The republic., 1851-02-20

7 over OtIleTB,
other contractors; but, he repeated, We are invited
TO build ships with which nerchants nay carry on
the trade Of the world. 1t is a thouGrHd furlongs
ahead of other propositions unless it b scheme Of
| the same kind not yet presented. He had voted,
and would continue TO vote, 70 give liberal dona-
tions and suns OF money for the lines between New
York and Liverpool. snd between other ports and
foreign countries, where foreign countries have
nations Of Europe establish lines between our
tablished lines He could well understand, If the
coast and their own, and have armed steamers
ready to act on the offensive, there may be pro-
priety in asserting the war power to establish COM
petition. In view of this, President Polk invited
competition with the Cunard line, and the carriage
| Of post Office matter was introduced Incl
| dent, but the judgment and policy of the ad-
| ministration was TO refer the contracts TO the
Navy Department, as an incident to the naval
power and material And though we have i'm
| perfectly accomplished our purpose, and con-
tracts do exist yet 80 long as the contracts are
executed in good faith, he, for one, was willing TO
stand by the contracts and to sustain them, and to
| maintain the lines which have been established,
| against the world if need be. He was quite will
ing to see the Government nterpose to protect our
citizens against monopolics by Great Britain,
France, and other countries. One of the lines pro-
vided for by the bill proposes to go from the Chesa
| peake bay. He much interested as any man
! in this bay He represented the principal COM
the measure. Il shield to the monopoly on
the Pacific, while referring to the Atlantic. The
material 10, that the United States Govern
ment should build ships for Thompson and his as
i
fornia. This is the sum and substance Of the mea-
sure Of the Committee Naval Affairs. In view
Of the excitement of the House the construction
and non- user Of doubtful powers-he found that this
proposition met with extraordinary favor.
MIR. BAYLY inquired, is there any doubt about
the power to support and maintain navy?
Mr.. McLANE was thankful that his friend from
Virginia assumes to defend the proposition. He
had no idea that the gentleman would be found
| an advocate of this scheme, though he had heard
no vote of his ON this occasion: II never entered
sv.fo ntvAt hat lima ha
lished from the Chesapeake, gentlemen would be
found stretching the power Of this Government to
enable PhiladelPhia merchants to establish lines to
command the trado of tho Pacific. His friend on
his left (Mr. McMBLLEN) had regarded him a. =
tiptop. No. l Democrat, until he found him (Mr.
McLANE) voting for rivers and harbors; and he
could have no idea that his friend would be found
| voting for this bill.
Mr.. BAYLY said that he never gave vote he
was not prepared to explain, here or elsewhere.
should NOT take up the time e House to defend
the table
MIR. MoIANE said that he had been entrusted
with a memorial, which he had been requested to
present, from merchants of Baltimore-commercial
men-to establish line, he believed, to Europe,
Rio, and China. 1t, however, never entered into
build their ships They memorialixe Congress, and
say they purpose To build certain ships and to
establish line Of communication to Europe, China
and Rio, and they ask, what everybody asks, to
carry the mails and receive pay for the service.
They are willing to take the price which, in the
Judgment and discretion Of Congress, il is WORTH
and they would look with establishment their
representative if he should vote to establish mo.
| nOpoly on the Pacific, and If his vote could be
bought with two steamers out Of the six to from
Norfolk.
Mr.. MEADE wished the gentleman to tell him
the real difference between paying three times the
amount the mail service is worth to build mail
| steamers, to ply between New York and Europe,
and that OF paying the amount the vessels
| worth
Mr. McLANE would answer with great pleasure.
Let him understand that this is the price paid, not
as an equivalent for carrying the mails from New
York to Liverpool. but three times the equivalent
4 to keep up line Of public vcssels.
| Mr. McCLERNAND. The gentleman from vir-
| ginia (Mr. MEADE) thinks that We have the right
to advance sums Of money TO contractors TO provide
! for transporting the mails of the United States; in
other words, that we pay them, and pay them when
we advance money that they may build ships to
transport the mails. II the gentleman is candid.
ask him what consistency there is in taking this
view, and the refusal to grant land for constructing
railroads, when those who construct them bind
| themselves to transport the mails?
| Mr. MEADE would tell the gentleman that, if
| the Government grant quantity Of land for car
rying the mails along railroad it is to obtain the
value Of the services but if under the pretence Of
| carrying the mails, the Government grants five
times more than the service is worth, it s a direct
appropriation for the construction of the road. In
me same way, the payment OF ivo times the worth
| OF the service Of carrying the mails from New York
TO Liverpool is y direct payment to carry the mails
| to the exclusion of others.
Mr.. MoCLERNAND. 1t is mere pretence.
MIR. MEADE said he could and would explain,
Mr. MoLANE replied to the gentleman; and
when he had concluded his remarks, the morning
| The House went into Committee of the Whole
ON the state of the Union, (Mr. McCLERSANp in
the chair,) and took up
| THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
The amendments sent from the Senate were dis
cussed, and subsequently agreed to, by the House,
| with notifications.
THE WEST POINT ACADEMY BILL
was considered in committee; pending an amend
Mr.. MORSE moved that the committee risc
The vote was taken, and resulted-yeas 10, nays
| ~. No quorum.
At the request Of several, Mr. MoRsr withdrew
| the motion; saying that he going to dinner.
Ut was now four o'clock.)
/ Mr. STANLY. wish the chairman of the Com
mlttee OF Ways and Means to take notice that the
nineteen votes in favor Of rising were by gentlemen
on the Democratic side, not one Wing.
| Mr.. BAYLY. ! can't help that.
| The CLERK had begun to call the rol-the rule
| curing this to be done-when quorum failed to
vote in committee
Mr.. BURT said that the motion to rise had been
Withdrawn before the call was commenced
| The CHAIRMAN repliedit il had been ascert aimed
| that there was not quorum present.
Mr. BURT said that the motion was one simply
| to rise, and did not require quorum to vote.
| However. the roll was called, and the committee
rose, when the Chairman reported the number of
nbsentees.
Mr.. McGAUGHEY moved that the House ad
journ.
And, at ten minutes past O'Clock, the motion
prevailed.
ARRIVAL OF SToREsHIP RELKr.-The United
States storeship Relief, arrived on Tuesday morn
ing at New York, from Rio Janero, after passage
OF fifty days. The following is list OF her officers
Lieut.. Com. BENZ. J. Totten. Passed Midship-
| men-Alphonse Barbot, Horace N. Crabb, Wm
Van Wyck. A. w. Johnson. Passed Assistant
surgeon-George Maulsby. Purser-J B. Ritten
house. Captains Clerk--F. Barbarin. The Relief
brings as passengers Midshipman Thos. II. LOCKER,
bearer Of dispatches from the American minister at