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

permitted 70 interfere with the rights of personal
ty or the private business Of any citizen think 81
that under the influence Of recent calamiues too niue
sensbiity is displayed this subject; am afraiC
sir that many and too strong efforts will be made FOL
chilly to constran individual liberty and to control pr
yate business. Mr.. President extremes are near eac
other-a good principle may go so far as to react upo
itself to the injury Of socety-the temperance excite
ment for instance What man, what christian man, Wi
raise his voice in favor of the great of temper
ance But sir is il not likely to overleap itsefg Can
we shut our eyes to the dangers with which even tina
benefcent threatens the Republic? The pledg
required in favor OF temperance, while il is in som,
measure consraint the liberty of individual fre
action is voluntary principle, confined to the ndi
vidua and operating only on present time. But sir
when they to improve morals by coercion-to inter
fere with the acknowledged rights Of freementhat is
serious matter; that is principle which, though
the moment beneficial in its effects may be prejudcal &c
human liberty in all time to GENE. Would you enslaye
mankind would you interfere with rights essential to
human liberty and human dignity? Would you to save
any number of from intemperance reverse the de-
of God which require that the principles the heart
of man, should be altered and substitute human enact
mens for that rreversibe law, upon which alone any
permanent reform may be expected Sir great caution
should be exercised in the application of the humane pn
ciples upon which this bill is based.
When you are about adopting measures to save human
life from destruction board of steamboats, / would
have you consider the value of mans life compared
with his happiness and his liberty with the freedom and
happiness of Life is transient and eyanescent
truth shall endure
Sir we ought indeed to be the guardians of liberty
but seems that to be not only the guardians of
liberty but take under charge all the men and
women who choose to 60 board steamboat not,
they ftay, sir and board boat which is known
to be in the constant practice of racing Ii will
60 steamboat that is not fit to carry him. because he
60 for quarter of dollar less than by other
conveyance, to destroy in any way interfere
with the proper rights of other citizens in order to
him. 1t must not be forgotten that travellers themselves
not altogether free from just reproach and RESPONSE
by in this materhey the principal cause of these
repeated losses of life They must they WILL 60 in the
fastest boat yes sir they will rush to that boat which
carries them speedest and cheapest 1t to their peck
cts they look when they select boat and to the Govern
ment to protect their lives when board They will go
in any kind of boat and with any kind of captain
60 little cheaper and then, when accidents do happen
they will in all human affairs they burn with desire to
hang the captain and owners entirely overlooking their
responsibility in the matter and that they have been
the principal cause H the mischief by encouraging the
construction of light cheap boats.
Mr.. President lope entertain strong and sincere
feelings of respect for the lives of my feowmen as any
other gentleman upon this floor, but hold it to be my
imperative duty not to permit my feelings of humanity
kindness to interfere with that protection which am
bound Senator of the United States to throw around
the liberty of the citizen the investment Of his property
or the management of his own business.
Sir, raise my voice here this occasion to say to
Senators that in this chamber they have in my judy
ment done enough in past time to shake the principles
OF 1reeuom ana pest take need
lest they go far that they regain what has
been nconsiderately lost Look for example, at your
census laws You have authorized federal officers to go
into the houses of your citizens and inquire into their
number and condition, and when, and where, and how
they were born.
Again. sir some Of the States have laws authorizing
their public officers go into the houses of citizens and
demand how much property they own and where 1t is
how much they and how much is owing to them and
other things equally offensive the feelings of indie
pendent freeman it is injurious to his business And
now sir you want to control him in the investment and
management of his property Let me ask what will be
left of human liberty if progress this course much
further What will be- by and by the difference between
citizens Of this farfamed Republic and the serfs of Rus
STA? Can mans property be said to be his own when
you take out of his control and put the hands
of another, though he may be federal officer? Can
mans property be called his if your ofcer-who will
certainly be politician and may be irresponsible
manhas the power to determine whether that property
is invested according to his idea of law and if he
fit condemn it The steamboat property in this country
is owned BY and respectable class of and
perhaps kindhearted and humane any of us-men,
them look to the safety of vessels and to exercise
constant watchfuness not only their own interests
but also the interests and lives of others entrusted to
their care.
Sir this bill will not attain the object intended Let
every build his boat in his way but subject him
to all the high responsibilities Of public servant and
common carrier If you take this kind Of property out Of
the charge Of those most interested in it, and put it in
!,
what they may derive from per diem inspection you
will relieve from all responsibility very responsible par
ties, and do nconcevabe wrong TO individuals and to
society. win that be right? Is it judcious! Then,
again. you would apply the principles of this bntend
ed doubt for good land which, If extended only to
those steamboats, which Western waters, about
which know nothing might be valuable)- boats on
rivers where they almost touch the shore both
sides, and whose greatest difficulty is to keep from
ming ashore and this is to be done in such way is
likely to destroy the entire interests in such boats
But will press the subject any further. / have
thrown out these suggestions the ground of hope
that the further consideration of this bill may be postpon
ed The law is not intended to go into operation before
March next and think that in the time this bill
may be so guarded not to infringe the liberties Of
others, while il may afford all possible guards for the
safety Of human life
Mr.. DOWNS. am sorry to occupy moment Of the
precious time Of the Senate but cannot remain silent
when such strenuous opposition is made to the passage Of
this BILL and when the pecuniary interests Of few steam
boat owners placed in favorable contrast with
duty to protect the lives of the public confess that
have heard many things since first had seat in this
body which have surprised but the argument against
the bill just delivered by the Senator from New Jersey
Mr. SrocKTos is the most extraordinary ever listened
TO- had thought that the jurisdiction of the United
States extended the harbors bays and rivers of this
country; and II there was power OF Congress which
was more unquestoned than another ii the authority
to punish the crime Of murder in those waters This bill
is to punish murder, and nothing else.
Mr. STOCKTON. did not intend TO deny the authority
Of Congress only intended the Senate against
| its abuse.
Mr. DOWNS. | consider that the only question in
yolved in the bill is this: Whether we shall permit
egazed unquesoned unchecked and peculiar class in
the community to 60 committing murder at will, or
whether we shall make such enactments will compel
them TO pay some attention to the value Of life have
no hostility, preudce or resentments against those
4 rtv in etaa ~ tha