The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-02

quest refused And upon what ground do you sup
pose SIR Not that il was unreasonable that the
evils complained OF did not exist and ought To be reme
died No, SIR none OF that But because the service
required would cost hundred thousand dollars THAT
having been the year before the lowest bid, when pro-
posas Tor contract had been advertised Tor. vast
sum, truly, for carrying the largest mail IN the United
States daily through the most important region OF our
whole county and over route at least tteen hnndIea
miles IN length! To my repeated appeal he responded
that the revenue OF the department from the mails on the
proposed route did not equal in amount the sum de-
manaea lot the proposed change 81 service ms ex
merchants traders, and posmaslers on the ronewhch
were all in favor Of the change These facts were, that
under the plan then and s pursued the transportation
OF the mails irregular and uncertain and often SO
low, that private conveyances were IN most instances re-
sorted To- and In consequence, not more than
OF the maabe matter hapassed up and down the route
carried nihe mails Lei the plan be but changed, how
ever, as proposed, let regular line be established,
and the mails be regularly and expedonsy carried and
all this would cease; the maiable matter would seek Ills
proper channel, and the Legitimate oil the depart
ment from that source would be increased in cores
pondng ratio Besides this represented, what every one
transportation Of light freight, which regular and expe
dous line Of steamers, such mail contract (properly
eniorced) would require would make the enterprise ex-
ceedingly profitable to the contractor, general BUSH
ness transaction, independent OF the mail and that,
consequence, competition would become active, and that
although the first contract might be at high pee.even
the next lettings would very certainly be reduced TO
much lower sumprobably to one-half, perhaps TO one
third one-omh of the first But, sir, this
all IN vain. The refusal was persisted in The head OF
the Post Office Department at that time, from considera
tions OF economy not fear, peculiarly his own (and
which may be not inapty characterized as "penny wise
and pound FOOLISH y and from fear expressed by him at
the time that he might seem 10 be ertrdodgdnf. was
proof against all facts and nsensbe to all appeals Then,
sir, finding the executive branch Of the government i'm
practicable rather ncorrgbe, although uader the law
fully competent to extend the relief needed and desired
and admitted by himself to be SO. brought the subject
before this body proposed here that The Postmaster
/ Tor ha III dn xpha nh
ousy proper, and what he expressed himself very will
ling TO do, If Congress would take the responsibility
carry The mail upon the Ohio and Mississippi rivers upon
the plan then and in operation everywhere else
in the Union. But sir, was equally unsuccessful here
Hardly could get, in addition 10 my own, for a
proposition against which man make reasonable
or even plausible objection Then, as now. sir no OBJ
lection urged to the proposition tselfno one ques
toned lis justice popre,y Some said, leave 1t with
the Postmaster General is his province and his duty
Others said as told Today, this is not the right tine,
nor the right bill which 10 pass IT, Sir, have heard
This often that should DESPAIR OF ever finding either
the right time the right place, if it in my nature
TO despair OF success when know and feel that have
truth and justice with me.
measure hundreds OF thousands voted away amos
without question, for an ocean mail line from single
Atlantic port to some point IN Europe. Mr President
why was thisi WHY'S II now! An answer-a strTing
and startling answer-nay at no distant day be given
even upon this foor from other lips than mne, whoss
words will be more egarded-from lips which shall BE-
moved by power, coming up from distance, which
even this Senate will not be able TO resist In the mean
time let il be said here and LEI go beyond the country
that while the whole Mississippi valley with It's tweAty
thousand niles OF rver its thousand steamboats, il
five hundred millions OF commerce, and its eight millions
of people, asks single mail line, which is indispensable
TO its ordinary business, which will not cost 500 600
and which viii more than pay back the money directly in
revenue, and asks in vain, yet single port on the At
lanuc coast has but 10 ask for millions, and they are
granted for the asking
! Mr. President, senators make an appeal n behalf OF
the line this bill proposes to establish, upon The ground
OF equazng the operation OF the system OF ocean mail
steamers They that the system has so far operated
equally upon different sections OF the Union and this
proposition is 10 make II equal Sir know II operates
unequally and that is man ground OF my opposition 10
IT, Bot when they talk OF equazlng the operation,
think il would be well for them 10 extend their observa-
tons and regards somewhat widely and generally
over the country am as tired as they can be OF the
partial aad unequal operation OF this system and for
this reason. IN all its bearings, will give vote here
which shall contribute in any degree 10 its continuance
No vote OF mine shall be given which shall not help TO
lis sdisconiinuaBce-which shall insist that all parts
OF the country, whether TO this capital remote
from it-whether on the Atlantic coast. or our Gin
land seasshal be placed upon an equal iooing in the
eye OF the law and be equally cared Tor and respected
under its operation. Now, sir accomplish object which
all OF must acknowledge TO be Just, and proper and
necessary is no difficult task in the important matter OF
our mails II is to adopt one uniform rule, snch as we
find already in operation by general law and regaa
tons for the post office system. which, with some slight
notifications in matters OF detail, mostly OF admnisra.
tion perhaps good shall be able to adopt in
this generation IL rs to require the Postmaster General
TO place all which Congress shall have established
Nupon the footing and procuring mail service upon
them advertise for contracts TO be given TO the lowest
and bidders, with ample security for faithful per
ormance OF duty Let these contracts be made al stated
periods and under open and unrestricted competition
Senators seem 10 think that in this instance, as in
other cases of ocean mail steamers is important that
we shalt prescribe the size and character OF the vessel
Why sir should this be required in respect to
mails and not IN respect TO the means Of transporting our
land and river mails in the interior OF the country We
know that in former years this requirement made in
regard 10 all mail transportation whether on land OF
water But this has all been sbandoned-doubtess fol
good and sufficient easonsa any rate abandoned in re-
gard 10 all interior mails and the advertisements
call for proposals TO carry the mails and silent Ia
the OF Transportation Without pausng here TO
qure into the propeiy OF this change would, however
ask IL there be not equal necessity dproprety 10
making this prescription, as to capacity and The kind o
for those on the ocean Why noti II the convenience
and safety Of portion of the people Of the Union de-
mand this prescription at our hands in one case hold
that its advantages should be extended 10 ALL II not
CURED for all cannot understand the propriety and dc
not recognise the duty to give to any, special favor
| by special provision.
think the whole system, which recognises inequali-
ty and discrimination between different sections OF the
country and different portions OF people, this does
is essentially vicious, and ought to be repudated and
iecied in legislation, matter IN what form may
present itself against II in all shapes and all times
now and forever. | am for the amendment but against
the bill.
! Mr. President did not expect this question would
up oday and therefore here uDprepared 10
discuss il. Sprung upon II has been l could not
avoid an expression of my views in opposition TO 1t
myself within limits and state very briefly and in
fpTms the of nv regret