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

protection, IL may be, strand am among those who
fondy entertain the hope-iha may not the day
when dncui!ies may cloud the horizon and throw us
into state OF with any foreign nation but still
not the province OF statesman provide for such
unsencies! And while not required TO sacrifice
anything for the requirement which is imposed upon
those who may choose undertake the running OF this
inc why should give up the advantage OF being able
IN certain emergencies avail ourselves OF such vessels
and to turn them to the defence OF the country These
are the considerations which prompted 10 require that
the vessels should be OF the burden mentioned in the bill
Mr.. RUSK: The suggestion OF the honorable senator
from is TO put this np TO the lowest bidder
irrespective OF the sort OF vessel in which il is to be
RED Ii this be done il will not receive my support
would any of those steam lines receive my support upon
proposition OF that description This is OF character
responding with great deal OF the legislation Of this
country, and differing altogether from that OF other couI
ies since the discovery aud of seam. We regard
economy TO the last dime in money, but lavish as
we can be in human life. We let these contracts at the
lowest rate they be procured, and send specula-
tors in rotten huls upon the water when the result would
be Just as it was the other day al the mouth OF the Co
umbia nveri down would 10 the vessel. and a large
number OF passengers would be lost 1t is of the
parts OF this system that have literally security for
human hie so lar as steam navigation Is concerned II
ID true thai we have staute-b book law but II
amounts 10 nothing. 1t provides remedy Ii 10 just
the same as ii that statute not there. The English
government have sufficient guards to prevent these dis
asers But law does not give sufficient security that
human lives upon these vessels safe and the only
benefit which this system has been to the principal
one at least, and the only which compensates Tor
vice. in the fact that we have afoat upon the ocean
vessels in which men 70 with perfect safety. be-
eye that in OF these contracts at all has an accident
happened by which human life ha been lost and II has
been because they required make their vessels of
sufficient strength LII we 10 carry this system al
all, let US at least be careful that, while saving
money, we do not admit in this way plan where we
may cause a destruction oi human life.
With regard 10 this proposition, we are in the mmedi-
ne vicinity OF Mexico-a nation with population num-
bering eight mons--a consuming people and yet such
have the honorable senator says. commerce with that
nation only The amount Of about 2 900 0oO and scarcely
any intercourse Sir, have much intercourse with
China as we have with Mexico This proposition asks
that you shall put in communication with OF the ports
OF Mexico port OF your own county, which furnish
es you one-ha the productions for export in the COM
merce of the coun,ry and il only seeks TO appropriate
800, 600 for that object The whole country will be
benefited more than that have sort OF doubt that
all the honorable senator from Louisiana has said IN
gard 10 il will be verified In less than year after the
line goes into operation, have doubt that the mail
matter will more than pay the expense have no sort
OF doubt OF It, IL New Orleans, that section OF the
country alone 10 be benefited by communication and
commerce with Mexico Not al all, They will be but
little benefited by it, Mexico will consume the manu-
facures o the northern and oil the eastern portion OF the
country and will get in return lis bullion Who, then,
is TO be benefited by II!
know it is said that particular locality or section
procure encouragement for lis commerce and trans
pofalion OF It's mails. and everything OF that SORT that
other localities sections cannot and shall regard the
vote upon this bill as in some measure going TO show
encourage those who in prosperity and leave other
sections OF the country alone.
The benefits OF this government should be extended all
the country and mol be confined 10 any particular poT
lion OF IT, Why, sir, New Orleans itself iurnishes-as
have said beore-abou one hall OF your exports. And
where have you foreign mail there Where is there
dollar oil the money OF this government invested TO
courage that commerce, which is in fact the commerce
which brings back 10 you the means OF meeting the
balance OF trade against you There is none, sir. It
TO that there can be question upon the pro-
priey OF adopting this measure.
Mr.. DAVIS ! do not think the honorable senator
from Texas Mr. RUsKl quite understood the view which
held upon this question In the fret place. sir, think
the honorable himself will hardly question that
there may be other and suitable means or transpora
lion OF the mails obtained IN this country, aside IRON
steamer | think, sir, there are other advantages,
well as other and suitable MEANS Tor The transpoa.
ton Of mails aud passengers, that may not be had IN
steamer think we have bad some experience on
that point, sir. and enough TO justify the conclusion that
that may be done
Far be ii from me, sir to desire ha, the Post Office
Department should place the mail IN an unsuitable ves
sen in any way unsuitable, either IN size, dmen
sons, tonnage in any other particular. should say
that II the department were clothed with power TO
make contract they may be invested with the author
ity look all these matters and TO make contracts
with unless he will furnish suitable proper aud
safe Tor the transportation OF The mails Nor have
any unfrlendly feelings towards this bill 1t is
idea TO me, sir that the transportation of the mails Is
sectional question bad supposed tha, people had as
much occasion 10 send letters TO Vera CfoZ TO New
Oeans and that other places OF trade and business the
country have much interest in establishing mails be
tween ports OF this country and foreign countries as New
Orleans any other place 10 The country.
Ii would be rather extraordinary, sir that these inter
ests existing extensively they do in all portions OF the
country should allow any feelings OF hostility 10 spring
up among them because contract for carrying the mail
lay through any particular region OF the country Sir
repudale all such ideas and all such reasoning with
gard TO the mails The mail is matter OF common in'er
eel and OF common benefit 10 the whole country It is
established for that purpose It's on that ground that
former occasion gave my support 10 this measure IL
is on that ground shall support II now. have no dis
position further than TO make suggestion, and was 10
1uenced in making the suggestion which did by THE
reason, and hnk my honorable friend will agree with
me- for he does not wish any lmpedimen thrown ~ the
way OF carrying this matter into execution and enter
tain the same opinion forciby impressed with the
thought that IL in the bill you require the steamer 10 be
fitted for purposes instead OF carrying the matter
into prompt execution, you are throwing impediments IN
the way OF doing IT, The very terms employed 10 describe
the vessel imply thai extraordinary expense IS TO be
laid out upon her
Now, apprebend this scheme oon,emplaes no such
arrangement, that II does not propose TO know OF
what particular structure vessel is but inorma
iion is be arrived AT in some other way But the de-
pariment is 10 be satisfied that II is war vessel
Well, now as | said, think the honorable member
from Texas (Mr. RUsx1 and my friend from Louisiana
Mr. SouLEl will be satisfied that this provision Is
way of carrying the contract into executions and although
will not myself move to strike 1t out, think II would
be better for the senator to have il stricken out
Mr. S0uLE. III the honorable senator will allow me,
am ready 10 strike out whatever relates TO the neces
silly OF the steamer being capable OF being applied TO war
purposesr but will insist upon the tonnage, BECAUSE
unless the tonnage be determined by the bill, we have
security that whatever vessel shall be allowed to will
afford those conditions to security which alone can make