The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-06

what part Of this prosso takes away from the govern
msnt Inc power Of enforcing this contract Here is
made some Year, by which these parties
bound 10 build five steamers The government have al
ready extended the time whn which the Two additional
steamers to be built. That contract sui saads This
is only 10 authorize the government TO pay fr the mail
service carried three steamers does not relieve
the contractors from the obligation which they took upon
themselv D. II only authorizes the government 70 pay
tor the service performed By the three steamers, as the
I'VE bad all been built, and only Tor me Prsrnt year
Next we shall be called upon 70 MAKE 40 aa Saa
il the steamers built u w DC mine power Oh 'hs
government 10 demand The fuhlmen OF me contract
apprehend that The argument OF ny-frie9d that Will
mi h N he mower OF the 10 make
tract-for thai The extent OF his aIgumeniihat will
put in their to consiue The old contract as 70
snner.ede he necessity of building the two additional
steamers will be of little avail II may be done il is
now the power OF the government Blu. are we to pre-
n e manifesty pejudlcal 10 the government dol do
moi suppose that the government has agreed dispense
with their building all the steamers they are bound by
their contract to build. Certainly it is not authorized TO
performed for that has nothing DO with the contract
Mr.YULEE will not detan The Senate in reference
TO the construction OF this bill will merely remark
that i IS not as easy in the proceedings OF the Senate
when subject brought suddenly to the mind. TO under
stand II thoroughly and come to sale conclusion, for
the committee, which quietly considers the subject which
weighs the effect and operation Of the provso and which
had the whole subject matter of these contracts under
consideration for the whole session. II is sufficient that
the committee recommend course 10 the Senate II the
Senate choose not to adopt tina, course for them
decide as they please. will only add this fact 10 what
has been stated to the Senate by Others that the Collins
line can perform their service with three ships, that the
contract requires ve and that they will be released from
the necessity OF employing two additional ships upon this
line il this amendment is rejected.
The question being taken upon the amendment, il re-
suited as follows:
YEAS--Messrs Atchison, Badger, Barnwell, Benton,
pays .f kas aso.
and Yul-e--22
Hamn. Jones, Norris. Pratt, Rask Sebastian. Seward,
Smith. Souie, Sturgeon Turney. and UnderWood-2t
Mr. BADGER moved to amend the bill by inserting at
the end Of line 100 the following:
"Pyovidsd, That payment shall be made unless the
contract shall be substantially complied WITH according
its true spirit and meaning
\ MIR. DICKINSON That raises the whole question
Il s2 Il S'si money Be paid when ,s
want 70 know it. ask the yeas and nays upon the
MI DAWSON. On his seat, There will be no objeo
Mr.. DICKINSON. There is just this objection to ii
line in the United States of America
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. DOWNS. As understand IT, 100000 are given
annually to the owners OF these vessels TO carry the
mails; and they agreed within given time TO provide
five steam vessels That time has already passed when
those vessels should have been built Now, desire to
know from any gsnemas upon this aoST whether at
the Post Office Conmitteewhether the fact is that
but three havesbeen built and but of them accepted
My information is that one Of the vessels has been
hired.
Mr. PRATT Will the senator permit me to explain
By The original contract. they TO build 1--WE steamers
fiji for steamers and The government 10 have the
privilege OF taking them steamers, ii they should
be required. They built two under that con-
tract BY the original contract they were 10 build five
steamers OF certain amount OF tonnage They have built
two equal in tonnage to the whole five they had
contracted to build, and they have purchased steamer
in addition. With these three steamers they have dis
charged all the mail service required by the contract
ginally entered into. Now, the senator from Georgia
will perceive that the amendment of the senator from
North Carolina is equivalent 10 striking out the whole
appropriation Tor this mail service; for every knows
has been stated here and gain, that the
original contract has not been complied with; while the
amendment provides that pay uent shall be made
less il has been complied with We all know that in
stead of five steamers, they have built but two, and
bought one, which makes but three although they have
larger amount OF tonnage than the whole five were TO
have had under the contract With these three steamers
they have discharged all the mail service originally slip
ulaied for. The amendment strikes out all compensa-
ton, because is clear that the contract has not been
complied with.
MI. DICKINSON will occupy no time. shall
read briefly from what The Committee on the Pos, Office
and Post Roads. who have charge OF this business say
about it. They say;
MIR. RUSK. will not consume the time OF the Sen.
ate by investigating this subject but il is proceeding
hazardous in the extreme The Naval Committee, in
the first place, attempt to extend these nracts two
years longer than they now authorized to be ex-
tended. The next step is require literal and strict
compliance with the OF the contract which every.
body knows has not been performed and been 80
ported 10 the Senate regard this amendment as deci.
sve OF the system altogether One OF the lnesihat of
New York and Panama-have better ships upon the
line than contracted for They have not the num-
ber the senator from Georgia would have discovered
IL he had taken the trouble TO read the report of the Com
mittee the Post Office aGe Post Roads Prior to the
establishment OF that line, there a regular line of
British mail steamers under contract system similar
that adopted BY the United States, visiting these points
and the southern portion OF this country monthly. II
this line had not been established by the government the
result would have been that al heme OF the acquisition
OF California the British masteamers would have taken
possession Of The transportation OF the mail between the
different ports of the United States they have had pos
session of the transportation of the mail between the
United States and Mexico all the time II ii is OBJ
Jet to break down this systemic destroy these
tracts--and If is object to transfer the carrying
trade, mail service and all, British steamers, and tt
have that done upon your whole southern shore, ther
vote for this amendment for that will be its effect
Mr. BADGER. II my friend will allow me TO inter
rupt him moment, rather than 10 proong discussion
this period Of the session, ask leave withdraw hs
amendment
The amendment, was accordingly withdrawn
THE BousTY.LASD BILL
"A message was received from the House returning tn,
have been engaged in the military service OF the Untes
with the second and SIKH amendments Of the Senate
said bill.
The Senate proceeded TO consider said amendments
81 lzll