The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-21

IN Existing new system Heretofore it has not been
customary embody such propositions IN not he tried
os Z, !. nrono.ed nv the amendment OF the senator
from Mississippi Mr.. DAysl that the f hire
embark IN e ss,ahsb line for this purpose Now
i, seems 10 me that though nigh deserve m
in ssparae BILL il should not be introduced upon the
pnaISK would inform the senator from New
ur.nsh;re that this measure has been recommended by
the Postmaster General and by the navy Department
Si M ATHERTON That makes no difference. It mat
ers not whether has been recommended by one depart
ment or another. l say 1t introduces new principle
altogether and therefore ought to be the subject OF sep
arae bill There may be many things recommended by
departments which are not german to an Appropriation
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi Mr. President. expect
very important results to flow from this measure ex
poet that the trade which will be opened and engaged IN
between Mexico and this country, if this measure be
passed. will be very great Besides, the convenience
which it will afford from the transportation OF our mails
Viewed in this light il may have been well for senators
to attach such great Importance to the question but
as legislative question, he 9 sopo'Sn W hs en IS
ator from New Hampshire was never more mista-
ken in his life than when he supposed that my
amendment proposes the introduction OF anything novel
We have transport vessels now, but they very i'm
properly and very ANONYMOUSLY in the hands OF the War
Department The hrst proposition contained in the
amendment is 10 transfer these vessels from department
which cannot manage them, either economically well
~ ONO wh'eh oan manase the" 70 como aavantage AT
present the QuarteImaker General compelled TO employ
captains at very high rate of compensation and often
very incompetent persons; that the safety of the
sells and all on ooard not only hazarded by the present
system Oh. the expense rendered very great by the
high Rates Of compensation paid to the captains and all
TIE other officers.
Again. the senator is also as mach mistakes he
his life, when he supposes that the transportation
OF passengers and freight in transport vessels belonging
TO the government is the introduction Of new system
All transport vessels in all countries under the have
done the same from the establishment of the first navy
ever known This is only proposition to transfer these
vessels from the War Department, where they i'm
properly located, to the Navy Department where they
properly belong to charge the Navy Department with
the transportation of troops and supplies, and to add
thereto as far as the transport service ser will permit the
to our Pacific settlements That is the whole PROPOSE
ton If this is not done by the Navy Department. must
done directly by the quar!ermasters department. must
be done by contracts We have been compelled to do
At directly; The Quartermaster General has been con-
PEELED, with all the disadvantages that belonged to land
oMcer (Which he has admitted in his report to be very
great to purchase vessels, hire captains and
TO manage them, employ them in the transportation OF
troops and munitions and necessarily TO carry the public
mails OF the United States. SO far, then, this proposition
requires the navy, with these vessels to do what
ceived on board OF, and are to be transported by
the public vessels which the property OF Aner-
can citizens, and the officers of the vessels are re-
strcted from charging, anything more than The actual
expense incurred by taking the citizens on board That
has always been the Ste upon our transports. 1t
is the existing rule now managed in the quartermas
ters department There is nothing new IN it. There is
nothing extraordinary in it. There is nothing in re
curing legislation, because it is based upon military
which may lie beyond this. and be incidentally connect
ed with 1.-THE establishment of line of mail steamers
nave nothing to say N regard to it 40 rot deem II
nothing to do with the proposition under consideration
present this as simple question of having The trans
port vessels in our own country managed the transport
vessels Of all other civilized nations are-by the Navy
Departmentand providing that they shall continue the
transportation OF the mails as is now dsne by the quar-
farrn lrpan and hat uhaI
American citizens more than the simple expense incurred
by their presence on board the vessels.
Mr. HUNTER. MIR. President, it seems that this
measure, which we called upon to adopt, danger
GUS precedent was not before aware that the prac
ce of transporting citizens of the United States in nation
al vessels existed In my judgment such shoud
be let 10 individual enterprise do like the idea of
the government of the United States entering into compc
ttion with private individuals of the nation in matters of
this Sort and therefore, it to that if such has
been the practice OF this government it should be abol
ished forthwith
Mr. DAVIS Of Mississippi will state to the senator
from Virginia that transport vessels used where
they come in competition with individual enterprise, for
the simple reason that routes where individual enter
PRISE has established lines OF ships merchant vessels or
steamers or where any other modes OF conyeyances
list, transport vessels never required.
Mr. HUNTER. Then there can he no necessity for
tnese transports, Tor II there merchant vessels to
engage in the business of transporting passengers be-
tween New Orleans and Vera Cruz, do not know what
route has vessels running upon it, 1t strikes that
OF all species OF business in which this government could
be engaged this the least suitable to the machinery of
our government ana the nature oil institutions. We
might leave at least that to the enterprise of private in
divduals do not understand that the employment of
these government steamers is TO diminish by one
those that we have already engaged agree with the
senator from Mississippi that it very doubtful wheth
cr these vessels would be found to be useful even in
time OF war. II experiment to which was
originally opposed And | am against extending it, es-
pecally by the government of the United States enga
ging IN an affair OF this SORT. hope will drop the
matter where ii is
Mr.. ALLEN Mr. President, it is always bad policy
TO make any changes in legislation the very heel
OF the session of Congress- when it is impossible that
they can undergo that full and ample discussion which
ought to prccede any great change the existing of
the government understand that this subject has I'M
degone the consideration of one of the committees of
this body and that, after elaboration, they have
rejected it,
MIR. DOWNS. The gentleman is mistaken. This
proposition has not been rejected II was the line TO
Chagres that rejected.
Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi. different committee re-
Mr.. ALLEN. Be that as il may, my other remark,
however, holds good-that this matter ought to be
passed over until there be more time, thought;
until it be shown how il will AFFECT other inter-
ess Undoubtedly the tendency of this government and
OF all other governments, is to do everything that will
be permitted 10 do to lay its hands on everything,
whether forbidden not ii it is not prevented And
this business of the government becoming competitor
kind OF trade with private citizens is bad thing II is
bad practices and it has existed. il ought to be stop
ped at once, Besides have mail contract for carry
Ing The mail from New Orleans -
MT huSk tnterposing) Not through the Gull OF
Mr.. ALLEN No, SIR not through the gulf of Mex.
co rsshaps ,he mail is not carried the right line );