The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-21


expenses oil these mail steamers 10 what is termed
the navy proper / have expressed that idea on more
than one occasion. So far from holding the position
that these not sufficient war vessels, maintain now
that they and not TO espass further upon the sena
tor, when he asks who says these vessels capable OF
being war-steamers, | tell him Captain Skiddy and
Commodore Perry and he is entitled to the benefit OF
my opinion, Tor believe they are better than any vessels
in the navy.
Mr.. BORLAND. do not question that such is the
opinion OF the senator that subject He has declared
il and again. and the whole country knows H.
alluded TO his statement upon Incidental proposition
here yesterday, when he admitted the improperly OF hav
ing this appropriation any part OF the expenses oil ihs
ne connected with the navy fund, or with the navy IN
any respect declaring that this connexon was seem
ing, and seeming only" But ask any intelligent man.
If these ships OF the navy capable OF being used for
war purposes, where is the improperly OF charging the
money Tor sustaining them TO the naval appropriations
Ii TO that would be the most natural connexion
in the world and with whatever person praclsed
In examining The accounts OF the different branches OF our
public service might be able to determine that this money
not properly charged to the naval appropriations yet
appehend it would go out TO the country the strong
est declaration, which nineteen tweneths OF the Ameri-
can people who saw it, whether intelligent or not lnleli.
gent would take it evidence that this line was part
OF the navy and part OF the naval appropriations, and
properly so.
Mr. President it seems that not only is this opinion
entertained OF this matter by the senators TO whom have
alluded and by myself but you remember that yesterday
when the vote was taken upon the proposition OF the
senator from Florida, there almost tie vote 10 the
Senate upon and there is question: In my opinion,
that In full Senate the present connexlon would have
been severed and the whole transaction would have been
stamped, as il deserves to be- as post office arrange
ment, and nothing therefore assume this to be
fact satisfactory 10 my mind at least, and think fully
sustained by the evidence before think the propo-
ston of the senator from North Carolina right
il significant 1t carried with it important expa.
nation, which think it is time the American people had
before them. Il was straightforward and Ineligible,
AT any rate think placed the thing in its true position
before the Senate Ii stripped the daw Of its borrowed
pumage IL let the gas out of the balloon and gave 10
the speculators "aiIy nothing of .war purposes its
true name and "loca habation" There, for the pres
ent, leave it,
The whole proposition, then, 10 my mind is estab
lish and maintain mail.lne across the Atlantic ocean
To that proposition in itself have no objection. In
deed, am in favor of t-as much apprehend any
senator upon this floor, any citizen OF this country
But the question is, How shall establish and main
tain such a line
In answering this question practically is well tc
slider how the other portions OF our mail system are ar
ranged and conducted how the lines are established how
the service is procured how is performed and how
is paid for.
BY our general law, all navigabe waters declared
TO be mail routes and by occasional laws, certain roads
upon the land also declared TO be mail routes To
establish lines in other words to put service or have
the mails carried, upon the routes which have been es
abshed by law, in the power and at the discretion,
within certain limits OF the Post Otice Department
When in the judgment OF that department the public in
requires it, these lines established, and their
service procured. As the law now prescribes and as
trust il always will prescribe, public advertisement CIV
ing due notice. is made throughout the country. inviting
proposals for carrying the mas-the contract 10 be
awarded TO the lowest and best bidder. Formerly
think until ISf5--the advertisements specified the
means and mode of service, as well as the time,
the route, and the distance, and the contracts were
made to conform 10 that specification. Since that
time the simple act of service, conditioned only as TO
time, route and distance, is alone provided Tor the
means and mode of transportation being left TO the
contractor This charge not made without cause,
without reflection. | thought at the time il a wise
and proper change and also think the result has proved
have been for there is nothing clearly and
fully established than the fact that while the mail service
venp prally nd ettlc
perhaps belerihe rate oil lis cost has been very greatly
reduced To prove this need only refer TO the
nua reports OF the Post Office Department, before and
since the change There another reform in the
onnexion and the time and that was TO abandon
the requirement which had up 10 that time, been made
upon the contractor 10 purchase OF the old one all
his old and wornoul siock"bat is horses, coaches
&c.-whch he might have on hand however worthless IL
might be- al the close OF the old and the beginning OF the
new contract | well remember the great reduction in
the OF cost OF mail from these two items OF
REFORM set forth in his report by the Postmaster General
in 1876. He assigned the saving from these items alone
as a very considerable resource il not the main one
which had sustained the department in any olerable de-
gree under the sudden and very great reduction OF the
rates OF postage by the act OF lS45.
OF financial economy, were, in my opinion, still more
proper and useful, by repudatng the principle and
aboshing the practice OF interference by the govern
meni, any further than may be indispensable TO the pub
lie interest, in the business OF the country or OF its
deraking TO regulate except by general laws the ord
nary transactions between private individuals. All the
government wanled, ana IL cOulu
was the performance OF certain seryicehe trsnspora.
ton OF the mail certain routes within certain times
and for this to pay certain sum oil money, the smallest
sum for which this would be undertaken by some
peent and responsible binding the contractor in suf
hcent bonds perform his contrac, faithfully, and
supervising the service in the course OF it's performance
as TO secure the public interest from delrImen This
DONE the duty OF the government was performed and its
functions ceased in that direction. Further than this il
could notegitimatey 60, and in my opinion should
be permitted to GO Think the history OF our government
shows that whenever by ITSELF II has undertaken 10 per.
form the functions OF private individuals, there has al
ways been failure perform those functions well; and
especially has this failure been manifest, and most mis-
chevous in its consequences, whenever by special
ton and tme-servng policy, the government has under
taken TO provide for and regulate The business OF the
cosnirybusiness which should be lett where properly
belongs to be suggested by the sagacy pushed forward
by the enterprise, and managed by the enlightened self
interest OF the citizen himself All history, Think
teaches that this has been and that II will be
in all time come, no less the suggestion OF reason
than il is the admoniton OF experience.
Upon this idea. a saying OF Nathaniel Macon, who
once honored the Senate with his presence and guided it
by his wisdom, may be quoted here, as an opposite and
instructive exempihcation. | heard il attributed TO him
here few years ago by senator no longer member
OF this body IN" said Mr.. Macon, "he government
of the United States should undertake 10 become farmer.
for planting" That, s presents the very beau ideal
or, the language Of the day, the daguerreoype, OF
incompetent and unthriiiy farmer.
So sir il has ever been, and il will be, when
ever the government has left shall leave, the sphere
OF its legitimate functions to interfere in the affairs OF the
people, or undertake the performance or regulation of du
ties which individual men should perform, and which
they alone when left TO themselves, can properly and
efficiently perform.
This has been an with the mails Mr. Macon said IL