Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

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been the policy OF the Government means of encoursg-
ing commerce. to establish them wherever il was supposed
commerce might be induced 60. In Massachusetts, ong
nay there were twenty-five collection districts established
duction has taken place In other States.
The object to encourage commerce as much as posi-
bic BY throwing open every port which il was supposed
might attract foreign trade The policy was adopted in
regard Connecticut and Rhode island and indeed all
older States, the above statement shows Now sir there
is which would be of advantage to the c
tend more TO promote the business convenience
California than the passage Of this BILL and the opening
these ports as proposed N cannot detan the Senate by
going deliberately into the which influence my action
and perhaps they have been sufficiently indicated by what
have already said. have lately received letter from
eman in the customhouse at San Francisco which affords
some idea Of the immense commerce Of California He states
that there six hundred ships San Francisco The
trade thus being concentrated there the people are Obliged
heavy expenses for uanshpmen, procure all their foreign
goods at that point Indeed this of the main causes
the heavy expenses Of living in the interior and this evil
would be greatly mtigaed by the opening ports at Saca-
meno city and Stockton, TO which than half of the
population of the State resort for business purposes.
Mr.. DICKINSON. This matter has opened debate
which seems likely to consume good share of the day. and
as there are several most important appropriation bills wait
ing action the question not soon taken shall be under
the necessity of asking that the bill be laid over.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, will say to the Senator
from New York that have not another word to say the
subject wish merely to that Sacramento city and
Stockton be made ports of delivery instead Of ports entry
with a surveyor for each 4
The question then taken the amendment and il was
adopted, follows .-
YEAS-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Berren Bright,
Clarke Clay, Davis of Massachusetts, Davis, of Mississippi
Dawson, Dayton, Dickinson Dodge of Wsconsip, Dodge
Towns reen h9Isr npK tra WaiI
throp, and Yulee-2s s
NAYS--Messrs Atchison, Benton Chase, Douglas Ewing
Foote Fremont Gwn Hale, Hamlin Houston jones' Man
gum, Norris, Pearce, Smith, Soule, and Wales-lS.
Mr.. GWIN. This amendment having been adopted, L
feel constrained to that Benicia be also made port
OF delivery instead of port OF entry There is not onetenh
part the business done Benca that there the other
two places and will confer advantage the country
make port Of entry. Had the other places been retained
should not object to il but to its retention at the price of
their exclusion do most decidedly object therefore move
to make Benca port Of delivery instead Of port Of entry
Mr.. FREMONT. shall vote against the establishment
of port of entry at Benca, and wish to give my
for that consider that all the which operate
in favor of making Benca port of entry ten times
strong in favor of Sacramento and Stockton believe that
the interests of the whole of the interior of the country
que that there should be ports of entry at Sacramento and
Stockton As the Senate has refused to make those places
ports Of entry, shall vote against making Benicia
Mr.. GWIN. There have been upwards Of twelve hun
ded ships entered at the port of San Francisco during the last
twelve months and Of that number only two have been in
ued The bay Of San Francisco the finest sheet Of water
the face Of the earth and, although there upwards of
six hundred vessels lying in that bay now there is ample
for the accommodation of thousand more There
necessity therefore, for port Of entry at Benica There
people trade there the wants of the country do not
require it. Ports Of entry wanted on the waters in the
country above that place.
Much has been said about the difficulty Of approach San
Francisco. But Let say that all these statements which
have been made in regard the difficulty of navigating the
waters there cannot be sustained with regard to its being
much out of the way there gentlemen present who
have navgaed that bay and who know that the distance
the map, looks like eight ten miles, but the actual
distance is than five and have heard
Of solitary merchant vessel going through Raccoon Straits to
Benicia ItIf,
am asked why being in favor Of the establishment Of six
ports of entry the State Of California of which Bencia
proposed be ONE and Of those being rejected
am against Benicia now caDdidy confess that did
agreeto have Benica port Of entry but my object in agree
ing it from any conviction of its necessity, but
merely that the success Of the question the other
ports might not be endangered by any objections Of mine to
this that Senators widely mistaken if
they suppose that Sacramento and Stockton capable
of sustaining themselves ports of entry.
Now it is commended that the ports of entry at San Fran
cisco and Benicia will all necessary purposes Gem
temen 10 forget that at these places goods will first
have to be warehousd and then anshpped from there to
the places named upon the rivers Sacramento and San oa
qun and thus additional expense win be incurred in
the ranshipment of goods Now, contend that there is
necessity for this rans-shpment The maps all show
that there is sufficient depth Of water to allow large vessels
to 20 TO Sacramento and Stockton Captain Rnggold has
stated that he carry thene through Sui
bay, which is above Bencia. We want but little i'm
provemen in removing distractions to make Sacramento
Of the finest navgabe rivers in the world There are
difficulties Of any consequence to be and with
few slight improvements Of that river, could carry
sells of thousand tons burden up to the CITY, would not
take up the time Of the Senate if did not deem my impe
rave duty the people Of California to endeavor by all pro-
per means to have these two ports established.
After long debate the question the adoption of the
amendment taken, as follows
YEAS-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Benton, Cooper, Da
WIS., of Massachusetts, Dodge Of Iowa. Fooe Fremont Gwin
NAYS-Messrs Baldwin, Barnwell, Bell, Berren, Bright,
Butler, Cass Chase, Clarke, Davis of Mississippi Dawson
Dayton, Dickinson Dodge, of Wisconsin, Downs, Ewing
Greene, Hale, Hamln, Hunter, Mason, Seward Shields
Soule, Spruance, Underwood, Wales, Walker, Winthrop
and Yulee-30.
So the amendment was not agreed to.
Mr.. SOULE. Inow move to amend the bill by substitute
ing the word four instead of SIX to conform to
the amendment which makes only four ports Of entry.
The amendment was agreed to. #
Mr.. GWIN. that the counties that set apart
for the districts of Sacramento and San Joaquin be included
in the district Of San Francisco.
Mr.. DAVIS Of Massachusetts,. What will be the effect
of that amendment If understand it. it will be an
maly in legislation these counties to the district of
San Francisco when they belong to the district of Benca
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is question for the
Senate to decide.
Mr. GWIN. The Senator from Massachusetts, agreed to
the report of the Committee Commerce. which put
the San Joaquin district the district Of San Francisco.
Mr.. DAVIS. was not aware of it.
Mr.. GWIN. make this motion for the convenience Of
the trade Of these districts It proposition of which be-
eve the whole population of these districts decidedly in
favor.
Mr.. DAVIS. should like to know what would be the
application and effect of this amendment regards the port
of Benica The amendment which proposed design
ed to include all the country above Benca and all the rivers
and waters above it. If you wish to transfer them to San