The daily union., 1852-05-12

sh the OUTLAY of the government for this line These
ceips have already reached heavy amount and We all
Know IRON the nature OF business In our country that
the INSTRUMENTATION between and Europe will go
on increasing in very rapid ratio II has been So and
Will be 30 in this as in all other enterprises sup
pose Inc lime may be alry anticipated and soon. loo,
when The whole expenditure called for by this measure
may be met from The posages or II not the whole,
very large portion OF it,
one OF the French papers, that proposition for similar
object has been submitted the French government by
company at Havre. That proposition IS to establish a
line OF sieams ships from Havre to New York, consisting
OF three boats The offer made TO the French govern
men is 10 perform the mail service for million OF francs,
each boat. annually. This would give. as near as may
be- $500, 900 for each boat Applying this sum to the
Collins boats, would give them about $l000,oo0 as
there are to be FIVE hereafter employed.
Mr.. BADGER. There are bat four steamships on
Mr., CASS understand, from the chairman Of the
Naval COMMITTEES that ii this arrangement s made, ihe
owners will be compelled TO add another vessel There.
fore, ii have five boats will require $l 100000
year. calculating at the rate offered to the French govern
ment, and which suppose will be accepted.
Mr, BADGER. Those ships are only hall the tonnage
Mr.. CASS do not know how that is, as | think
the tonnage was not stated In the article read There
was one objection TO the proposition before u.s. urged both
by the senator from Virginia Mr.. HUsTERl and the
senator from Tennessee Mr. JoNEs] who, although at
anpodes upon the principle OF the objection agreed fully
as to its practical effect; one gentleman. however con-
tending that went too far and the other that u did not
20 Tar enOugh and most extraordinary, indeed 10 my
mind the views thus urged Both these gentlemen
sad TINS was measure OF pe'ecllon as though nvolv
OF protecton-of high and important, and holy protec-
on, in the best OF the termthe protection OF our
country, OF our exparated seamen OF our commerce. OF
our interests oil honor OF our SOIL OF all that gives
dignity and character to naions-protecton against de-
ieat, disgrace, and dishonor.
That is the protection which this measure will give
should the experiment be successful And am unwll-
ling 10 abandon 1t upon conectural objections, tll
it's failure is ascerained by sufficient trial II estab-
shed 1t will enable US to make such an addition TO The
navy might be necessary at the least possible COSTA
navy whose great objects all know, and whose great
ea,s are felt with pride by every American heart Why
the honorable gentleman may as well tell US that because
in time OF war you send out armed ships TO act as con-
voys to protect your commercial marine against bel
lgerent cruisers that is protection and that you were
to leave your merchant ships prey to the enemy, neu
trail powers would do the carrying rade and thus save
you from these expensive armaments that II protec
tion cost anything i should be abandoned, and our
commerce swept from the face OF the oceans thai
other nations may do their business and our own
There is place in an American heart fer such sen
timcnt, any than there is in the true virtue oil
national interest and honor This question has no con,
nexion with the protective tariff IL rests on other and
higher considerations II is question OF defence. II
is experiment we making, and which other nations
making, 10 ascertain how the most efficient mil
itay marine can be maintained at the least expense to
the public revenue. II may prove failure, l do nol
say it will not But1 do say am not prepared 10 re
ject plan recommended by much practical inlei-
gence, a trial OF which we have already commenced
without carrying that trial to some reasonable result
1t seeks the solution OF question of national defence
vitality interesting 10 us now, and still more In me
times that coming IL has no more coDnexion with
a protective tariff than has the building OF your ships
of-ihe.line repeat, if the experiment is successful
one i will provide, TO considerable extent, for the
establishment of self supporting navy. In my opin.
ion, il turns out many anticipate will be one OF
the most important advances made in the policy oil
country. Instead OF the enormous expense oil a navy,
everywhere proverbial il would enable provide
| active and adequate military marine oil certain useful
classes, do not OF all. which would be al the
service OF the country whenever its exlgencies required
and which in The mean time could be supported and
kept in proper order at comparative small cost to the
public. Thus would be solved one of the import
ant questions that belong 10 the practical operations o
governments in our day.
The honorable senator from Virginia [Mr. HUsTEsl
seemed TO consider the establishment, OF this line par
lla and exclusive benefit TO New York, and that equal
justice would require similar ayos should be extended
10 other points, do not know whether TO all or TO which
OF them-upon the principle that should act with the
same impallaly towards every portion Of The Union
lation, and government should depart IRON IT, But
where particular objects required for the public SER
vice. and The selection oi particular places where those
objects can be best attainedn such cases is impossible
that all places share alike in the accidental benefits
that may result from the measure. You canno, put
dock yard everywhere. You cannot pu, mint every
where. naval hospital, fort, arsenal, or capitol
But are you therefore TO put them nowherel repeat
that so far as government can, II Is bound 10 confer
equal benefits on ALL bat in the administration OF every
government, there necessary positions to which GER
tain objects must be confined. Everybody cannot have
county seat at his door nor bridge, nor an important
road but therefore 10 abandon all these objects
because they incidentally confer greater advantages upon
some points than others! The question is not whether
the establishment OF this line Is peculiarly advantageous
New York, but whether New York is the proper ter
minus. having relation TO the public service and interest
whether II IS the place whence these vessels should 60
and TO which they should return. Well suppose, look
ing at the COMMUNICATION between this country and Eu
rope il we are TO have this ne-and this is the only
that engages my atention-no gentleman will deny
that New York is the proper place for it's establishment
Mr. HUNTER. I would ask the senator whether
understood him correctly Did he say that he would vote
against aid TO all other linesi 20 understood him.
Mr. CASS. | did not say that But will say that,
according 10 my present Impressions, | should vote
against any additional compensation TO any other line,
under any circumstances, unless there are much stronger
far respects the pledge Of Congress TO other lines,
shall vote TO carry il ont But 40 far as there Is no
pledge, | hold myself perfectly uncommtcd with a
strong leaning against the extension OF the sysiem
maintain and repeat that there other lines in ope
ration which my mind compare with this in their
claims to public support ! am not now speaking OF
steam vessels employed 10 carry the mail upon public
ces from the department, where competonis insured
in the usual manner. That is n mode OF proceeding
which removes all fears OF part'aliy extravaganza.
II the line have established between this country
and England should be now abandoned, take u Tor
line In that event the postal treaty would probably be
terminated by notice. which each government has the right
10 give and the postage would be raised at least as high
as was before the reduction occasoned by the results
OF composition. The freights OF valuable goods
would be carried but al enhanced rates OF trans
portaion Therefore, in financial point OF view, u
seems 10 me that there many considerations that
weigh against the abandonment Of this line.
But sir one OF the most important questions that be-
long modern times must be solved before ong anu