The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-25

line from New Orleans 20 our city, and from thence
10 Liverpool, without asking any money from gov
eminent 10 build their vessels And is there a
merchant or business man OF Philadelphia who will
moi admit that line OF steamers 10 and from
tnose points would be OF vastly more benefit 10 our
city and State than would be line TO Antwerp. And
the memorlaliss say " they well advised there
are no constitutional objections 10 the measure" With
all due respect 10 their authority, may be permitted
express my opinion that there strong constitutional
objections Infer from the latter portion OF their
moiia That they derive the constitutional Argument from
Inc power OF Congress establish navy. This clause
IN The constitution says. Congress shall have power
provide and maintain navy" Now. let ask. in all
sandor where in This clause do you get the power to
build a number OF steam vessels for MIR Thompson or
any one else. with the money OF the government. and
give Them 10 him conduct his private business and for
commercial purposes, merely because he agrees carry
me mall Tor which he is receive the postage and sell
,ne Vessels to government if il shall want them
hs clause says that Congress shall not only pro-
vide iliem but maintain" them; and if we under
mus provision "provide" them, why not "mantain'
them also And will these vessels be the navy" OF the
United States in the in which that is used in
me constitution What the navy OF our nation in the
the constitution viii You e nd this feature have moi
yet been able to find it, And If Congress has the power
TO loan this money 10 Mr. Thompson, why not 10 any
anu 10 evely one else Who may apply Tor It Where =
loan the public money to private individuals for bust
ness purposes and thus to interfere with the COM
mercial operations of the business community OF our
country know the government has done this TO some
extent Tor citizens OF New York; and we as Pha-
delphans not experenog the evils OF III Has not New
TOTE, IN consequenee II itsan undue advantage over us
he argument nay "a H., !" as ss New S9 York has t.
Philadelphia ought havait And il Philadelphia,
wny no1 n o1s. 49, New Orleans chaTeslon
to stop! With due Difference the opinions of others,
may be allowed TO express my opinion, that i was
wrong IN Inc beginning and the continuing OF 1t will but
accumulate the evils upon us. That Congress- has the
power 10 contract with any citizen or company for carry
ing the mail IN steamers be built by themselves, and
to pay any reasonable for that service, no one
will deny. but beyond that, do not believe the power
extends under the constitution and should like 10 see
this power exercised by our government, largely ber-
ally, and impartiay; for believe it would be benef-
it would increase the commercial facilities of the
try without any violation of the constitutions and il
would give us (under proper reguations) large num-
Der OF steamers that might, in a of emergency
become the navy of nation, by the governments
taking possession OF them according 10 the stipula-
tons OF the contracts. But let not the government ad.
vance the public money 10 individuals for the build
ing Of these steamers. II the commercial advantages
OF any enterprise OF this nature are not sufficient
to warrant the investment of capital by the citizens
who are DESTROYS OF entering into it, with the assist
ance CT reasonable contract from government for
carrying the mail better that such enterprise should not
be attempted than that government should become the
For these and other which | have not
time now 10 state | have felt il now 10 be my
duty to withhold that cordial support TO the propo-
si,ion OF Mr.. Thompson which 1 otherwise would
most gladly have given TO H. AS to my feelings upon
this subject in connection with the interests OF our city
and State, would refer TO Mr. Diehl, Daniel L. Miller,
IT,, Mr.. Reynolds, and others, who can, and have
doubt will, bear testimony to the anxiety which have
expressed in behalf oil the interests OF Philadelphia
in this matter and shall most cordially and zeaously
support the proposition OF Mr. Dehl any other Phila
delphia measure, which asks of government mail
tract which will enable in compete with
the various lines from New York. In justice 10 MIR.
Thompson, should say that, since his bill reported
to The House, he has ntmaled willingness the part
OF himself and friends to advance one million,
sixth of the cost OF the vessels themselves And in just
ice myself, should also say that should not thus
have obruded my opinions upon this subject before the
public had not felt called upon TO do il in consequence
of the which have been adopted to compel
10 support measure which sense OF duty would not
permit 10 sustain. and which believe not one in a
hundred OF my constituents would support il they
acquainted with all the facts connected with it,
Your obedent servant,
HENRY d. MOORE.