The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-01


road shall not exceed eight reals per quintal.
real, understand, is about II cents and quintal
about liz pounds.
think, from that provision of the law that the whole
subject OF the mail service the road matter OF
regulation by the charter between the governments
This government cannot contract with the gentlemen
holding that charter upon the subject but we must hrs
make our contract with the government and then let the
government OF New Grenada under this regulation con
clude arrangement with these individuals. If am
right sir, in my understanding of this matter | should
like to have II explained how can consistently pass
Mr. DOUGLAS made a few remarks in reply, which
were inaudlble al the reporters desk.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, in order to test the sense of the
Senate, moved 10 strike OF the bill the words the
mails of the United States " and remarked that retaining
the words which he proposed to strike out could have
no good effect whatever, and might lead to mischief
Mr. DOUGLAS stated, that to strike out the words
would oblge the government TO pay for the mails in ad
don to the sum paid Tor the transportation OF munitions
of war, &C.; whereas if the word, allowed to re-
main, the transportation OF the mails would be included
MIR. UNDERWOOD. The effect of il will be this sir
upon the principle of law which have Just read, this
entire subject is to be regulation OF the government,
and not of the company. Upon that subject we must
make arrangement with the government OF New
Grenada. If we do not do it, then the company which
constructs the railroad will be compelled to do it, If we
retain the provision propose to strike out. you impose
on them the duty of making arrangement for carrying
our mails, when the stipulation of the government of
New Grenada says il shall be regulated by treaty with
foreign nations. All we can do by retaining il, is to
]
with New Grenada; and as to the terms and that on the
face of the charter by which they have reserved to them
ernment of the United States think it would be best
to leave that to be settled by the governments
will therefore test the sense OF the Senate by my motion
| Mr.. BENTON. | understood, sir, that the mails
carried the slhmus by special agent without the
intervention of any post Office whatever. They
like any other freight That is the manner in which the
still carried in exactly the same 1t is for
own security that we insert the word nails, to prevent
the company from exacng anything from us in addition
for carrying the mails. We perfectly satisfied that
they should go across in the way in which the British
mails go across and the government OF New Grenada is
satisfied with the same. There was, therefore, in my
opinion necessity for striking the words the
tor from Kentucky has read His conclusion this is
exactly the reverse of what make -hat the liking
out would do harm it, and the retaining OF the clause
might do good. My conclusion u.s. that the staying IN
would do harm. and that the striking out might be in
luriousdlrectly the contrary to his and think. there
twill be time enough when the question arises with New
Grenada to settle it then AT present there is no such
question 1t is for security that the general de-
scrpton OF munitions OF PERSONS &c, Is made and
that we enter into such an enumeration.
Il Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi. The object OF this amend
ment will be TO strike out all that said to the amount
OF compensation and thus to change from its present
character of annual compensation, 10 the character
OF contract which the Secretary OF the Navy shall
war, sc. AS the rate of the tariff is fixed in the next
section for the transportation OF goods and persons from
this country, that will certainly be sufficient guide
will margin beyond which the Secretary of
the Navy pass AS it will be great contract, it
to be expected that he will make for less than that
Mr.. NILES, after making remarks which were
understood 10 be upon the nature of the amendment,
an enormous amount, while the amount of business TO
be done was little or nothing He had offered resolu
ton some time since, for the purpose of being prepared to
meet this question, which he had requested informa
ton to what has been paid for the expenses OF trans
porting for the navy. Some four weeks ago this resolu
lion had been passed but there had been no response as
vet tn he call Lac ho al thprp had
been paid about $4,000 quarter, amounting to $4,000
per annum for that purpose Ordinarily. probably the
expense would be less As far the navy concern
ed, the nation already has the expense and employ
ment should be found for the ships, they might well
be employed in going around Cape Horn in any other
way VI course, supplies night be sent in that way
without this additional expense But it a small
matter any way, far The OF the road was
Cerned.
In respect to the mails, there was already contract
for their transportation this very distance, that
he did not see as the government would gain anything
| upon that contract
This was substantially bill TO appropriate from the
public treasury certain amounts for period OF time not
less than ten years. The transportation for which this
appropriation was made, was very unimportant The
question was very grave and very important but he
would only offer few words.
In the first place (said Mr. NJ am not satisfied with
| the power. want TO know by what grant of power
this appropriation is to be made-under what power all
this done under the constitution. 1t could not be
ary or naval PURPOSES and suppose 1t must come under
the given to Congress to because
this road Will be estabShed suppose tor the trade OF the
country the Pacific coast between the different States
and our settlements there. Now this is going fuIther
believe, than we have gone before, if regard
this power as jusfying an appropriation for money to
facilitate commerce at home and if cannot do at
hOme certainly cannot do abroad. Ii have this
power where is the Limitation TO it! If may engage
in this work, why may not assist any work the
continent of Europe, in the Mediterranean, any
other point in foreign countries, where think may
benefit the of the United States If this
is claimed all, must be unlimited its characters but
| very much doubt whether we have any such power.
But sir, waving that point altogether, The first practi
cal consideration will be, what the inducements to the
people of the United States for making this expense What
have to gain byit' What is TO be the effect of il upon
the great interests OF the country am very much inclined
to think, sir, that the importance OF this work for the in
teests of commerce generally of the United States and
OF Europe, rs very much estimated Why sir, |
doubt whether any believe that this can be
the route to China the Indies The distance is actual
| Liverpool and New York around the Cape of Good
Hope by the route the ishmus there must be
two separate voyages, and of the trade would
never be successfully transmitted through this route,
unless by the building up of great commercial town
upon the gulf at the terminus OF the road, in which
place the business from Europe and the United States
might be transacted, and from which the goods might be
transmitted Though it might not be much benefit to the
United States it would certainly be benefit to the
in that country. The chief use of the road would
be communication between this country and the
countries upon the Pacific, the RUSSIAN settlements on
the northwest coast and our possessions the
coast of the Pacific. In addition to this, and perhaps
the most important item of the whole, is the whale
fishery of those seas Our advantage, IA every one
knows from this rouie, must be very small it is mere