The daily union., 1852-09-16

ne quesuon 49, Whether IN order 10 make The light
house system what At should bean effective one-it is
10 establish board 10 control the whole In
my Judgment Is necessary, and therefore, although
there lnay be defects in the bill disposed to vote Tor
the organization OF that board Ii will be subject to re-
vision al The next session OF Congress am unwilling
that the subject should 20 the next session upon
the assertion OF senators that they will bring IN perfect
system. have heard that remark made win re-
gard 10 other things which have been introduced nlo The
Senate anxious that the first step should be taken
now 10 make the sysIem an effective one Ana 10 oihei
TO make il eo you must have some persons al s head
who can give their personal attention 10 H. and who
have sufficient ability 10 look into the whole II Is for
that desire that the board shall be established
Mr. HOUSTON. must say that until measure oil
80 much importance, involving the expenditure OF so
much money is recommended by committee, am un
willing 70 90 for IT. ! care not for the OPINION OF any
board whatever, for its action, Tor am satisfied, from
the best information which have been able TO obtain
upon this subject that the expenditure will not be less
than 40O0o00, and il will be coatinued and increased
expense to the nation II the lights sufficient
operate beacons TO vessels far the curvature
OF the earth does not interfere with them,
sy for any improvement will never vote for meas
UNIVERSAL in which many are interested, and
which comes forward in such manner not TO permit
10 discuss or TO investigate il on this floor II II were
miner matter, thrust upon us at this moment, without
discussion time for reflection, might be willing
through courtesy, to leave to others and 70 permit y TO
pass; but cannot support, or permit without The hn-
drsnce Of my vote. any Legislation oi hs character una.
involves millions, when know what Influences out OF
the house pressed upon senators TO rush It through
under the present pressure and haste Of circumstance
Il, l
Texas that no outside influence has controlled my vote.
Mr.. HOUSTON. The senator was not In my mind
when made the remark will assure him that made
MI. WELLER The only thing which governs me
is the report OF the board of officers who have been
ected 10 examine into he subject because they were
supposed to understand il aud presume they do under
stand il better than do. II is for that reason that go
with them
Mr. CASS. Since addressed the Senate before /
have conyersed with a gentleman here--a member OF
Anua he tel me-
with great and with great caution He likewise
moved another difficulty in my mind, as had not read
the bill. lie states that the members OF the board,
whether those from civil life those from the army
and navy. not to receive cent That removes
great difficulty IL therefore. the vote is taken now,
M Mr.. DESAUSSURE. There are SO few Of us here.
that the opinion OF each senator may be OF
quence; and. as have paid some attention 10 the sub
jec is proper Perhaps that should state the ground
% upon which | shall give my vote 81
| am decidedly in favor Of the sections OF the bill
which il is proposed 10 strike out and say so because
have examined them. They have been carefully pre-
pared. although their provisions may be defective All
new systems, however, defective and require TO be
improved after time and experience have shown where
the defects exist. | have no doubt that there may
be defects in this scheme. But it is new under
taking il is new enterprise How was il gotten up BY
the of 1851 you authorized lighthouse board TO be
appointed That board appointed, and was composed
Of scientific gentlemen, Of them officers of dstinc-
tion in The army and navy After very elaborate
animation the result Of which have somewhat care
which they have come which is that the present system
isessentiay defective. They show you the fact that the
distribution of the lights imperfect and unequal that
parts OF the cOasttO wits at the Norh-here is
an accumulation OF lights far beyond what the exigen-
cies of the demand; much are they accumu-
lated in places that they are nuisance 10 the navi
gator instead OF beneht and great many OF them are
defective At the South there far ess proportion OF
lights than al the North They ought certainly to be in
the proportion in the South at the North and in
paris there ought to be greater accumulation.
But that u sectional question No question be
made that because the North has OCCASION in
point of fact to use the lights at the South as much
those their own coast II is their commerce. their
ships that navigate along that coast and il is important to
them, escape shipwreck, TO have the coast properly
lighted.
There is one point of importance which is developed
by the report of that board In parts of the
try people have been anxious to forward and
nsst the necessity of having lights at different points,
and by urging H. have procured lighthouses TO be es
tablished in neighborhoods where there not much
occasion for them. good deal of money has been
pended in that way thai need not have been expended
That of course has not applied TO all sections Of the
country.
We need reform, and an examination of that book will
demonstrate IT, Gentlemen cay they have not read the
upon 10 act upon the subject they ought TO be prepared
could very well excuse my friend from Massachusetts
if he had not carefully examnedit.
Mr.. DESAUSSURE. But be has examined IL.
could very well him If he had not, because
know he isa very abooas senator and bis hands have
with great care, and 10 the great sausacon of the Sen
ate the steamboat bill. But other senators have
said that they have not examined the book. The
tor from Florida has not had il in his power To do
The evidence has been before great while regret il
has NOT been examined, for il Is my fm conviction that
il senators had examined the testimony, eaboraey
prepared and the result OF which has been before
by the board which appointed, they would all have
to the conclusion that have io,hat this sub
ject requires be acted upon and that promptly and that
thai board has pointed out the proper mode OF proceed
ing though the plan which they suggest may be full Of
defects.
regret 10 say that have not to the same con-
cuson with the from Massachusetts. Instead OF
there being greater expenses entied upon BY the
ten Ibelieve that BY il you will greatly dimsh the
number Of lights in parts OF the county, instead
OF increasing them. And although there may be an n-
in Other parts, yet upon the whole, have come
TO the conclusion that there will be economy the
system which the board recommend ! have exam.
ined the difference between the doptric light and the
fectors II is true, the refectors may in some
With that alteration, understand they are OF superior
character and may the purpose instead Of the
len,Icular light But the doprc light upon The whole,
think is the best. may be tba, twill be the most
pensive al The outset. Lut is not The most expensive in
The end The first cost may be expensive, when YOU
se up and establish OF these lights. As the
French cay, "Ced k premier pas qta oontt" is the
frs, step which costs Alter that the expense is com
paratlvsly small .
The system now presented to has been elaboratey
prepared the House in The bill which they have pre-
scented TO u.s. regret that no committee oi the Senate
has examined it carefully The House has adopted it
upon testimony which you yourselves directed TO be pre-
pared have examined il, and my judgment is satisfied
that their ayslem Ia right, and that II will be the cheap
- L.t. t..H - Lxt.Za l.ls al. al