The daily union., 1852-02-10

lives OF people OF their own State are concerned ant
therefore | should expect the Inspectors in ATkansa
faithfully to perform that duty.
These are the evils which exist. and the bill proposes
TO give US facilities for remedyng them hope the bill
may be passed My friend on my left [Mr DAVIS
has bill which he has promised TO present 10 us ert
long, embracing The whole subject and designed lc
make provisions to regulate the whole matter from begin
ming TO end. His bill understand him, proposes
something like revision OF the existing law We all 10
the West have common interest in law OF this char
acer All the great country upon the Mississippi and all
It's tributaries have common interest and all, no
doubt, sincerely anxious TO have that system adopted
which will operate best 10 preserve the lives and the
that this little bill cannot injure any one and to
general system. will go heartily with all my friends al
the West IN the construction OF it, in all its bearings and
TO add every security which be given to make The
navigation what it is desirable that il should be
Mr. DOWNS. suppose that would go as far as any
man TO facilitate the business in the waters in which my
friends from Arkansas and from Kentucky take
est; and 1t is therefore with much regret that oppose
bill they seem 10 take considerable interest in But do
II IRON sense oil duty admit that there in
conveniences in the law exists, although they
seem TO me not to be quite great TO lead to adopt
the bill now before There is necessity that boat
should be inspected wherever she goes II she is in
spected at the places now authorized by law, il is
enough Is there any boat running in the district in
which either of the gentlemen is particularly interested
which does not, IN It's usual voyages, go occasionally
Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, st. Louis, or some of
'nose M pq9.s nm5i whssh Mh are n ports Of entry
Mr. DORLhND, TN his Seat) There such boats
Mr. DOWNS. Where do they run
Mr. BORLAND, lin his seat) From Little Rock, on
the Arkansas river.
Mr. DOWNS. They must have ports 10 90 TO, in
order to bring supplies But, sir do not think the evil
IS so very great opposed it former session, and OPP
pose il still because, the gentleman must recollect
although there an evil in this Inconvenience. there is
IN my opinion, another evil 10 be considered which is
transcendently greate is the danger TO ie This is
an immense evil II has become alarming that most
persons go with disrus in any steamboat in the West
n Df tha
explosions which occur after all the which has been
taken to guard against them.
| happen, perhaps, to have stronger opinion upon
this subject from the fact that one time in my life,
when district attorney. II became my duty 10 investigate
several OF these caamous explosions that took place,
and go the details of examination as to the man
ner in which the certificates granted and, after
the several Investigations in which was then engaged,
came TO the conclusion that the system exceedingly
defective; that those certificates almost entirely
matter of form, and that little dependence to be
placed them. oppose this bill because think if you
increase the number OF these points where there is
thorty TO appoint inspectors. the public cannot well
know the qualifications of the inspectors and by ex-
tending the humber you will weaken the security. We
may have confidence in the certificate given at Louisville
at New Orleans by experienced and able engineer
for they generally at these places appoint expert
enced engineer whose name is known and whose certi
cate may give some confidence. Now, although there
may be Just as competent men in Arkansas elsewhere
they not so generally known to the public So far
from extending this principle think II ought to be re-
strictcd and believe that when the remedy is applied
the western waters il will be found TO he not enlarging
The system but restricting H. and providing for some other
means ot examlnation-some other way,af possble-o
ascertain with some degree OF certainty whether people
may 60 IN boats with reasonable degree OF safety
not l know that there are suggestions of that kind !;
and perhaps the bill OF the senator from Massachusetts
Mr. DAvIsl contains provisions of that kind But,
imperfect the system is. should with reluctance
system OF inspection which, in my Judgment has opera
ted so nlunously heretofore extended far il pro-
posed by thus bill that it should be- and especially
new system is SO soon 10 be reported and considered
Why, then, the necessity Of taking up this important
subject, in which all feel much interest, in the
hasty manner in which it comes up, when are
to have matued BILL with all the light that science
throw upon the subject brought forward in short timer
hope that The gentleman will consent al least that this
matter shall be suspended until we have bill with the
whole subject before will go far any man to
grant every possible facility every section OF the coun
guard the lives OF individuals | am much interested
any gentleman in this very matter. live in the in
terror The people in my quarter OF the State have the
thing could 10 facilitate trade there and everywhere
else. But oppose this bill because the impression is
strong my mind that ii will increase the danger which
is already so great on the western waters.
Mr.. DAVIS Mr.. President
Mr.; CASS. win the gentleman allow me 10 suggest
that the senator from Rhode Island Mr. CLARKEl has
the floor for to-day, and unless be taken i'm
mediately, il would be desirable that this bill should be
laid over.
Mr.. DAVIS. Only a moment. sir gentleman on
my left asked 10 state to the Senate what is the
dton OF this bill which has been referred to by the hon
orable senator from Louisiana, tMr Downs II has
been delayed, sir, much beyond what | would wish
but every senator will perceive that the subject is so
plcated, that great deal OF information is necessary
IN order 10 frame bill That infomaton--some Of it,
has come in more slowly than | could wish; but will
say the honorable senator that expect in the
OF this week, to present that bill 10 the Senate. And IN
that bill there will be provision for the consideration oil
the Senae-in the first place, for inspecting the iron OF
which the boilers made in the next place, for
rigid inspection OF the boilers with the application OF
test to show their strength. This whole subject, in
Senate for revision, and with design 10 give protection
TO life and to property.
The bill then ordered 10 be engrossed for third
reading.
SPECIAL ORDERS
The first special order was the unfinished business OF
Saturday, being the resolution OF sympathy with the
Irish exllos
Mr.. SEWARD. This day was assigned, by general
consent, 10 the consideration of the resolution Of the
honorable senator from Rhode Isand and, as do not
wish my precedence TO be lost hope that the resolution
may be passed by informally.
The resolution was accordingly passed over.
The next two special orders-being the bill for the inn
provement OF the navigation OF the Upper Mississippi,
and the resolution for the printing OF the returns OF the
seventh census-were also, by unanimous consent,
passed over informally
FOREIGN POLICY or THE UNITED STATES.
The next special order was the resolution introduced by
Mr. CLARKE, in relation TO the foreign policy OF the gov
eminent of the United States.
MIR. CLARKE addressed the Senate at length His
speech will be published hereafter
Mr. CASS Mr.. President had desired, as soon as
the honorable senator from Rhode Island Mr CIARKEl
express my own supposed that he would occupy the
hnla day his Temarke 4 suppOspd because |