The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-09-28

rine. Unless, he said, it was done, the navy would
in case Of war, be unequal ~ a contest even with
the steam mercantile marine offorrign governments
when properly armed. He was in favor Of estab-
fishing line Of mail steamers 10 Africa, and thus
to open up commerce with that country, and break
up the slave trade in more etf-ctua manner than
it done by the naval system.
Mr. Green then spoke an hour in favor OF re-
trenchment and reform in the navy. He was for
checking and breaking mp the system Of mail steam
ers He showed that the expenditure out of the
public treasury for such service amounted to the
enormous sum Of 81, los, O00 and that there was no
corresponding good resulting from he expenditure.
He argued that, although the government had the
right to purchase for its use, from the contractor,
these steamers, yet there hing which pre-
vented the owners of these steamers from selling
them to any foreign government; at the very time
too, when there might be great necessity for their
purchase by the United States. Nav the very con.
tractors might be English capitalists no would be
lndisposed in certain jnncture to do any thing TO
The advantage of the United States. He went on to
argue that the model upon which these mail steam
ers was consrucred-being for fast saers-was
unfit for war steamers in other words that if they
wanted good war steamers, they could not expect
fast saIl-rs.
The Committee then rose, and resolution was
adopted to close debate on the bill tomorrow, at
o'clnck.
Mr. Bayly, from the committee conference on
the part OF the House upon the dsagreeing votes
Of the two Houses the bill making approprla-
ton to supply deficiency in the pay and mileage
OF members stated that the question OF controversy
is this The House adopted an amendment limiting
the mileage Of California members to $1,000, going
and coming. The Senate amended it so that these
members shall be paid under the existing law fix
ing the mileage of Senators and Representatives,
and also providing that their per diem shall com
mence from the day on which the constitution oil
California presented.
" hat he - tba
House had retrospective action upon the Cafor-
MIA members alone. He believed that the House
wrong, especially they had provided in the
civil and diplomatic bill provision fixing prospect
lively the mileage Of all the Senators and Representa-
tives. He believed that the California members were
entitled to draw their pay--some S40O0-under the
general law regulating mileage. He therefore
moved that the House recede from its amendment.
Mr.. Thompson, of Mississippi, was for making
a fight upon this amendment, with view to check
what he considered the overbearing action Of the
Senate.
taken on the motion of Mr.. Bayly, and the House
receded from its amendment.
On motion by Mr.. Featherston the House again
resolved itself into committee of the whole, and
resumed the consideration Of the Naval Appropria-
ton Bill.
Mr.. Venable occupied the floor He made a
speech in favor of retrenchment in the navy and
also of severng any connection by the govern
ment with private enterprises, such as the mail
steamer service.
He was rather in favor of the government build
ing up If necessary, its own navy and of keeping
it under its own control. He utterly opposed
to government regulating controlling private en-
terprise He was he said, a free trader to the
fullest extent OF the term. He considered govern
ment at any rate great evil and he was for having
as little of it as possible. Especially was he
opposed to accumulation of centralizing power,
f.1.A, ina IL,
with private enterprises.
Mr.. Phelps, who next took the floor, argued that
the foreign mail service a system of favoritism
and speculation, as at present administered He
went on to show that the annual Appropriation fol
the foreign mail service, by the contracts nov
made, 81 ,329 00O-and for which the con
tractors are to keep in service eighteen steamers
He also maintained that not OF these lines paic
and that they were, therefore, expense upoG
| the common treasury of the nation for the sole
| benefit OF the contractors.
Mr.. McMullen obtained the floor. On his mo
ton the committee rose, and the House adjourned
"X," of the Baltimore Sun, writes as follow
| from Washington on the 18th
"TAe Ebony line OF steamers was discussed thi
morning, and the question asked, where these mai
steamers will stop? How many more lines will
be established etc. The answer is-never as lon.
as we are increasing trade and productions
/ anu consequently our sulppiHS never as long a.
| we keep adding to our possessions two oceans
| never, as long other nations increase their ma
vles and steam fleet; never long as chan
| neIs OF wealth are to be explored and new State
added to contederacy; never as long as w
| are growing In population, civilization, wealth an
| refinement. The government of course, canno
| create steam navies without beneitting ship build
ers; neither can it add TO its public buildings with
| out benetittng the architects.
| The United States by nature invited
| become the first maritime nation of the world
they have the largest sea-coast of any country
the world and are consequently most exposed
attacks from other maritime powers, and yet Il
question is asked whether it is proper for us
increase our navy and steamships! | dislike
see Eastern members vote on principles again
Western land and railroad bills and equally disliI
to see Western members oppose projects of steal
navigation and commerce. All boats cannot b
built on the high-Pressure principle, and all cannc
| be built on the low-pressure There must
mutual compensation of interests between tn
different parts of the Union"
Ion," Washington correspondent of the sam
paper, says:
"A line of powerful steamers will next year b
established by the aid of the government, bttwee
California and China and Japan and commerc
will thus spring up which will render necessar
and profitable railroad from the Mississippi
| the Pacific.
The public will be glad to learn that the Ser
ate agreed 10 the proposition TO enlarge the Gap
| toll. The plan will be an extension of IA wing mort
and another south. A Senate chamber which WI
afford an opportunity to the public to attend III
debates OF that body, has long been desired.
The government will undertake no new bull,
ings at present, except the improvement of the cap
toll, and the partial extension of the patent. otlir
In the mean time, the public archives are, for tn
most part, very insecure, and the only fire proof ed
flee in the city is not only not owned, though occ
pied, by the government, but may at any lime
converted to private purposes, and the governme
be compelled 10 look up rat-holes for their office