The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-15


ploslon oil boilers; and let them select what they
please as 10 The boats machinery. Leave competition
entirely open. DO moi bind them 10 select cock.
crank, or safety valve, pump, OF any particular
oeo and construction and OF suck length Give them
he widest held for competition Lei them select any
ehneIy they please but hold them responsible for all
losses that may from explosions Why is il thai
explosions occur so rarely on the Atlantic waters We
scarcely hear OF one OF them What it, unless il
DC on account OF the greater care exercised in the selection
oil ofhcers and engineers who navigate the boats IL is
well known that on The western waters the promotion il
from The fireman 10 The engineer and that the engineers
possess merely The practical knowledge gained from their
preliminary duties as hremen. Ii is not upon the
nofthen and upon HE Atlantic waters. The engineers
here are scientific men, well those who have prac-
ucay acquired an education upon that subject MY OBJ
echon, tben to the bill IL, that makes The Judgment OF
these InspectoTs-lhese political apponlees-lhe lost oil
every other mans merits, and substitutes their judgment
and mere discretion for the lfnlerest which The pas
sengers now have between them and danger The whole
philosophy OF the BILL in my opinion IS wrongs there
lore shall vote against H.
senator from Florida. He not 10 know that the
law of discretion has been the law long enough and that
all these mischefs have come up under IT, He to
overlook another fact. II simple liability were suti-
Gent does he not know that that has always existed under
the common law for negligence and careessness, at all
times and under all circumstances And has it proved
| Mr.. MALLORY | will answer the senator by saying
that ne mlsconceives me entirely There have been
rous attempts made in the States TO reach this object
In the State OF Alabama they have made murder in the
engneerpunsh by death for explosion, when negli-
gence could reach him. But you can never fix negli.
gence. or anything like it, upon the engineer Indeed, he
is generally destroyed by the explosion. My proposition
is TO make The owner or master responsible negligence
or no ss %y a responsible for not
Mr.. BORLAND. | have few words TO say in re-
spec to This bill shall moi 60 into an examination of
qualified to do so. | do know. however that very ser
Gus evils exist IN the steam navigation OF the region OF
country in which live-the great Mississippi valley.
|, has long been indispensable to the safety our lives
al IA he cd II
legislation heretofore has failed 10 correct them We
have now before us a bill which proposes 10 accom-
plish that object. 1t has been before The whole
session. and has been examined and elaborated, APP
prehend, more patiently, thoroughly, and faithfully
than any bill ever before in the Senate of the
United States. repeat, have not the practical know
edge of the subject which would qualify me TO ex.
anime and pass upon the details of the bill But this /
do know, that not only has il passed through careful
ators who have devoted themselves most patiently
and assduousy 10 IT, but those senator's have had,
during their labos, the assistance, the suggestions,
and the advice OF the most respectable, Intelligent
and experienced steamboat commanders and engineers
which this country has produced. Some of those
gentlemen are person. lily known TO me, and have
been since have resided in The western country,
now sixteen years. Their characters, both as indvidu-
ais and professional men, the very highest; and
am satisfied that no one residing in the Mississippi
valley who has resided there for the last len or twelve
years would hesitate 10 take their judgment and opinions
as the best authority that could be given 1t has been
with their advice aud their patient and
have framed this bill For myself, rely upon those
who have prepared this bill with entire confidence If it
be not perfect, and shall not answer the purpose for
which il is designed is my opinion that in The present
state of knowledge The subject is impossible 10 make
one that will answer the purpose That ii has defects
we must suppose-for all he works of human hands aud
human brains have defects but believe thisand be-
eye i on the faith which have in those who have
made ito be The most perfect that has been made,
and the most perfect that can be made at the present day
All the gentlemen 10 whom allUde consider emf.
/ He evil
which WI have suffered 1ney know what those evils
are, and they know, any one can know, how to
Them. Without dlspaIRgement 10 any OF the Others |
take occasion TO aude particularly 10 one who has been
alluded to by the senator trogl Texas, and who was
among the very fret that ever naggaeda steamboat upon
the OHIO and Mississippi rivers. lie began there as far
back as lsl7-he fourth ia the busness-and until the
last year has constantly been occupied in the business
his career has been most wonderful; II has been one
which will hand down his TO the latest poserily
with the highest honors; for his has been respon
sibe position, involving the of the life and property
OF millions and during thai ume-hirtyhye years-not
single accident happened TO life property while
under his care. Such a man is Captain Sbaeross OF
Louisville Kentucky. Now, when gentleman OF that
character and experiences man respected BY all who
know him IN The community where be lives, and along
line oil fifteen hundred miles OF river navigation, 10 which
his lie has been devoted uniDerrupedy for thirty FIVE
yeafs-whose character as man, as an engineer, and
as steamboat commander, is without spot blemsh,
but Is endorsed, and established, aud commen ded
by career OF so poraced and OF such unparalleled
cess, without single iailure-comes forward and tells me
A
better qualified pesumng great deal TO question his
judgment OF practical question in his profession, and
scarcely less than criminal 10 oppose obstacles in the way
OF what he tells me will protect the lives and property Of
our ctzens-ot the millions who travel with their lam
lies and who transport their property BY hundreds OF mil
lions on our great rivers.
For these reasons, take this bill it is, believing il
TO be the best that be made and that it is 10 confer
great benefits upon the country 10 which reside. /,
like many others, have direct personal interest in all
this l. with my family, have 10 travel upon rivers
for thousands OF miles. The life Of myself and oil my
family is al stake, and am for aysing yse OF all the
safeguards that can be thrown around and mine, and
not only around me and mine, but around all my const
uents and ellow.czens therefore accept this bill,
not only with satisfaction, but with feelings OF The high
est admiration and gratitude 10 those who have prepared
IT. did hope that il would have passed the body with.
out a dissenting voice think the gratitude OF the
whole country is due TO its authors
Mr., DAVIS. The Senate will pardon me for saying
thus publicly in behalf OF the committee, and more
peciay OF myself. that feel under the greatest obi
CATION to all the gentlemen, both captains OF boats and
engineers who have rendered their services here in ODE
dence TO instructions from their fellow citizens, and
who have rendered The greatest possible aid TO in the
preparation OF the bill
The question was then taken, and The bill was ordered
TO be enkrossed for third reading.
FOR HARPER's FERRY.
tDaILr LIss)