Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-18

such laws will be operative II is utterly out of the
power to do so when boat will sometimes pass throug
TWO or three States in the course of single day Tn
question then before Congress- and to decd
whether this Wholesale systematzed process Of murde
is TO go on without notice and without any attempt
stop H. by which hundred persons have been hur
ed TO premature death in the course of single year
nope not agree with the Senator from Massachusetts,
Mr. DAVIS, that the time is come for to do some
thing. We have needed some incentive to action W,
have had enough recently to stimulate u.s. and we arr
now prepared to do it, and we should proceed at once
while our minds are made up.
i am opposed to any postponement II the bill does
become law, and if that law is take effect in March,
IS absolutely necessary that should pass upon it al
once IN order to enable the propreors of steamboats,
take those steps which it requires think now is the
time for action, and should pass this bill at once
Mr. STOCKTON. Mr.. President, wish it to be dis
uncty understood that have not undertaken 10 DENY
the right of Congress to interfere OF the necessity
some interference in regard the safety of steamboats,
Whatl have said is that is necessary to amend and
guard such bill as thatnow before from al
entertainment on the liberty business of the citizen
! Mr.. DOWNS Guard their lives first
Mr STOCKTON. The bill has been altered since it
left the Senate, and is now hurried along under the nu
ence OF humane and honorable but excited feelings
Mr.. BADGER. Not Mt all under excitement
Mr.. STOCKTON. The course of gentlemen here proves
it, Reference has been made by its friends to recent ac
cdents and especially to the loss Of life which occurred
ON board the Henry Clay in justification of this measure
With regard to that melancholy event. say that
believe all who know any thing about steamboat naviga
ton will agree with me that not single life ought
have been lost that occasion They had not
enough to take care of themselves At all events NV
opinion that to want of sepossession the great loss
OF life which occurred at that time is mainly be attr
outed The boat went on shore within six or seven feet
OF the railroad as we have been informed and oil that
to have been need for the safety Of the
gers was selfcommand enough get shore from the
bow thus keeping clear of the flames but instead Of
which, they unaccountably and wildly rushed to the
into the flames the water Is there any thing in this
bill to prevent such panic, such a scene?
Senator's will allow the consideration Of this question
to be postponed until session. it need not elay the
practical operation of this in any respect
proposes that it shall go into force until next March
This reasonable delay will afford opportunity to amend
the bill in some way that may be advantageous and salts
FACTORY TO all confess my own willingness to make
some Of its provisions stringent than they now are
The fact is that gentlemen do thoroughly understand
the subject and as it is altogether practical subject
quires great practical knowledge and experience and
should be well considered. The fact of steam
boat having been recently destroyed by fire is good
reason why this BILL incomplete and ladvised think
1T is should be passed. The Senator from Massachu-
sets Mr.. DAVIS knows well as do that the chief
of steamboat accidents is the use of bad and de-
fectve boilers. 1t is all very well make provision
as to the manner in which steamboats, should be con-
struced and naygated but there is something else to
be looked to; and that is the in which the
boilers constructed, and the quality of the iron of
which they are made. Where one accident arises from
burning up OF boat there dozen from bursting
boilers Whenever a boiler bursts and deaths occur in
consequence, the public always excessively indignant
against the owner Of the boat, when, in truth, the
owner but the ironmaster and the boer-maker are if
any body, responsible.
The person who purchases the iron may easily be de-
ceved An instance of the kind happened only the other
day on the Erie railroad The iron of which of the
wheels OF an engine constructed bad in qua
lily that it broke and several were hurled down an
embankment thirty forty feet high. hope Senators
will consent to the posponemen of this bill do not
desire its rejection merely require such delay as to
m he n h1a r
willing that it should be stringent in its provisions;
but at the same time, desire that it may be inteigi
be and that it may not interfere than is ndispen
sable for the preservation of human fe with the rights
of private property. This bill does 90 into effect
til next March. Why will not gentlemen allow us till the
next session to perfect the bills If this request is
turing such bill win only satisfy the Senator
Massachusetts, Mr. DAvIs,) but also the Senator from
Texas, (Mr. RusK) and the Senator from Louisiana,
For these considerations, move that the bill be
laid on the table.
The question being then taken by yeas and nays upon
the motion to lay the bill on the table, it not agreed
to- as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Bayard, Butler Clemens, Hale, Hunter,
James Pratt, and stockton-s.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams Atchison Badger, Bell, Borland
Bradbury Bright Brooke Cass Charlton Chase Clarke,
Cooper Davis Dawson Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa.
Douglas Downs, Fech, Fish, Geyer, Hamlin, Houston,
Jones of Iowa. Mangum, Mason, Meriweher Miller Morton,
Norris Rusk, Shields, Smith, Soule Spruance, Sumner
Toucey Underwood Upham, Wade, Walker and Weller3.
The PRESIDENT. The question now is concurring
in the amendments Of the House of Representatives.
The question then taken separately the first four
amendments reported from the House Of Representatives,
and they were agreed to.
Mr.. BAYARD. would remark that it is very useless
to pursue this course The amendments read by the
Secretary at the desk do convey to the mind of
single Senator what effect the insertion or striking
out of word words may have upon the general pro-
visions of the bill II the amendments are to be read the
Senate should be made Of their import by reading
the clauses as amended But think it is far better to
take the question upon them oil at
Mr.. ATCHISON 1 have one word to say. This is the
that pursued with the river and harbor
bill the that pursued with the civil
and diplomatic appropriation bill; and will undertake
to that not half dozen gentlemen beyond those who
reported the bills knew the effect Of single amendment
We knew something about the general provisions but
no hing about the details of those bills What could l.
who have been the lakes know about the appro
prations for the harbors situated there saw the
estimates and surveys upon which those appropriations
recommended, but obliged to confde in those
gentlemen who took the subject in hand. We have
to take these things trust and prepared to swa
low this steamboat bill on trust just we have done
many others.
Mr. BAYARD If the Senate choose to pass this bill
without scrunizng the amendments Of the House at ALL
let it be do not object so much to that But il is
absurdty-the words "insert" and strike out, )"
together with "the amendment of the House of Repre-
sentaves" The recurrence the formula is ridiculous
and conveys information to the mind Of single Sc
nator have objection 10 concurrng In the amend
mens Of the House whole, if that the wish Of the
Senate
The question taken the by the Sc
in the amendments made the bill by the House Of
Representatives, and they were agreed to.
D, De-. - Me- t.