The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-18

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yersaliOn and confined his remarks 10 single topic
That was, the project OF navigating by steam power
alone aud he said to the nereduous hearers all around
him that ii he could ooiy get len thousand dollars he
would within two years from that time have steam
boat upon lhe Hudson riyer which wonid navigate be-
tween the commercial and lhe political capital Of the
State OF New York, al the rate OF lour miles per hour
and he considered an enthusiast That man was
Robert Fulton Ths government did not furnish the
means; but he completed his experiments himself, and
we have The vast result,
Sir remember when there was project 10 establish
communication between distant places by The use OF NE
electric fluid and few years ago il was maintained
that il impossible Congress appropriated the money
to be placed in the hands OF scientific man IN whom
the nation had confidence, that il such desirable re-
suit could be obtained he would be The 10 produce
ii and they gave j, not gudsngly. 10 enable him to
make his experiments between this city and BALTIMORE
in spite OF ncredulity too, sir Well, sir the expert
men was successfully carried on. But il would have
been just wise have arrested Fuon in bis fret
perlmenisto bave gwen up steam navigation after we
had been shown It's Importance or 10 have arrested the
progress OF Morse in pefectng his nvenIionas would
be nov TO stop where we are with regard 10 this war
steamer.
Mr. President, on the general question il seems 10 me
there be doubt | remember few years ago.
when the British government demanded OF HE American
government the surrender OF SUBJECT TO the Crown OF
Great Balo who was arrested upon charge ol erIIne
IN the State oil New Iork, lnmaons were gwen through
the public press and elsewhere, that unless The demand
was complied with within gwen lime, the port OF New
York would be bombarded. and British fleet We're sad
| 10 be on their way remember well The conservation
and panic which Produced not only IN that great
commercial capital, but throughout the whole United
Sales, ani men everywhere were willing, without IN
qniry into the justice OF the demand, the consequences
OF complying with il, without delberaon or debate, 10
The commercial capital OF the country by humlii.
atlng surrender TO the demand OF an arrogant foreign
power. But that is precisely the condition in which
are TO day. and in which we shall be until we adop,
policy OF defence Tor great commercial seaboai and
know Of policy that be adopted wise 10
furnish 10 udicious, cultivated, scientific engineers the
funds necessary produces possible floating deences,
10 be used operation with The olher stationary de-
fences of that port and other American ports. hope
that The resolution will pass
Mr.. HUN TER This case presents two questions !;
the first s whether have entered into any contract
which binds US 10 proceed further. II We have, then
ackaow ledge that that ends the matter, and we are
bound to 90 on But so far as have been able to look
mo this contract II seems 10 that s8ch the
The law requires The Secretary Of the Navy to enter into
a contract j ship which shall be shot and shell proof
have looked into all the papers do not pretend
TO understand them with perfect accuracy, But The
statement OF the Navy Department il, That ley suspended
the contract because such plan they supposed The
law contemplated was mol presented 10 them that was
their ground Tor aclag as they did Nog, ii such plan
was not presented TO them, think they justified in
suspendng the contract, because the law required that
the ship should be shot aud she'll proof, and hey could
not Judge whether the law was complied with, unless
they had the plan before them
/ Mr.. STOCKTON. Ii The honorable senator will per.
nit me- will say that insist upon il that there is no
evidence show that the Navy Department have even
made that excuse. II The gentleman has any official
record 10 that elect hope he will produce it. | have
On the contrary, believe that never the
reason for oDeciing continue the payments 10 Mr.
Stevens. Ii understand TINS matter rightly, ibis whole
dculty from The FACT that the Secretary OF the
Navy undertook 10 say that his predecessor had right
continue the contract and therefore lie felt that he
was bound TO refrain IRON paying anything and he
would reier the matter TO Congress Now, II the gentle
man from Virginia Mr. HusTERl has any official inlor
nation regard 10 that part OF The subject, should be
glad 10 seet But Insist upon !! that Tue ground taken
By the Secretary Of the Navy-Mr. Prest0n-was that
Mr Mason, his predecessor, lad night 10 continue the
contract and he would refrain from making any further
payments Mr, Stevens, and would refer the matter
Congress He has referred n to Congress and that ia the
reason why this resolution ls up Tor discussion.
| Mr.. HUNTER. My information is derived from the
statement OF Commodore Morris The papers vo.
luminous, and have not examined them all bat think
they contained the statement OF Commodore Morris that
no plan furnished 10 show that the work TO be
done IN the manner the law contemplated. have no
papers IN the case myselt-no other statement than
that But il my memory does moi deceive me- the
tor from New Jersey Mr.. SrocgroSl himself showed
me an Argument, presented By The counsel BY Mr. Ste.
yens, showing that the law did not require him pre-.
sent bis plan think that points contained in The argu.
he makes. Ia this case, at any rate presume that
the Navy Department, composed OF experienced and
ssiliul officers, gentlemen OF intelligence who under
stand the business OF their professon had gtound
upon which act before they suspended these payments
And then say, that II they were justified 10 suspend
ing this contract by the circumstances attending IL and
the law under which il originated, the only other ques
ton which arises s. whether il would be polite 10
this contract Here again have TO rely upon the
opinions oil persons who better SKILLED in such mat.
lers than am The Navy Department do not think IL
would be poluc to 20 with IL and suppose IL ought
10 be satisfactory 10 all persons II 10 compen.
safe Mr. Sevens for what he has lost or rather ex-
pended in this matter and then discontinue this expen.
ment And am the more confirmed in that from the
fact tha, The contract specified that this ship should resist
balls weighing only ca pounds, while using
much heavier metal Ii II would do 10 resist such metal
as specified, il would not do for that used.
But the senator from New York Mr.. SEwARDl tells
us that because Fulton made his discoveries and there
were who were ncredulous when he put forth his
Theories and because other have made dscoy
and they were met with ncreduly when they pro.
posed II would be improper for 10 resist this
Why, SIR II that sort OF argument were to obtain, II
would prevent from refusing to vote for any scheme
or theory, no matter by whom proposed Now, there was
much better argument within his reach-one that could
have been founded upon the reputation OF this gentle.
man. who Is a sklful engineer and has DONE am told
great deal for the of and something for that
science, But instead Of adopting his opinion in rela
ton 10 ibis matter, II seems 10 TO be more prudent
aud cautious rely upon that which gov.
ern the department at presents and that Is the
the work until we have more information upoARhls mat
ter
Iacknowledge however, that the opinion OF the sen
aior from New Jersey Mt STocKrosl has great weight
with me- because of bis experience IN lhs natter and il
there not decided opinion upon The other side,
and il did not think that perceived clrcumsanal evi.
dence as TO The probability that this experiment could
succeed in the present state OF science, should 20
with him. But things stand, am not disposed
to vote for this resolution But he chooses to so amend
as TO provide that Mr. Stevens shall be paid for what
he has lost has expended IN this experiment,
will vote for il very cheerfully lhnk that would be
Just to him do not think, however that the contract
and the law such to bind the government 10 pro.
coed udher If they considered the experiment as likely