The daily union., 1852-05-12
SENATE.

pntll
"sons for the service of The fiscal year ending the 30h
II lime, Is52"-he pending question being upon the
amendment OF the Committee on Finance TO insert the
following;
aFo, additional compensation for increasing the trans.
narration ofthe United States mail between New York and
Rvs,noo in the Collins line of steamers, twenty six
,ps per at such times as shall be directed by the
ps,aster General and IN conformity TO his last annual
snor Congress, and his letter of the 10th OF November
is.t TO the Secretary Of the Navy commencing said in
sss0o per Trip, in lieu Of the present allowance, the
sis2S6.5oo."
Mr. CASS said: Mr. President, desire TO address to
e Senate observations upon the pending question,
and may as well do it at this state OF the progress of
lbe bill as at any other time. have been good deal
embarrassed by this proposltionmore so than usually
am BY the subjects presented for the consideration OF the
Senate.
IN the first place. have great objection to the inser
ton Of this provision in the deficiency bill, which is bill
providing for existing deficiencies that is to say. for de-
ciencies arising OF the existing laws, where appr0
not been made, or have failed That bill was
asked for by the proper deparlmenis they submitted the
necessary estimates corresponding with the nature OF the
bil They did not submit estimate for this appca-
on II was not an existing deficiency. II not the
deficiency Of an appropriation for object warranted by
law Ii was new contract or rather an addition TO an
old one-a Conditional arranSement entered INTO between
the Post Office Department and the owners Of these
sells Ii was to become obligatory only when approved
by Congress- and therefore, no appropriation could be
considered as deficiency ill such approval took place
Besides thought the attempt to insaft this appropra
lion upon this bill would delay the action OF Congress-
would delay that seemed to be essential 10 the
public service OF them indeed 10 the public faith
and perhaps ultimately hazard the bill in the House OF
Representatives. not yet satisfied that it will not
thus be put TO hazard but the Senate have overruled me
in this opinion We have taken vote, and have decided
that thus place SI Inc sa
Three weeks have been devoted to The consideration OF
this question alone | am, therefore, unwilling to see
all that time thrown away, and the subject again com
menced, to go through the discussion, in another
bill, and in another part OF the session.
Under these circumstances, shall make further OBJ
lection to the insertion OF provision IN this appropr
alton bill.
But sir had other difficulties besides the difficulty OF
position did not fully understand the subject II in
wolves in some measure great experiment did not
foesee, nor do foresee accurately, all its opera
lions. Ii embraces great many very important consde-
raons requiring the deliberate action o Congress and the
deliberate opinion Of the country, before is adopted
one of the settled measures OF our policy.
Listened with mach attention and interest," as always
do. to what fell from the honorable senator from Vlr
ginia, [Mr HunTER,l chairman OF the Finance Commit
tee, upon this subject. congratulate the Senate and
the country that we have at the head OF that important
committee a gentleman as willing as he IS able to look
into the expenditures OF the country TO try them by the
test OF public utility. TO restrain, as far as he can, that
disposition which inherent in every 10
Increase it's expenses, and to substitute prouson where
texisis for wise economy coincide with him IN
uch that he said upon this occasion; and particularly
b agree with him in the general views be presented IN
citation this branch OF the subject, and was happy
to hear ME patriotic sentiments thai fell from him.
Sir, have bsen apprehehsve that this system Of
steamboat legislation would be carried too far have
been apprehensive that however valuable might be in
some respects, il might, from natural predisposi,on. be
pushed further than the public interests required Our
statute book furnishes instances OF legislation for par
cuar individuals in relation 10 subjects OF this nature
veil as 10 others. IL Is vicious praciicea system TO
be deprecated. myself, therefore. anxious TO ap-
ply an efficient remedy, because Il takes from the execu
tive departments the responsibility that properly belong
10 them. When YOU assume such responsibility in
Congress, il is divided among three hundred mem that
the share which falls to each OF them is but feeble
check 10 inconsderae legislation. The object OF legis
hlue should be TO prescribe required by the
policy OF the country and 10 leave 10 the proper depat
mens carry them into effect, holding them responsible
Tor the OF their duties, and taking watch
with jealous caution that the objects faithfully
red out II Is the proper duty OF legislature TO egis-
late, and not to administer the government Sir, you
know, and all know, tha, there is great external
pressure in favor OF all subjects OF this kind; and ii
should be guarded against and resisted with ceaseess
vigilance or il will in time acquire an ascendency inu
nous TO the best interests OF the country
The very subject OF controversy now before us shows
IN mark ed degree the danger OF legislative interference
with such matters 10 detail. The question with respect
10 the that should be paid for this mail service
na question OF administration than OF legislation
We scarcely in possession OF the necessary facts
enable us to come 10 decision free from doubt No
man can say ihs, there is no doubt upon the subject
We decide as we best can under the circumstances in
which We placed. Such matters should be thorough.
~ investigated by the proper department, where all the
iaeis should be carefully examined and ascerained, and
the result should be reported 10 Congress under the
sponsoty Of the proper officers, and thai report may
then safely be taken the ground work of proceed
ngs But IN The present case that course is precuded
BY our own action.
!, do not intend to enter into the financial view OF
me question, l. would reqsire a greater knowledge
OF lhe details than | possess and more time than
choose TO employ in taxing the patience OF the SEN
ave The subject has been before two OF our most
important standing committees, and their opinions they
nave made known TO and the subject has been de-
oaed and discussed in this body Tor many days Every
member suppose at this time il prepared 10 express his
opinion IN relation to 1t. One fact, however, seems
Be certain. IL we can depend upon the opinions OF
tnuemen of our body every way competent 10 form a
ogment and entitled, by their character and position,
our iul conhdence-and that is that this has proved
sOe senator from Rhode Island. MIR JAMES who. per-
se from bis judcous remarks. understands the subject
,ug, lhattbe stock OF this company may be bought in
ensIk.t Tor fifty per cent, half Of s par value.
Every man knows that there il better barometer OF
me financial atmosphere than the prices OF stocks There
are lew things more sensitive than the operation of the
socK exchange. permanent fall in the price OF
property IN Market then, is an unerring indication
Ia such fall has been preceded by proporiona,e de
ane IN such property You may take Il for granted
si this stock has gone down 10 fifty per cent in the
puolc estimation, has fallen TO that low price because
ue adventure has been losing one suppose there is
doub but that this line will he discontinued, unless
as Conditional arrangement made by the Post Office De-
Prment be confirmed by Congress Such is the inior.
auon communicated to MS by the committees, and not
.on'fsdced, 30 far ar know, by any So that the
sussnon before US involves the fate OF The enterprise
soa ana the application b rejected, the American line
doned ""' - - - f"'' "'""
There peculiar considerations connected with this
ae 70 which shall presently advert and which do no,
cn 70 any other steamboat line in which the govern
ehl Is interested. Therefore, what have to say will
rse to this one alone leave the others out of view
wedge myself 10 aid none of them and must gay