The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-22

anticipate ae least objection 10 its being sanctioned by
the vote OF The Senate, therefore submit II without
further remarks ..4Z ..e
Mr. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts, asked for the reading
OF the eighth section stood before hls amendment
was proposed tHHa..
The section read.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, do not myself see
why the substance OF that amendment rs not very we'll
Ii had appeared that the 9Th section defective
but should be rather sorry 10 the limited
one year believe all the contracts OF the Office are
generally made Tor four years, and should much prefer
tina, the amendment would 80 stand allow the
tracts 10 last fonr years instead OF year There may
be dhculty in making arangem for a single
year. or from year to year; and think il would place
the department under some embarrassment, and they
would be less likely To get favorable than IL they
had lillie longer period 10 contract Tor The general
regulation Tor the period OF is four years and
would make this section conform 10 that general regu'
lation.
Mr.. SOULE The honorable senator sure, does
not mean 10 assign such duration 10 the contracts To be
entered into under this section will render unavailable
to the government and the country such facilities as
may be created through the opening OF routes Tor
speeder and cheaper transportation OF the mail speed
and economy the great objects which ought TO be
looked the organization OF the mail service, and the
term proposed by the honorable senator may at very
distant day be serious lmpedment TO either. Under
present arrangements II takes The mail, If an well in.
formed upwards OF thirty days to go from New York
San Francisco. Ii there be anything reIable--and am
there is much TO be relied uponn the prospect held
out to by the about to be cut through tie
sthmus, the distance may be SO lar shortened
exceed seventeen days OF travel Now, unless provision
be made in this bill through which the department shall be
required 10 limit the time of its contracts so as 10 be
bled TO fom new and more advantageous ones should
there be occasion for them, ii may out that, while
we shall be paying enormous amounts OF money Tor the
transportation OF our mall the mail matter will seek the
shortest route, and cut lis way through speedie con-
veyance.
The government of Mexico, as am informed has
lately made grant OF privilege 10 American citizen
for carrying mails from Vera Cruz 10 Acapulco The
Tehuantepec road is being surveyed and in all proba
bility will be opened within less than ten months 10
travellers. Do 10 etter ourselves by long
tracts, and drain the treasury with exuavagan ex-
penditares, when we have almost within reach the
period when we must be provided with such OF
communication will shorten the distance our mails
have al present To by fully third, and when
will be our power to make the disbursements OF the
treasury lighter IN corresponding ratio The amend
ment changes nothing IN the existing contracts they
will OF course run their full term. But would it be pru
dent IN 10 allow those that may be made hereafter
60 beyond the probable time within which il likely
that they can be superseded by ones, comforting
greater ady n9 and securing greater speed
Mr. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts,. Mr.. President, be-
eve that the government, in making contracts
to ITSELF the night, upon certain contingencies,
OF vacating these contracts That. J understand, is a
condition contained In all the contracts that made
but did not propose that the department, should be
limited to four years their contracts, any further than
this: II might be lett to make contract for shorter
period, it, In their discretion, the public interest is most
promoted but should not bind the government beyond
period Of four years That would leave II discretion.
airy with the department all the contingencies
suggested by the senator from Louisiana.
had, however, in my mind another which the
honorable senator has referred TO- and rather look
ing to memorial which presented here few days ago
from The resident American merchants in Valparaiso
They represent that they might have mail through the
line OF English steamers that established
from Panama along the coast oil South America, far
south as Valparaiso, and that for reasonable com
pensation, bags might be taken from the American mails
that arrive at Panama. to be delivered along that
al various points where people have occasion TO send
correspondence and these vessels their could
take these bags, which were made up there, they
would touch al these ports the execution OF their
contracts II IS understood by them believe, that these
mails can be transported from the United States, by the
way Of Panama along this ine probably for the amount
OF postage which would be realized on the letters which
would De sent out by an arrangement OF the description
to which have referred.
had another matter in view, also supposed that the
Post Othce Department might hnd convenient to the
people OF the country to establish mail from point
on the Pacific to the Sandwich Islands. We have vast
great deal OF trade with them. We have great inter
communication with that portion OF the world, and this
would be very important point Ii would be step
towards what believe they deem San Francisco very
advisable it is step towards extending mail to con.
tnue TO Canton, or Hong Kong, other point IN
the domiDons OF China. had my mind rather directed
to thai consideration. would wish 10 cloihe the de-
partment with discretionary powers accomplish these
objects, provided they could be accomplished upon rea
sonstle and just terms believe that this better econ
omy than rs to undertake to build and establish line
OF steamers as can be done for small portion OF the
money required for that operation. | do not propose,
when am clothing the department with this power TO
make contracts of the that the bill proposes-hat
they make any OF those large contracts which have
been entered into to transport the mails from this country
to Europe, and giving such exravagant OF
But u upon moderate terms they find some line of packets
established between some point on the Pacific and
the Sandwich Islands they may be authorized
ior the iransmisson OF the mail by these packets and
also II they find line OF packets either foreign or Amer.
ican running along the coast of South America, and for
good and reasonable TERMS without burdening the de-
parfmen they make contract for the transmission OF
the mail along the coast, leaving bags far south as
Valparaiso. suppose that would be very desirable
object
These the considerations which bad in my mind.
But do not think ii desirable that the department SHOULD
have power TO extend any contract beyond four years.
taking the common limit which is applied to contracts
which they make | would limit it, then; but | would
not take away The discretion OF limiting 10 shorter
period, provided the judgment OF the department should
sanction such a