The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-08
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FsIpAr, May I. 1852.
SENATE.

SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, the consideration
of bills on the private calendar wa postponed for
this day-ayes Il, noes 10
Several petitions were presented, and reports
upon private claims were made.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
On motion Of Mr.. BRADBURY, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of the bill providing for
holding the United States district court in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, in cases OF the sickness other
disability of the district Judge.
MIR. b. offered substitute for the bill, which pro-
vided that whenever the judge of the district court
shalt be unable to hold said court the duties Of said
Judge shall be performed by the senior assistant
Judge OF the circuit court of the Districts and in
case OF his sckness other disability, the duties
ofsid Judge shall he executed By the Junior assist
ant Judge Of the said circuit court
And this substitute agreed to; and the bill
as amended was ordered To be engrossed; and sub
sequently was read a third time and passed.
LAND FOR RAILROADS.
Ga motion of Mr.. CLEMENS, the Senate pro
ceeded 70 the consideration OF the bill granting to
the State Of Alabama a donation Of the public
lands 10 aid in the construction Of the Mobile and
Girard Railroad in that State. The same wac
snended 10 conform TO the other bills Of like
character which have passed the Senate; and was
then ordered to be cngrossed for third reading.
On motion Of MIR. MALLORY, the Senate pro
ceeded 10 the consideration of the bill granting
the right Of way to the Florida. Atlantic and Gulf
Central Railroad Company through the public
lands of the United States, and appropriate lands
60 the State of Florida in aid of the construct: ION
OF said railroad and branches.
And the same was amended as the other bills
and was ordered to be engfossed for q third
reading.
AMEapNxST OF THE RULES
The Senate proceeded 10 consider the resolutions
heretofore submitted by Mr.. BADGER, to amend
the 3Oh rule Of the Senate, which now prohibits
any amendment being offered TO appropriation
bill which is not founded on estimate from one
nj he napa ANITA .Ia zxaI hu.l
rection OF standing committee of the Senate
Also, that the following be added to the rules of
the Senate:
"A motion 10 suspend, or TO concur in resou.
ton of the House TO suspend the 10th and 18th
joint roles. or either of them, shall always be in
order, be directly considered, and shall be decided
without debate.'
MIR. BADGER explained the proposed amend
ments The latter one provided that the joint rules
which prevented the transmission of bills pa =sed
by either House to the other the three last days
OF the session, npd which prevented the presenta.
ton of such bile to the President for hs approval
on those days. might be suspended without regur
ing the unanimous consent, which might now be
insisted upon.
LAND, ATCHISoN, and UNDERWOOD, favored
proposition to strike out the 30th iue altogether
and Mcssrs. BERRlEN, HUNTER, and BRIG HIT,
supported that rule.
The amendment was then agreed to-
Mr.. HUNTER moved to further amend ruic 80;
W.T.. n iSDlSoN moved 10 5trlke tnat rule out
altogether; but both motions were ruled out OF or
der, as one days previous notice required.
Mr.. BApGER's second amendment was also
agreed to.
AID TO THE COLLINS LIsp.'
The Senate then proceeded 10 the considerat ion
OF the Deficiency bill, the question pending being
on the amendment giving additional compensa-
ton SS5,ooo per trip-to the Collins line Of
steamers
Mr.. CASS said that he had opposed this PROPOSE
ton as an amendment TO this bill. He did not re-
gard II as an appropriation to supply any def
cheney under any existing law. But the Senate
having overruled him in this, and having decided
this was proper bill in which to put this appro-
priation, he would make no further opposition TO it,
he expressed his general opposition TO Congress
directing contracts To be made with particular in
divlduals, upon particular terms. He thought that
all this part Of the business might be LETT TO be
Performed by the departments. upon their rcsponsi
bility.
He supposed il could not be doubted that thi.
enterprise a losing business its stock
was 10 be had in the market at a discount Of fifty
per cent. and that he considered a pretty safe cri
terion TO judge by No barometer more sens
tive, or more certainly displayed the condition Of
financial entcrp-ises, Than did the stock market.
This line he regarded as occupying peculiar
position, and with respect TO its application for aid
from Congress, was differently situated than any
other line. In voting for this aid 10 the Collins
line, be was not to be understood committed in
favor Of giving the TO other lnes. Strong
indeed must be the circumstances which would
induce him TO vote the same aid any other line.
Though this experiment was now a losipg one,
he considered II highly probable that the revenue
from hostages, which already had increased,
would in time increase 20 an extent which would
result in paying back 10 tie treasury what had
been expended Tor the support Of the line
He observed in the newspapers that n proposition
had recently been made TO the French government
70 construct and run three steamships from Havre
10 New York, at cost Of about $500 900 year
ior each vessel. AT the same rate OF compensation
Collins, for his five vessels-that being the number
required by his contract-would receive mil
lion Of dollars.
IL wac said by the Senators from Virginia (Mr.
HrsTER) and from Tennessee (Mr. JOsgs) that
this was IA thing more than protection. But what
kind Of protection: IL was sffOrdipg protection 10
our country 10 our hag, our commerce, our IA
tional honor, our oil, aud our intereets IL was ~
afford protection 10 these from defeat, disaster, and
disgrace. II might with a. much propriety be said
that II was system Of protection TO send out a
convoy IN time Of war, for, ii we did not, Others
might be found who would do IL. II this expert
meut be soccessful, IL will be a good one IL Il a
proposition 20 establish scf supporting navy II
II succeed. instead Of requiring TO keep up a
navy at great expense, we will have solved the
problem Of making the means Of naval defence
serve 20 support and maintain itself Il was said
by the Senator from Virginia that. " this AID be
given 20 this line, IL will be bounty 20 New York
and In justice we will have to do the same else =
whore. lie did not think You could not have
fort or harbor, or an arsenal, everywhere.
And because you cannot have these in every place
must you have nOneY a bridge, n court house. a
county.soa,, could not be had everywhere; and was
there 10 lie none Of those because they could be
looat.d everywhere. All such things must take
The direction which il suitable and proper for them
20 take.
He pointed out the importance Of this a. yet IN
tried experiment u steam navy he alluded tc
the success which had attended the experiment,
Wy The Britith in using thfse steam war vessel
sgsinst batteries, &c But the experiment 81 hos
tile steam ccts in collision had not yet been
Tie success Of such experiment would be
grand achievement; and the next maritime war IL
Europe would GIsDlay the world md re
suits such as were unknown 10 history.
War had not yet ctaeed 20 he means of deter
mining national controversies; the day when j
vas 10 DC dispensed with had not yet arrived
Ebo could cay when would come upon W
We werea young, powerful people, who depend
on Ourselves and on our rcsourcef; bud
should we not be prepared The experiment was
one u great importance, ana demanded at lc8st
the opportunity Of being tested. L. case Il var III
would never be the policy 81 tic United States O.
send out large fleets. la q war with England
our only practical object TO be accomplished pas
the desuuetion Of her commerce. To destroy her
commerce was 20 destroy her power. No zane