The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-19

articles Of the growth production OF the United States
are admitted INTO Canada free OF duty
BRANCH MINIS.
Mfr WESrCOTT remarked to the Senate, that at the
last session OF Congress bill for the establishment Of
branch minis of the United States al New York and
Charleston South Carolina was lost in the Senate by
small majority Being one of that majority, he moved
a reconsideration of the vote, which motion for recon
sderaon had been acted upon by the Senate, He
desired now to give notice thai he would, upon the first
favorable opportunity, move that the Senate proceed 10
the consideration OF that mohon.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Mr. DOWNS submitted the following resolutions which
was considered by unanimous consent and agreed 10.
R,solved That the Committee on Finance be instructed
N nanlre the expedlency OF establishing mint In
the gold region OF California TO coin the gold offered by
American oiuzen such rate would pay the expenses
thereof and remunerate the government Tor the use or
digging on the mineral lands belonging TO the United States
NIL The same shall be sold.
M, ATHERTON submitted the following resolution;
which was considered, and agreed 10:
R,psd That so much OF tho of the President
orts tocoecton custody, and disbursement OF the pub
lie moneys to the establishment OF branch mint in Cal
frnia and the OF the federal government gem
eraly be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. BREESE submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and agreed TO:
R,soiped That so much Of the Presidents message
la TO the graduation and reduction OF the price OF the
public lands and granting presumption rights thereon and
all other matters pertaining TO the subject OF the public
Committee Public Lands
PURCHASE OF CUBA.
Mr. MILLER submitted the following resolution;
which having been objected lies under the rule
Rs,jprd That President of the United States be
orsed to inform the Senate whether any, and what
nations correspondence have taken place between this
the government of Spain, between any
persons acting under the direction authority OF either
government, in relation TO the purchase oil Cuba by The
United States and that he communicate TO the Senate
pies of such negotiations correspondence, far as the
same may be communicated consistently with the public
interest
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Several messages in writing received from the
President OF the United States.
RAILROAD ACROSS THE IsTHMUs OF PANAMA.
Mr.. BENTON moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of the special ORDER beng the bill to make
compensation for the transportation OF troops and sup
plies for a limited time, the isthmus OF Panama;
which motion was agreed to-
MIR. BENTON Mr. President the object OF that bill
has been very fully announced TO the Senate The pet
uon has been placed before the Senate, printed in the
usual form, and published IN both the city papers, and
thai makes known the object and plans OF the petitioners
The object which requires no effort on my part to
commend 1t to the good sense OF the Senate. The simple
statement OF that object will at once command our aten,
llon and the petition which has been presented fully and
clearly points out the object to be attained and the ad
vantages to be gained supesedng entirely the necessity
OF word from me upon that subject consider The great
object contemplated which will meet the favor OF all
The bill puts into the hands OF the Secretary OF the Navy
for limited time, and tor not exceeding certain
amount the great business of entering Into contract
with the petitioners for the transportation of the mails,
military and naval stores, &c by railway and mail
steamers across the isthmus of Panama. from the Allan
tic TO the Pacific ocean-these mail steamers being sub,
seyent naval operation other parts OF the United
States and liable to become part OF It's naval force in
OF emergency; and that account they not to
be under the control Of the Postmaster General under
whose control their immediate object would seem to
place them they to be under the control OF the
Secretary OF ar TO whom thought proper to refer
the conclusion OF such contract The Secretary of the Ma
the person to whom the bill refers, because he has
already in his hands the great business OF guiding the
steamboat lines. The only link to be completed is that
which lies between the two oceans-the only point of
communication between the two sides of our nation
Besides contempates the transportation of naval well
as military storesoi persons as well as freight; there
fore the bill very properly pursues the contem-
plated at the beginning, OF putting under the ol
cer--the Secretary or the Navy.
The persons, Mr. President, who are named in the
bill, with whom the contract is to be made, persons,
IN my opinion, who are entitled to the most favorable
consideration OF the American people They are in the
hrst place. those who are practically acquainted with
what they undertake to do One OF the petitioners, Mr.
Stephens is known throughout the reading world for his
travels in part of Central America, which lies TO
the country through which this railroad is to pass Be-
sides being known traveller through this region, he
has visited that lshmus person company with two
engineers IN order to decide for himself not merely the
pracucabiiy, but the cost of such a work, and the
time in which it can be completed. Aided by
the surveys heretofore made under the authority OF
different contracts and different governments he has
erheess examined every inch of the ground accompanied
by sklful engineers and has laid before US their own re-
port, their own map, and their plan of a road He
has Knowledge, then upon the subject; and without
knowledge, would be dangerous for any under
lake vast work.
The company who apply for the privilege of transporting
stores, Mr. President, have another recommendation
that of abundant capital TO accomplish their work.
They have also further ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
that is, their interest in the completion OF the
work They contractors the transportation of mails
on the other side of the isthmus They have already
constructed three steamers of the first class at cost of
SbOOO00 which steamers pass around to the other
slde IN order 10 their business of ransporta
ton from the other side OF the sthmus They have al
ready spent great sum IN preparation for conducting
their business consequently they have direct interest
It's success, in order that they may obtain for
tue large amount already expended Thus it will be seen
mat those who undertake 10 transport persons and stores
to the other side of the isthmus, are above all others
most interested IN having the work completed in the
shortest possible time, to transport the sthmus the
persons and stores, upon the accomplishment of which
their success depends
They have another reason, Mr. President, why thew
should obtain this grant from They have obtained
PERMISSION from the government which owns the coun-
ry-the government of New Grenada--and are at this
me IN possession OF the privilege of opening this road
viii read the letter of Gen Herran, the minister from
New Grenada. | read from the Spanish, giving lit
eral translation:
LEGATION OF NEw sENADA,
Washington, Dec. Is 1913.
GENTLEMEN: have had various conferences with Mr.
John L. Stephens representative Of the which
you have formed, and with powers sucieat solicit the
privilege oil constructing railroad in the Ishmu Pan
anna, under the conditions which, of gov.
eminent have proposed 10 him. From these conferences
II mas resulted that Mr. Stephens has given sufficient
guarantees besides those which expressed in the priv
iege conceded TO Matthew Kein under date Of Sh June
Iot 10 insure the execution OF this work and that your
proposed IN favor of New Grenada, besides those which
set forth IN the privilege.