The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-21


committee to-day hope there will be no objection
to having this amendment lie over t to morrow BY that
Time we may have time 10 examine il and think will
be found that there has been appropriation TO erect
buildings tor the use OF post Offices and courts OF the
United States OF course, Savannah has custom house.
because j is seaport, bu' must think that ~ that case
as IN the OF New Orleans and all other cases.
there has been nothing IN the acts of Congress 10
ihorze appropriations for the building Of posi- offices and
Mr. CASS will merely mention, Mr. President, that
in Detroit there building owned by the United States
which was purchased for the use OF the United States
court, and courts are held there
Mr. DOWNS. That is certainly an exception to the
general rule.
Mr.. BENTON The offices that are now named in
the bill reduced 10 Iourthe custom houses which
the United States always erec.; the subtreasury build
ings which were contemplated and provided Tor m the
act creating that systems the couoons ior which The
Unled States pay rent and 10 some cases. il has been
shown. purchase erect buildings and the post Offices
nd now If the senator from louisiana thinks there is any
one OF these four which ought not 10 be named in the bill
think he objects without sufficient Ii the prac
ce really has been 10 pass act for building custom
houses which would be large enough 70 accommodate
the other Offices. il amounts to the same thing.
There part OF this amendment TO which the senator
does not object and the other part he seems to object 10
more on the score OF expedlency than anything else
Now there Is any one Of these four purposes to which
he objects, tn way Of getting the sense OF The Senate
upon them 10 10 move To strike them out.
Mr. BADGER. do not know that have understood
this accurately, but have the case is this II
e the usage OF this government TO erect custom
Now, II is proposed 10 make appropriation for that
purpose; but there several other purposes for
winch the United States wish TO use their public build
10y n - ina, this building which nH
purposes rs well as the custom house. That Is the qrs
ton as understand it. Well. ii we are TO build
tom. house. do see how il becomes injurious in this
case Tor to accommodate other public uses, and cut of
thereby incidental expenses now charged against the gov
eminent for the accommodation which it receives for
@see Ss have o b s
and why should we continue to pay Tor The use OF sepa
rate buildings Tor other purposes when they can all be
included IN this one building,
Mr. DOWNS. In order that the gentleman's argument
should be good several other requisites wanting and
first the necessity for cuslom-house he must show
Louis as in New York. Baltimore. or New Orleans
Now. would ask the senator from Missouri how many
officers are employed in ST. Louis!
Mr. BENTON. The senator from Louisiana makes
inquiry to the number of persons who are now en-
ployed tie c,s,o q. house al 81. Louis cannot an
that question: But believe that $4,000 $4,000
received there and the amount is instantly in
creasiDg can, however, give to the Senate rule by
winch they can Judge of what that custom house will
come to. We all recocct the time before the application
Of steam to drive vessels when three weeks was The
time for voyage from the Belize 10 New Orleans, and
lasted three months Now, since the app
cation oil steampower TO vessels we can 90 IRON The
Belize to 81 LOUIS il five days; which, for all CONNER
cal purposes puts ST. Louis some here about hall way
from New Orleans 10 the Belize, commerce was form
ery carried ST. Louis, to all practical purposes.
Therefore, IL The now than New Oieans was
formerly, before steam applied 10 drive vesse Is
With this view OF the matter, the custom house al 81.
Louis may become OF immense importance
Mr. DOWNS u Is in no spirit OF jealousy, as Tar as
b IL is really 10 settle the question whether ths
expense be necessary. Now, asked the question in rel
eence 10 the argument Of the senator from North Caro-
llna MIR. BADGER 10 show II II Was necessary TO have
THIS custom. house IN 81 Louis. We know that IN all
seaport towns there great many officers. But IN ST.
Louis The only commssIoned othcer Is the surveyor
There is Inspector We have persons 10 guard the
iron smuggling, because there is no such thing
there. Wehave inspectors TO assist in unloading the
ships which may arrive there do not know how many
officers there a seaport house whom they
have for in ST. Louis. There are dozen differ
functions requiring dozen officers in Boston, New
York. and other places that there would be no use Tor IN
81 Lous. $50
would ask another question, so that the facts may 90
before the Senate would like TO know, as is said
here that this will not increase The expense TO the gos
eminent, as matter OF fact how much rent the United
States has paid heretofore al ST Louis, Louisville, or
Cincinnati Tor CUSTOM house IL turned out that they
10 me than il would be much economical TO con-
nne 10 rent this small office rather than to construct TINS
custom house.
Louisiana struck point IN the case hat is the
question TO the senator IRON Missouri, which was not
answered. suppose il is answered IN the Blue Book oil
i94s. Init hnd that 81 LOUIS has two custom Officers
surveyor and inspector. Chicago Immediately 10 the
vicinity has officers, and Detroit has some nine
teen Tnsre are, however. bat two in st. Louis.
Mr. DOWNS. intended 10 have remarked that there
United STATES courts In first place, in many OF the
States there places than one Tor holding the
United States la my Sae theie are six dif.
iefent places. We live in aye oil prugressn coun.
uy OF progress The country changes Although place
may be very good situation for courthouse now, yet
in ten years hence. II may be expedieni TO remove
TO some other place. II may not be 10 regard 10 81
Louis, bat in some cases il may be For That reason
had better rent those buildings Than erect Them do
be understood making any iacuous opposl.
lion to this amendment But is subject 10 which
had my attention called. wish 10 call The attention OF
the Senate this matter in order that they may decide
whether they will adopt STEM instead OF renting
IT, before the next session will have thousand sppi
Gallons Tor court houses post Offices and other buildings
This idea ot the government building is very agreeable
thing Every quarter OF the State looks 10 Il, for they
know that there Is some very good picking out oil u.
Uncle Sam very convenient person for that purpose
He is great way of; and hose things be got better
out of him than anybody else Therefore there IL no little
Indian agent office but will come here and ask you
for $1,000, $4,000 $4,000 10 erect building in
their town. Il is for us TO decide whether we will
commence this 81 stem do not see any necessity
for il, and should prefer that il should not be done.
Mr.. DAVIS OF Mississippi am somewhat afraid OF
rior towns and think the true rule by which
to decide whether place is worthy Of eustom-house
not is the amount Of duties that il collected IN that
place. Now, take IL Tor granted that the amount col
lected in ST. Louis is very email. IL must be so; Tor
though steam has brought 81. Louis very 10 the
Gulf the amount OF water in the not increased
and il is doubtful Their sailing vessel could get TO
continue to be delivered at New Oleans, aud then sent
up TO ST. Louis in different class OF vessels We have
port OF entry lower down, al Vicksburg, TO which
going vessels can run, but they do not often do