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


We're asked and advocated for this line OF steamers and
the only one upon which their advocates seemed then
rely WIN any confidence was the adaptation OF the YES
sells TO "war purposes'-ay sir, that was the term
war purposes :; and their Incorporation the most
important element. alike for economy and efficiency,
mo our system OF naval armament and defence; We
all well remember how earnestly and confidently this
was urged and insisted upon consideration in its be-
half and no one, apprehend will question or deny that
was the consideration which secured majority in its
tayor, and determined the OF the proposition
Upon that ground alone | hesilated, and was some
time in doubt whether should support or oppose it, My
instructive aversion 10 all monopolies to class legisa
ton IN every form, and under whatever specous guise II
might present ITSELF and 10 all partnerships between the
government and speculaors in patriotism, made me
picous OF al the frs and was disposed to reject
without much examination. But there was met with
this very attractive and captivating phrase OF "war pur
poses" confess it was somewhat attractive and capli
waiting 10 my fancy. had but recently returned from
Mexico and although year and half in that interest
ing counryone third OF the time prisoner OF war-had
somewhat abated my military ardor yet il had not aken
The starch entirely our OF me. The very OF "war
and the means of its successful prosecution bore then
spell OF power 10 doubt not they do TO the
martial spirit OF the honorable senator from Michigan
Mr. CAss which found il difficult, it seems i'm
possible Tor him, to resist But not only did this attract
was reminded of the wonders which steam, as mo-
tive power, had already worked in commerce and the
arts, and pointed to the future for the still greater
triumphs il was to achieve in arms. The past ! was
bound TO adm-he future could not contradict was,
further reminded OF expensive naval establishment
which apparently, at least comparatively, useless
though scarcely less expensive in our long intervals OF
peace. was growing into subject OF complaint with a
portion of the people This knew TO be so. Then, by
what seemed very natural transition, the Importance OF
Atlantic mails, and the good policy Of having them
regularly and speedily and economically transported
back and forth across the ocean, suggested and
laged uponl will not say exaggerated, but certainly
they not estimated at less than their true value
The array far, attractive, and imposing, and for
mdablecerainly so to one like myself fresh from re-
gion where such things were not familiar, and new TO
the business and appliances of national legislation But
one more element was needed TO make the demonstra
ton complete That was speedily supplied; and the So
luton was before clear It's terms, accurate
in it's letters, and precise its lines and angles
when schooboy, and "crammed Tor an examination"
had ever made, to blunder through, pons assaorum on
the black board Eureka exclaimed the kind and skllu
Panuus who had conducted far into these strange
he opened my asonshed and delighted vision
the far harbor oil New York, crowded with the Collins
steamers, each freighed with mail bags for all Eu.
rope, and enbrazured with guns to whip the world in
arms Here, was told, TO be found panacea for
all the ills complained of in the way OF useless and
expensive naval establishment, alike IN peace and
and OF deficient mail service; and which, al the same
time, would prove the very nursery and handmaden,
par sreeaenee OF science, literature commerce. and the
mechanic arts The senator from New Hampshire MIR.
HALEl had not then added he did The other day, civil
ization, morality and religion TO the catalogue OF It's
blessings, present and prospective This panacea-this
wonder working and good-compeng instrumentalty-
when disclosed was neither more nor less than to ad-
vance Mr. Collins money to build his ships. and, when
ney shoud De Ns su to pay hun for transporting them
A distng gushed medical professor said OF Craw-
tords (snce lebg's) combustion hypothesis OF animal
heat, tuat M facts which served foundation for this
beautiful theory not false. the deductions would be
irresistible Some such Defect II occurred 10 me, there
possibly might be in this hypothesis OF the Collins line
Tor was not, as am not now, without Suspicion thai
there such things iase facts in commerce, steam
ships, and speculation, well in the experimental
science OF chemistry Upon this suspicion paused and
also examined the 9uesuon-iDperecy and with difl
Gully, admit, yet with the best lights before me- and surely
with earnest wish 10 ascertain the truth. IL Is not
necessary TO trouble the Senate with the whole process
OF that examination. II is enough for my present pur
pose to say that it failed to satisfy thai the positions
assumed were facts established, that the promises
made either would be could be performed So l ad-
bered 10 my original principle OF action, and opposed the
contract and appropriation And what has the result
proyedi Ii may be sald know that time enough has
not been yet allowed 10 make full trial OF the experiment
Be that il may, this do know and all the country
knows-wha indeed, is proved by the very presence of
this proposition here before at this tmehat in every
material particular the experiment has alled-utterly
ailed-upon its original conditions The steamers for
purposes 10 be built, but they have not been
built the efficiency OF our navy was TO be increased,
bui has not been increased the expenses OF our naval
TO be reduced but they have not been
reduced the cost Of transporting Atlantic mails across
the TO be paid by the from this line,
but instead OF that, have not yet received back quite
dollar for the three paid out In word all thus
vice OF curing evils and securing good TO be rendered
for the amount oil money then appropriated but has not
been done far from IL, indeed that here before
have the broad confession OF the fact OF the failure in
the demand from the same parties Tor nearly double the
amount oi compensation and We coolly told that un-
less we choose to give IT, the experiment will fail and be
abandoned. and all have heretofore ntrusted TO the
science, and skill and enterprise, and patriotism OF this
company TO be expended for the promotion OF the public
interest," and 10 sustain the national honor, will be dead
less Such demand from such source, and under
such circumstances argues TO mind, one or the other
of two propositions either that the parties making are
afflicted with grevous inability TO appreciate the rela
ons of and effect, or that they are gifted with
still more remarkable shrewdness oil reliance upon the
facility with which Congress yields to demands boldly
made and pertinaciousy pressed upon US The result
alone will prove whether MIR. Collins and his associates
shall hereafter lay their grateful votves upon the aliars
OF duness or sagacity.
have not given the items OF the account upon which
have based my general statement OF results aud from
which have drawn my general conclusions. They have
been already and sufficiently given by the honorable
aior from Virginia, tMr HusTER,] who in the pererm-
ance OF his duty as chairman OF the Committee on FL
nance has thoroughly investigated this subject in lis de-
tails and laid the facts before need not weary the
Senate by recapuating them. is enough for my pur
pose that they before US and before the world
rely upon them, and feel perfectly well satisfied that they
warrant every inference have drawn from them may,
in publishing my remarks incorporate or append some OF
them in the form OF extracts and tables
have assumed that the element OF war purposes"
however potential il may have been in the original
problem, leglma,ey there and even y had
been vet in the of the demonstration, u has been
left out as incongruous and lmprachcable Ihe expo
s,ion made by the senator from Virginia Mr. HusrERl
rendered the fact indispuable. But, SIR, even tha,
were not So has been proved clearly, aad sgnf-
cany and conclusivey by the honorable senator from
North Carolina, tMr. BAperR,] that cannot suppose IT
will ever be seriously insisted again That senator
friend, too, to this appropriation, and as wei Informed
upon these subjects any gentleman upon ths noo-
always excepting of the honorable senator from
New Jersey, tMr Srocgros.l on my lef-has proposed