The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-29
WASHINGTON. ID. G.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTY-sEcoND coNGREss-TIRsT SESSION.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, April 81.

=
Inns line.
Mr.. Brodhead presented the memorial of tn,
Board of Commissioners of the Northern Lib
critics of Philadelphia, against the granting 0
any additional aid to the Collins line
Mr. Geyer introduced bill to improve Tn,
navigation of the Mississippi, Ohio. and Mis-
souri, rivers.
The JOINT resolution authorizing the Secreta
ry of War to furnish with arms the new youn
teer companies of this city, was passed.
The subict of Non-intervention was ther
taken up and postponed till next Wednesday.
The Deficiency bill was then considered. A
large number Of amendments reported 10y the
Finance Committee were debated at length.
Mr. Gwin urged the additional compensation
being an allowance of $4,000 Il trip, instead
Of $4,000, as a measure Of justice, interest
and national pride.
MIR. Hunter opposed the amendment He
objected 10 it because it was no deficiency
There was no prctence but what there had
been an appropriation to the full amount which
Mr. Collins was entitled to under his contract
Again if Congress should sanction this order
ing up" as it was styled in the Post Office De-
partmcnt, Of the number Of trips from twenty
to twenty-six, the additional compensation to
which the contractors would be entitled to I'M
der the rates would not amount to the sum pro-
vided for in this amendment. That would only
increase the compensation 5000.
If the 1926. 800 provided for in this amend
ment we're added to the regular allowance Of
1885 600 per annum, the compensation for the
year would be over $4,000 but if $4,000 a
trip were allowed it would make the compen-
satiOn for the year over SS0000O
Congress first advanced to these contractors
S3SGOOO 10 enable them to complete their
ships 1t then agreed to allow them $685., 600
per AMMAN for twenty trips. making something
ike $4,000 trip The English Government
did not give the Cunard line more than was
allowed the Collins line by the United States.
The Cnard line received SG96 900 per year
for ftty-two trips which was somewhat less
than $4,000 a trip. If we now give the Col
Inns line $4,000 trip, it will be an allowance
more than twice as much as is allowed by the
British Government to the Cunard line
He then proceeded to show that the posta-
ges derived from the Collins line did not meet
the amount paid it as compensation.
From the 9th Of April. 1850 to March 81
1852, a period Of nearly two years the amount
Of letter hostages by the Collins line amounted
to S32G 67G. or this sum, the Collins line was
entitled to a credit of only two-thirds; for of the
twenty-tour cents postage ON letters eight cents
were to be- deducted for the English and Amer
lean inland postage
The newspaper pnstagcS were iorty-twO thou
sand dollars. aud the po>tagcS ou the closed
mails were ninety thousand 1t was impossible
to ascertain how much Of this was due to the
Collins line. Bat if one-halr was due to.
gethcr with the two-thirdS of the S326G7G.
it would not amount to one-half Of what had
been pad that line As compensation
Therefore he maintained that it was not true
that the Collins line, 10y it, poStage> had re-.
paid the compensation it received nor was it
true that the CunarI line wa, better paid
MIR II. said that he did not consider it a,
any very great achievement, rejecting nation
nj credit or renown, "a take money uut Of the
Treasury 10 enable AN American ship tu sail
the ocean faster than an English one il this
was done AZ the expense. injury, and perhaps
sacrifice of another interest which. had not the
Government iuterIercl. would have been able
10 sustain Itself
This expenditure could not be justified on
the ground that 10y this means, a navy would
be built up, ready and prepared at any moment
for thr use Of the country
He read from the opinion, Of several naval
officers "a show that these vessels were not
adapted 10 the general purposes of war vessels
II Congress was T. give assistance and sup
port to these steamers t. enable them To COM
pete with Brit III vessels, why not for the same
reason extend support and protection to the
iron men. There was not an argument that
could be used IN support of giving protection To
Il d A..
British vessels, that could not be used and APP
piled in favor Of giving aid and protection to
the iron men against the introduction of British
iron
The navigating interest of the United States
which was now the pride and the glory of the
United States, had succeeded to that position
without any such protection IL this aid was
given to the New York Inc other cities would
demand the same.
The business of carrying passengers anC
freight was scl-sustaning, or not IL not ther
the loss would be by the British, and when i
became selt.sustaining the enterprise of Amer
lean citizens would induce them to embark il
it, and compete successfully with the world II,
said that when the amount of hostages re
ceiyed from this line exceeded the amount o
compensation allowed it, he would be willing
to give to its support the excess For the pres
ent he was for standing upon the present ar
rangement
Mr. Miller obtained the floor; and on hi
motion
The Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, APRIL %.
Mr. Manglm asked the indulgence of tn
Senate 10 allow him 10 make n personal expla
nation. A friend Yesterday placed in his hand
a newspaper into which he but seldom looked
in which paper appeared letter from Wash
nngtpn containing most un lustifable assault
upon him lie was not apt TO notice suc
things ordinarily: but when there was eyidenc
showing that they proceeded from higher All
thorlty than usual newspaper assaults he de
sired to notice it.
The paper wa the New York Express. Il
this letter IT was charged that he had entere,
into coalition with the senator from New
York Nix Seward and that it was formed IL
dinner parties with that Senator This wa
false He was charged also with having beer
governed in certain recent positions assume,
by HIM with an aspiration for certain higl
Office This was false also.
There was another charge of Il more scriou
character it was that he had been guilty {
venality That it had been arranged in pr
yate caucus with the Senator from New lor
that he was to be placed in the chair ut n ccr
tain asscmblage, and was to decide certai
questions in II particular manner, His collcagu
knew that what hc had recently stated ~ h
opinion upon the Presidency had been his col
dctions for more than year. And there wa
not a Senator in the body who had less intr
encc upon hjs actions or opinions than the Ser
ator from New York, ana that fact that Sens
tor would doubtless verify on oath He pr,
nounced the statements and allegations con
tanned in that letter Ia be false IN the aggr,
gate and in detail and he made this declare
tion with II flll a,owal of his responsibility I
sustain it,
There was an attempt made in an editoria
in the same paper TO smother up the author q
il by abiding to him as an occasional COZ
raopnn 1aut y and ~ nna WIN haI ham Al