The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-06


shall not be put upon the lines. the same results will o
low, and the appropriations will not be used
Mr. HAMLlN. Mr.. President. am grsnhed that Il,
attention OF the Senate has been called 10 the subject bv
the senator from Florida, Mr.. YuLEE The subrc, Il
our mail steamers is which has received good des
OF attention from the public press and have no doubt
that by that and others the attention OF the ma
tors generally has been called 10 the subject have INV
self been led believe that there might have been some
extraya in the expense connected with that depart
men OF The ma service. Whalsvel suca exlrayagaacs
fully in correcting but II seems To me 10 be bad policy
an unwise pocyio abolish system because il may by
possibility have connected win some error IN lis in
fancy hope shall never see the day when We shall
be dependent upon foreign bottoms for our mail facilities
should regret such occurrence as one which involves
in It's scope vast number OF important considerations
affecting the whole question OF commercial marine
believe that the efficiency OF our naval prepar in The
OF will depend very much upon the encourage
ment which Congress may give to this branch Of the ser
vice at this time II is an important question. We have
none submitted 10 our consideration more | should
regret the commercial marine OF any other county
surpass in this branch think il would be ex,remy
detrimental TO the commercial interests OF this county,
to crcumscrbe the extension OF the steamship service
less than what liberal policy would dictate.
Now, sir, with these general views am ready cheer
fully to lend hand TO correct any abuses OF exirayagM
expense that may grow out of it. II to that IA
the part OF wisdom thus to apply proper correction ana
not 10 abolish any useful portion Of the system,
The notion now understand II, Is to strike out Of
the bill this appropriation for the mail service between
this country and Hayre Ii either OF these appropria
tons to be stricken out think there could be but
little doubt upon the minds OF senators who have inves
tigated this matter, that il would be far more advisable
to strike out that appropriation that provides for mail
service between this country and Bremen as the less
porant branch in every view that can can be taken il
the less important in commercial advantages the less i'm
porant in the facilities which it offers in relation to The
transmission of the mails, and the less important in all
other respects.
The considerations which have stated lead me ire
sisbly to favor general system which shall be Invested
of any abuses which may exist, which shall
serve far be done, TO aid this branch Of the
vice, and give US marine which shall efecuay project
our commerce in time OF do not propose q 70
into an investigation Of the arguments suggested in ea
ton 10 this matter. There are, however, two
views which suggest themselves TO my mind, which
must beg the indulgence OF the Senate while kpresen
The original law, which have before me- says in this
very section that the Postmaster General shall be
thozed to make contracts coextensive with his powers
to make any other branch of the mail service
Ii thus coafers upon the Post Office Department the
power enter into contracts To carry the mail upon mail
steamers under the same rules and regulations apply
to carrying the mail between the several States The
only variation is that before such shall take
effect, shall be submitted 10 Congress for its ratification
Now taking that section OF the law and the section in The
appropriation bill which has been read by the senator
from Texas, it to that the power the depart
ment is beyond doubt, and beyond all reasonable obec
ton But the senator from Florida will present any
good and sufficient reasons why this provision should be
stricken out and contract made, il he will show
me that the government funds to be diverted by
complying with this contract from their legitimate avenues
and that are at liberty 10 decline this contract, on the
ground that was not submitted Congress for its ra
fcation or for other sufficient reasons-if there can b.
shown connected with this transaction, anything Of
fraudulent character, or any thing OF exavaganl
tempt 10 rectfy it, If the Postmaster General has con-
tracted for this at rates beyond hat demand
ed, lei apply the remedy here but il individuals who
now seeking this contract, and who were not pioneers
IN the original service, are seeking to drive these
tractors from the service because, by the facilities which
they have created contracts may be made at little better
rate, that ought not, IN my OPINION 10 be sufhceni
reason for rejecting interfering with the original con-
tract In the progress of improv the facilities
which afforded for constructing vessels of this class
all very well know that contracts upon somewhat better
terms may be made al later day; but there is something
due 10 those who made the original contracts pna
of time when they subject to all the hazards and
all the additional expenses connected with the intodue
ton OF this branch OF the services and if the only pu
pose now is to take advantage Of those increased fac
ties against those who have borne the heat and bur-
den OF the day. by annulng the contract of the Posma
ter General Tor one, am willing to vote for the con
tract as ii reads
Mr. YULEE. | will correct an error into which lhs
honorable chairman OF the Committee the Post 0Ma
and Post Roads has fallen. He has read TO U.s. tn,
authority upon which the Postmaster General changed
the contract with the Bremen company clause from ht
appropriation bill which be supposed related to that sub
lect II he had examined the respective dates howeyu
he would have discovered that the law was passed The
day after the endorsement made upon the contract.
and thus we thrown back necessarily for the author
ty OF the Secretary upon the act OF 6l3 have shown the
SENATE lnat aCt OF speClncally
contract made, that it should be reported 10 Congress
al the ensuing session, which has not been done
is claimed that under the power conferred by the act
ls43, contracts may be renewed al the discretion Of the
Postmaster General II that is the case then the exist
ing contracts may be continued forever If, after Con
gress has sanctioned contract for five years. In THIS
case the Postmaster General extend ii 10 ten years
he in the same extend II fifty, one hua'
ded two hundred years and if he can augment the
number OF vessels from two to FOUR he can augment
still further, and thus to the grantees pere'n
monopoIes, with which Congress could not in,ersr
Now sir must treat II a void or al least vodaN
contract; that IS the only safe The question
them arises IS II polite 10 increase the service in had
recton Shall we by so doing, improve the naval de-
fences OF the country and the facilities for carrying me
mails TO an exien, proporliened TO the cost involved
That is The whole question Ii isa question connecie
with two large and important branches OF the public ser
vice OF the country II may be polite to 20 further Than
we have gone in extending the system we have |
entered upon, OF connecting the commercial sieansnP
service with The mail and navy policy Of the government
but II we do | think II should be with consIderafs
change in the forms of the present system; and dous
il the Havre line will be found TO be advisable TO be
tabshed when we come TO consider how much we haw
already done in the transatlantic service, and whf
amount OF expenditure we bear for the support Of
system.
Mr. DAWSON Mr. President I would not dessp
proong this discussion bu, that believe we have arns
AT point and have a question before us that pqlrr
the consideration Of this bodytrst due The govern
men and then as due 10 ourselves. Here il CONRAD
admitted by all who have spoken upon either side Of e
question to be exceedingly favorable to the persons w
made this contract with the government OF the Unite
states for ocean steamers, Lei show you in one NO
nent the position this government now occupies IN Tes
ton TO IT. Having put IN operation the two steam.yee'
running between New York and Havre, we TO sPFe
pirate 100000 dollars annually until the year 1855 NV