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

nhe committee determined to vote against the memorial
Inc OBJECT OF the nemoasi to enter upon this yery
service pe'hs member OF The committee took some.
pans to ascertain the facts learned from the PosDas
ter General that the annual receipts for Letters &c
amounted to 1900 between Vera Cruz and New Orleans
we have had before us to carry the mails from New York
to other points, already costing thousands and hun
dreds of thousands without anything in return; and
hope shall not consent TO IT. am opposed to this
! amendment
| MIR, DOWNS. am not aware, Mr., President, of the
reasons which caused the Naval Committee TO to
conclusion against the proposition which was referred to
them TO establish line of mail steamers from New Or
leans to Vera Cruz, touching at certain points
That measure was recommended if | recollect right,
by the Secretary OF the Navy and by the President him
self, and the considerations which induced them to
ommend il. it me- were sufficient because it is
safe and certain communication mail route OF some
kind with possessions the Pacific. AS it is now
The ca cspaj ftppe rdt much longer Voyage fhsr,
would be nrressiry 10 get communication to San Fran
cisco II takes great while even 10 reach Panama, at
the very time when is so important to get early Inform
alton, and have ready conveyance TO send communca-
tons 10 that country have not gone into very close
calculation, but believe it to be fact that we might
send mail across TO the Pacific by this route in at
least half the time required by the Panama voyage,
and thus more and passengers might go
at the expense San Francisco, and other places
on the Pacific. believe it has been proved TO
be the fact, that communications have gone in half
A.
think, then, TINS communication is OF infinite importance
think it is OF much more importance to than any
railroads elsewhere. II is communicating with coun
try much more difficult TO communicate with than the
countries OF Europe; and is much more necessary for
us. Any argument for these routes applies. with
have the conclusion that the policy with regard
those steamers ought to be s'oppeihat shall
go further than his-that the principle is wrong in
itself; STILL say, whatever the conclusion of the Senate
upon that subject may be- does not affect this question:
because it is altogether different proposition. is not
10 advance money for this line of mail steamers; it is not
contemplated to increase the naval appropriation at all
We have already the vessels. belonging 10 the govern
men of the United States they have been reported of
further The very boats that have been run
through the war; to transport supplies 10 Texas and Mex
leo, are now dead weight upon the government,
and must be sold for half their value, though they might
geously employed in carrying out this purpose IT is
proposed and agreed upon all hands, TO transfer them to
the navy The naval officers have no other use for
Them and many of ,hem know are sollcitous to take
command OF these vessels. They can transport your
mails, and passengers also and perhaps they can pay
their whole expense. The disposition 10 90 there is
great that have doubt that the whole expense would
be paid in this way. If not, it would be small ex
pense and great national advantage.
believe, after all the calculation of the different
routes, that those best informed have to the opin
ion that the route should go through New Mexico.
If were going there, would take it With all its dsad
vaniages, rather than any other mode. Taking this
course you will not only transmit your mail readily and
with safety, but you afford degree of communication
with the Pacific that will be very advantageous NJ
subject, which think ought TO be considered as OF great
Importance The. trade Of Mexico with New Orleans
trade Il was carried to great amour, some years
ago; but by quarels with Mexico. that trade has
been almost entirely thrown out Of or hands, and
the Gulf Of Mexico, has fallen off, and Cuba has
become the gra, depot Vessels bound i to- Mexico .s
has has gone one to Cuba We have even shipped produce.
cotton, and other things to Cuba, to 60, from there
10 Mexico instead OF going directly The establish
III Ear
the trade to this country and that would increase
and make more intimate and friendly our relations with
Mexico. Another consideration connected with it, Mr.
President is that if wish to encourage this steamboat
navigation, If we wish this nation to take stand upon
that SYSTEM there is place more advantageous than
this very route this COMMUNICATION with Vera Cruz, upon
the Gulf 1t is on this very that great amount OF
specie will be carried, and great deal OF It to Eu-
rope We have a great advantage. II we choose to
you do cheaply, the effect will be, that IN
few months other steamers will be driven out and it
will be entirely in our hands ! think, then. that ths
consideration and many others which might be advanced,
if had time do it, ought TO induce the Senate TO adopt
this plan 1t is not the question OF appropriation Tor
will be an almost total loss if converted 10 this pur
pose The question is, whether we ought to do this,
which be done with very little additional expense
let the boats rot be sold for lrie nat is the
question: and not whether new line shall be established
there not
Mr. RUSK. ! do not desire to make speech to the
Senate nor will weary their patience. This is
ter too important for TO permit it 10 pass with the
usual go by-too important the interests OF the United
States ard large portion of the people OF the United
States also At present, sir you have mail communi
cation by beyond Galveston, in the State OF Texas
no permanent mail communications beyond Galveston
So far the transportation OF the mail IS concerned,
which has been alluded to by the gentleman from
Louisiana-as a matter OF course, l will not repeat
what he has said--l will say, however, this: that
with regular communication there, that country would
not only be benefited, but would vastly extend pro-
able ommerce between the United States and Mexico
know sir, that for two years the trade between Inc
United States and Mexico the exchange OF manufactures
of the United States for articles OF great value to TINS
country made in Mexico, has gone to the amount OF nj
teen twenty or perhaps millions OF dollars. Well
sir is no expense-on the contrary, it will be saving
of expense-ior the government OF the United States to
adopt this amendment There being no regular commu-
ncaon beyond Galveston, those boats will have either
TO be kept by quartemasters and shall have all the
expense of keeping them, and that TOR the simple pu-
pose of transporting stores and troops upon The
frontier, or The qlartermaster must dispose OF them
and depend upon freight for all those supplies The
west of Galveston, and scarcely any intercourse with
J Mexico, and il will cost larger sum to convey our
stores to the portion OF Texas to the troops
the line, than will cost TO keep up this temporary ar
rangement until the Postmaster General make arrange
mens for carrying the mails. If the amendment is re-
eced and if do not keep those vessels the necessl-
ties of transportation will force to hire other
sells to do it. The result will show should incur Il
great deal larger expense than would have done
BY adopting it, But, sir, it will be very profitable
great number OF passengers will pass across the 18th
mus OF Tehuantepec, going by that way to Can
fornIa. They are gong constantly now This amend
ment, | understand it, connects this line win
the Pacific ocean. Then, sir without additional expense
without any grand scheme about II, is grand connuh