The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-02


regulations of the Post Office Department. so that the de-
parment may advertise for and enter into them
now does with all interior mails throughout the
country The BILL if thus amended will NEE, my views
and receive my But ii il remain in lis present form
ALL or almost all of the evils find in the system OF ocean
mails, OF which must be regarded as part will require
me to vote against it,
Mr. President, before the system OF ocean mail steam
ers, OF which we have had some experience. was
beg great advantages great benefits great superiority
all other plans, were predicted Of it. and promised
for H. Sir was not able in advance to see that these
promises wonld be realized did not then believe they
woaldb be- The result after several years experience and
observation, has not removed my doubts-has not
changed my belief. But have seen mainly what ex
peced; and that's large expenditures Of money by the
government for the benefit OF individuals and associa
tions Of individuals, who have been favored with mo-
nopoy OF the contracts, and bonus TO take them. with
out the chance OF that benefit 10 the governmental
the way OF saving money which might have been de-
rieved from competition And have these mails been
carried any better, more expedtously regularly
than is fair 10 suppose they would have been under con-
tracts lei and entered into in the usual way LOOK,
sir at mail system upon the land and upon our inland
waters All the service under that system is performed
by contract entered into after regular periodical adyer
tiseEent, and open to unrestricted competition En-
gaging in that competition Gnd almost nnmberess
individuals competent 10 efficient performance oil The
undertaking. and prepared with ample security Tor their
fidelity To the lowest and best bidders these contracts
awarded. And we find that the service thus under
taken, (wherever the supervising authority exercises
due yigilance,) is well performed; and that, too al
though under The influence of this free compeihon the
prices paid for the service grow less and less in amount
every succeeding year apprehend---indeed am sure
that an inspection Of The bids OF every annual letting OF
the mail service will show that the prices paid are re-
duced every year And there is reason for it. The es
tabshmenl Of regular and wellconducled mail line is
source OF profit TO the contractor, not 10 the amount OF
the compensation from the government alone. but also
from travel if on the land, and from both travel and
freight, if on the water. Multiplying his sources OF
profit he is enabled, and enlightened sefinerest n-
duces him. 10 reduce the rate OF charging from each In
this way while the increase Of travel and transportation
Of freight is almost ncaculable upon well conducted
mail line find the reduction in the rates OF bids for
mail contracts both certain and decided every year.
Why, then, shall we not have the advantages, on the
score of economy, in our system OF mail service upon
the sea. as well as upon The land and our rivers Sir
repeat have been, and unable 10 see the advantages
of this system the other have described am in
favor OF adherng TO the that works well at home,
Tor would, with some slight notifications OF detaa un
less those who advocate different one Tor our foreign
mail service can show its superiority This they have
not yet done. Until they DO. shall vote against II,
whatever bill il may come up
he considerations presented by the senator rom LOUIS
lana in favor of this line OF communication commend
themselves 10 my favor most strongly, not only from the
general advantages ia commercial point OF view to the
whole country but his remarks appeal and with no little
force, TO that sectional feeling from which man is
urey free, and OF which perhaps, have much any
one. tie pointed out the advantages which would accrue
from II directly TO the southern portion OF this con-
federacy OF which, am OF the representatives
know but too we and have 10 feel but too strong
ly how wel-foundedis all he said on that sabiecl aud
also OF all the senator from Texas MIR RusK] said OF
the inequality, far OF The operation OF this syslem
But, sir, the fault is IN the system ITSELF Such asysiem
mus necessarily be unequal IN ITS operaon-and ~ hat
lies the point and force OF my objection TO this bill
for there Disgusting the fact that IT is part essen
tlaly-as il will certainly be in practical operationof
the s. stem oppose -
Senator'S express great solictude for the protection Of
the lives OF passengers these steamers that carry
our mails and think necessary TO adopt such system
this in which the size and kind o vessels shall be
prescribed as indispensable great and desirable objects
The sentiment is a good II coulmends itself alike
and with equal force feelings and 10 our interest
But, sir, why should their eyes, and their sympahes,
and their solclude, all be turned IN one direction, and
all towards the ocean, Are not the millions OF our peo
pie who travel by steam, and along our mail lines, upon
our great rivers and great lakes, equally deserving OF
sympathy and sociiude and the protecting care oil this
government when it engages IN legislation and heavy ap
preparations OF money for the protection OF human hie
Sir, Join Them in the sentiments OF sympathy and soie
tnde this subject they strongly MANIFEST but II
they expect me 10 give them "maieria AID IN us pac-
teal manifestation they must JON me also IN extending
il TO my people, well their own, by system Of
Legislation which shall be general IN its principles, and
equal in its operation over all.
Now. sir the importance OF the proposed line OF
which the senator from Louisiana Mr.. SouLEl has so
well spoken. and in respect 10 which so fully agree with
him. undertake TO say, and no successfully
troveI that the line OF mail communication along the
Mississippi valley is far more important, care not in
what relation YOU estimate twheiher ia length OF route,
in amount OF travel, or in value OF commerce. Indeed,
IN all these respects the importance and interest OF the
great valley very far exceed our whole Atlantic com
merce But on The Atlantic, for fewer people, and Tor a
smaller commerce, we are expeudng millions, by sys.
TEN OF monopoles from which wealthy capitalists are
deriving the chief benefit while the greatest o MYERS,
greater for us even that the ocean, Tor people, and
greater commerce, we are giving no care, no attention,
projections, no facilities, and scarcely recognliion IN
the matter OF either mails or commerce or navigation.
Through this whole vaIleyat any rate from Louisville,
on the Ohio, and from ST. LOUIS, on the Mississippi 10
New Oreans-there Is not single mail lne-not one
not even by the ordinary system OF contract Both
those streams wherever navgabe, are, by tne general
law, "mail routes !" bu, from Louisville and 81 Louis,
downwards TO The ocean, there Is not single mail
ue-no. sir, not one This may strike some senators
with surprise for indeed Il is surprising stale o things
but is true Instead OF giving line as other parts
OF the country have the transportation OF our mails along
that great thorougbiare upwards and downwards over
thousands of miles, made weekly or daily Iobbng out
by at the several towns along the ver and on boats
OF any kind that may chance 10 oer. Such II the system
with which put of and have been forced 10 put
up with for years. sysem-or rather want oil sys.
em--from which sensible man could expect anything
better than inegulary and dssppoinlmens, and which
proves even worse results than the least sangulne
could have anticipated In consequence OF this wretch
ed state OF things have complaints IRON all quarters
OF the West-for all interested in the business OF the
great ihorousharc, and all are aggeved at ITS embar.
rassment On our tables the resolutions OF the
legislature OF Tennessee, pointing out the evils under
which all suffer, protesting against Their continuance,
and asking for that relief which II is our duty to grant
And what sir is the kind and amount OF relief thus ask
ed for Not that shall engage IN any new system OF
legislation not that shall make any special congress
sona contracts not that shall build upany rich
vessels in which mails may be carried, engage to
pay extravagant specific sums OF money for the ser
vice no, sir, none OF this. The request is sim.
ply that you will place on the same footing with
other interior sections OF the country, under the gen.
eral law for the transportation Of The mails, upon
| ,Inu A.nsk L-.lx