The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-24

New York represent that, account OF the difficulties
and dangers TO be encountered in entering the pou OF
San Francisco, il is indispensable that port Of entry
should be established at Bepica have already alluded
to some o the obstucons which to be encountered
IN the navigation OF the waters OF San Francisco which
all avoided by navigating from the Golden Gate up
TO the straits Of Karquines cannot msgine that any
one here will dispute the fact TO by such evidence
as was laid before the committee and is before the
Senate, o the great secunty afforded TO the shipping by
direct route from the TO the straits of Kaqunes IN
direct line, and OF The advantages which Benica affords
tor the unloading OF vessels and landing OF goods or gold
there appoachable al all stages OF the water enabling
ships 10 land their cagdes without the assistance OF
or stages, Such are the consde which prompt
10 insist on Benicia being made port OF entry, and
which. hope will induce the Senate to refuse lis con-
IN the amendment proposed BY the senator from
Bat repeat hope that the Senate upon further con
sideraton, will agree with that as the excess Of
rendnre to De incurred by government in establishing
po,,s q ssy oon g. sy aad S,ocson will os
indulge the wishes OF the people OF California, ex
pressed BY their united representation and allow them
II Ssess Ssss Ssaa II se s
hundred ships entered at the port OF San Francisco d
ring the last twelve months; and OF that number only
two have been injured The bay Of San Francisco Is the
finest sheet of water the face Of the earth and. al
though there are upwards Of six hundred vessels lying
in that bay now, there ample Tor the accommo-
fore for port IF entry At Benca There are no people
e trade there the wants he country do not require
Ports OF entry are wanted the waters in the country
above that place.
Much has been said about the difficulty Of approach to
San francisco But let say that all these statements
which have been made in regard 10 the difficulty OF nav
gazing the waters there cannot be sustained; and with
regard 10 its being SO much out of the way e are gen
llemen present who have navigaed that bay, and who
know that as The distance is on the map looks like
eight or ten miles, but the actual distance is not
than five or six; and have heard OF solitary
merchant vessel going through Racoon straits to Bencia
am asked why, being in favor of the Establishment
OF six ports OF entry in the State of California. of which
Benica proposed TO he one and two of those being
now rejected, against Benicia candidy
that did agree to have Beniea port OF entry but my
object in agreeing il moi from any conviction of its
necessity, but merely that the OF the question
the other two ports might not be endangered by any OBJ
econs Of mine to this one am sure that senators
widely mistaken il they suppose that Sacramento and
Stockton are not capable OF sustaining themselves as
ports OF entry.
francisco and BencIa will answer all necessary pur
poses. Gentlemen to forget that at these places
goods will Tst have be warehoused, and then
shipped from there 10 the places named upon the rivers
Sacramento and San Joaquin and thus vast additional
expense will be incurred in the anshpm.nt Of goods
Now, contend that there is necessity for this tran
shipment The maps all show that there is sufficient
depth OF water allow large vessels 10 60 to
and Stockton Captain Ringgoid has stated to me that
he can carry ship Of the line through Suison bay,
which IS above Benica we want but lltile improve.
OF he finest navigabe rivers III the world There are
no difficulties OF any consequence 10 be oyercome and
wilh few slight improvements Of that Iyer we could
would not take up the time OF the Senate did not
deem my imperative duty to the people of California TO
endeayor BY all proper means to have these two ports
Mr.. WINTHROP. Something has been said in regard
to the public sentiment OF the State OF California this
question Now, no one would be more willing than my.
self conform to that public sentiment in all
where could consistently with the public interest
But, il understood the gentleman from Louisiana in
reading the list OF memorials presented 10 the Senate
on this subject. they were all without exception, in IA
oi the establishment OF port OF entry nj Benicia AT
least OF these memorials was from sacramento city
ITSELF and il asked, like all the rest for the establishment
of port OF entry al Bencia; while no, single memorial
has from California, or from any other part OF the
country, for The establishment OF port OF entry any.
where else II, then, we are to take the pubic senfi-
ment OF California from the papers which come from
California itself, wonld seem II they pointed plainly
10 the establishment OF port OF entry at the very place
designated by the senator from louisiana and at that
place only. l entirely with that senator in his
views OF this so far as Benicia Is concerned And
il seems 10 me that the senator from California INT
GwIsl does not quite give the true Interpretation TO the
idea OF a port Of delivery His view seems 10 be that
nasmuch the places above Benca are places oil large
population and large consumption heieore there should
be ports OF entry established there Why SIR, there is
nothing in the fact that any port Is not port oi entry
which will prevent any quantity OF goods IRON being De.
hvered there for consumption or Tor sale port oil de.
livery is not mere port OF exporiaton, but II IA port
where goods unladed and delivered freely IRON any
vessel which comes there Suppose that vessel enters
al Bencio IL the captain oil such vessel does not choose
10 his goods there he 90 up higher, and
take them Sacramento city or 10 Stockton, by merely
giving bonds for the duties
: Mr. GWIN 1 would ask the senator from Massacbu-
the goods do not have 10 be appraised al the port
of entry
Mr.. WINTHROP am not quite sure about that, bat |
believe there is not even an appaisement there There
surveyor al the port oI delivery 10 take charge OF the
goods and under his direction they are unladed at these
upper ports. precisely II they ports of entry Un
der the laws Of the United States presume, every vessel
is obliged stop at the srs por, OF eny at which ar
yes there be subject TO inspection o some sort before
proceeds elsewhere discharge its cargo But ina
gne the detention is not long.
MIR GWIN. II pon Of delivery il so convenient,
that is the very thing conlendng for on the part OF
Sacramento and Stockion because do not believe that
the commerce o Benica is sufficient 10 ene II 10 the
advantages Of being port of eniry, 10 the exclusion OF
other places where the interests ol conmefce evidently
reqaire that there should be ports OF entry. .
Mr. WINTHROP would suggest TO the senator from
California thot he confounding Two distinct IDEAS II is
not that vessels coming pp Of entry should
unload their cargoes there Besides, vessels which are
Obliged 10 stop San francisco, that city alone re-
mains port OF entry, would be obliged TO 60 seven
eight miles ou ol their way m addition 10 being subject.
ed 10 the deientons and dangers arising from shoa wa
tps whereas vessels bound for Sacramento or stockton,
Benica is made port oi entry, not Obliged 10 90
ou of their way at all II is therefore necessary ior the
OF the of the upper country that
there should be a port of entry al Benicia
Mr. GWIN have the map showing that, instead
of lie being eight or nine miles, Is no, more than i've
miles.
Mr. WINTHROP But winds and tides will not
always allow vessels to keep in straight course Ihey
must have room TO tack.
Mr.. GWIN. Nowa word about the memorials IL
was not supposed TO be necessary To have memorials 10
Congress IN favor OF establishing ports OF entry al San