The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-21

which are in service; France has ninety. four, fifty
four in service; Russia thirty two; and now he
asked will we, if we intend 10 be maritime ma |
ton. not keep pace with the great powers of the
world? He repeated, steamers arc necessary IN time
of war to tow ships into the line OF battle when the
winds are adverse, to carry dispatches and TO tow
our men Of war 10 such points where broadsldes
can be directed 10 the best advantage. We have
only three lines of mail steamers, composed OF
twelve eighteen vessels, and the question Is, shall
stand with our arms folded, while other govern
ments are rapidly increasing this means of com
municaion and defence He desired that our coun-
try should keep pace with Its increasing wants, and
did ask any thing beyond what Is necessary and
proper. He would vote for what s called the Ebony
line" whatever it may cost. He was more alarmed
by the competency of the free negroes for mischief
than by slaves, who never have been dangerous.
Trace the instructions in the South, and II would
be found that they attributable TO free blacks.
Tennessee has encouraged this very plan OF con
veying free negroes TO Liberia; and If the amend
ment proposed by his colleague should prevail, that
State, Ohio and Others will pay the money neces-
sary for the transportation OF that class OF persons
Virginia appropriates forty thousand dollars an
nuay; the southern States, generally, Will contri
butte TO get rid of these dregs OF society. Many
gentlemen in the South wish TO emancipate their
negroes if they can be removed out OF the United
States. In conclusion, he pointed out the advan-
tages of the contemplated line, and said that he was
anxious TO cyilze Africa as far as he could, while,
at the same time, country would receive a cor
responding benefit.
| Mr.. SCHENCK intended to vote for or against
| any oil tue lines Oh stCdineTb dtCoIuiHe ~ tutH
merit, when they shall be presented. He pre-
pared for the line to Africa and the southern
parts OF Europe OF all branches of the public SER
vice, the navy has been called the most extrava-
giant, loose, and careless. Ii was tho fashion to
abuse the navy and attack the appropriations TO
| sustain it. There must be safety valve through
which surplus gas and steam must have vent.
Just now il happened TO be the navy When John
@. Adams spoke of eight houses III the sky" TO
| designate a National Observatory, every where, on
the stump and in the press, it was spoken of as
matter to shake the republic, and alarm the people
all the land, lest their liberties should be
! wrested from them. In the progress of time, and
| good sense, the Congress Of the United States (for
! even the name of " Observatory unpopular)
| established depot for charts and maps. 1t
then the fashion to abuse the Military Academy, and
TO call 1t miserably arsocra,ic institution, where
| young lords educated at the public expense.
! This formed the Democratic thunder of attack.
By and by we had war with Mexico and after
these graduates of West Point had calamity be-
haved we scarcely hear murmur against the APP
preparations for the Academy The Smithsonian
Institution was next the object of attack. But all
| these hobbies have died away.
| He then proceeded to defend the bill, and to
view the various appropriations in the bill There
more than three millions of dollars, he said,
for the Naval School, for mail steamers, for ks,
and other objects OF various kinds, which do not
belong TO the navy proper, and which were grouped
in the bill instead of being separated, like the Mill
tary Academy and Notifications from the expenses
of the army. The bill was made repulsive in its
aspect, to show that 1t would involve the country
in extravaganza.
Mr. FEATHERSTON said that it was Il matter
of surprise to him that the gentleman from Ten
uesscc, (Mr. STANToE,) at this late period of the
session, should introduce proposition 10 establish
line of steamers to Africa and the southern parts
of Europe. He had hoped that measure OF SO
much importance, and involving 50 great princi
pie, would have been permitted 10 lie over until the
next session. lie was opposed to the whole system
/ of ocean mail -steamers He was opposed to every
line already established, and to any that likely
TO be established. lie opposed it, in the first place.
because it subverted the established policy of the
Government in relation to the management of the
! Post-offce Department Ii had always been the
| policy that the Post office Department shall support
Itself or, in other words, shall not become tax on
! the general treasury. This policy was founded in
\ Justice and equity. 1t was right that those who
/ derive advantages from the post-ohce system
should pay the expenses OF sustaining the Depart
ment II was wrong that the support of the Depart
ment should be thrown on those who derive no
| benefit from it.
If the Ebony line be established, an additional
sum Of light or nine millions Of dollars will go out
of the treasury This would make twenty one or
twenty two millions which the Government will
have agreed 10 pay for the conveyance of mails be-
tween of our ports and foreign countries. The
! great mass of the American people would not de-
rive benefit from these steamers; il would inure to
| the merchants and other citizens residing in the
seaport cites Those living in the interior would
I not be benefited The amount which the Govern
ment pays for the mail service within the limits Of
the United States Is less than three millions OF dol
! lars. When member asks for the establishment
OF post office in his Congressional district, he il
told by the Department that the expenses must be
kept within the limits, that the Department may
not be a tax the treasury. There is not a Con-
gressional district which has the facilities 10 which
| il is Justly entitled. But twcntyone or twenty-five
/ millions of dollars can be appropriated for mails
between the Atlantic cities and foreign ports, TO
benefit stock jobbers and claim agents interested in
| the lines.
He replied to Mr.. EwISo, and asked from what
quarter free negroes be carried if the line TO
/ Iiheria no eztabliEnpd How ms
are at the North, and how did they get there
Were these free negroes liberated by northern
men, or entced away from their masters in the
southern States II the line should be established,
there will be a continual drain on the South, and
negroes will be enabled by the aid Of northern
men, TO make their cscaPe that they may be sent
away.
The hour Of one, to which the general debate
/ was limited arrived.
Mr. BAYLY, having reported the bill, made
/ few remarks, in the course Of which he expressed
himself perfectly satisfied that there should be re.
/ trenchment in this branch Of the public service,
\ but he knew that this could be done until
there shall be a thorough sympathy and co-Opcra.
! ton between Congress and the Navy Department.
Gentlemen might commence here the system 20
reduce the appropriations, but he did not know
precisely the point where it ought to be applied.
His hope that there might be reform ia all the
branches OF the Government. The amount in the
navy bill was large, but gentlemen had no idea
what il vout have been but for the rigid scrutiny
and economy Of the Committee Of Ways and
] Means. OCutlcincu hdd only seen what Tue com.
uttce had passed, not the objects OF expenditure
which were rejected.
| Mr.. PHELPS moved 10 reduce the first item in
\ the bill for the pay Of officers md proceeded 10
| show that five tweiths Of IL would 20 10 commits
sion officers who arc not expected 10 be on duty
/ during the next hscal year.
| Mr.. MORSE opposed the amendment, and de-
/ Tended the officers Of the navy, when
The amendment was rejected.
THE LATE TEXAS navy.
Mr.. KAUFMAN offered the following amend
nent, viz:
ProuidSd, That the Prc,idcnt, by and with the ad
vice and consent Of the Senate, be authorized 10 in
corporate into the naval service Of the United States
the surviving officers Of the late Texas navy, who
duly cOrnmissiOncd u the service OF said rcpub
lie al the time Of its annexation b. the United States.
provided that the number Of officers 10 be ncUrpo-
rated shall not exceed one captain six icutenants,
one surgeon, three pursers and two masters in the
| line of promotions and proUided further that the
death, resignation, or dismissal Of any Of the said
officers, the vacancy thereby created shall not be
| filled.
After debate, the amendment was rejected-syes
! co. noes "a.
other amendments were acted on, when the
committee rose,
And the House adjourned,