI
a rescision OF the order of the 9th of June, dur
ing the tendency of the negotiations, resumed
but without success On the 22d of October, solemn
protest, in behalf of the United States, made
by the American minister in London addressed to Wis
count Pamerston against the unjust and beral act
the British government; copy OF which accompanies this
report marked D. The terms for postal arrangement
submitted by the Chancellor deemed Objectionable
and counter proposition made in behalf of this de-
partment Interviews and discussions followed; a
length, the British Postmaster General restated the terms
of his proposition, with notifications but still
tanning some of the most Objectionable features.
In France Major Hobbe found willing disposition
expressed to adjust arrangements with the United States
for optional payment of postage and for the establish
ment of rates uniform between the two countries bu
that they could not be effected at the present time The
order of the British government imposes double postage
our mails to France which have to be landed at Cowes
or Southampton, well upon those to England; and
whilst that order in operation, it is impossible to place
them on reciprocal footing with those conveyed drec