The daily union., 1852-05-14

H..
Psrhsps these steamers will be Of public service Now
would like 10 know what reason can be assigned for
mol Transferring this contract where IL belongs Ii is
mail contract The money accTuing from the postage
whsiher il be paid directly into the treasury or into The
Post Once Department II properly credited 10 the
Post once Department and whenever the reports oil the
POSTMASTER General are made out, he may very properly
enghten The country by claiming credit from the post
age received IRON the Collins line OF steamers And the
advocates oi this measure understood that well that
throughout this entire discussion they claimed that the
postage must be credited with the entire receipts OF the
Collins line and some have gone far to include
ha1 which Is properly credited 10 the Cunard line OF
The reason why wish 10 have this contract under the
Post Odice Department instead OF the Navy is obvious.
ID insisted upon this oo and in the other hall OF Con-
gess That the appropriations for the navy are increasing
annually and thai no corresponding benefits,
rate with the increase have Injured 10 the country Prop
osons are constantly made cut down the expenses OF
our naton's ships. withdraw them from their va
nous stations and the country exhibits this singular
spectaciehat some OF the finest and most costly ships
IN the navy are rong Tor want OF repairs Now, il 10
TO call things by their proper names that insist upon this
amendment is, that appropriations shall not be made
year after year. called naval appropriations from which
the navy has, and will, derive any benefit
There are annually some ten fifteen appropriations in
the naval appropriation bill which would be made ii
navy exsted-such appropriations for the investiga
hon o scientific Subjects testing various experiments OF
scientific character, SSc.a coming under the title OF
naval appropriations, from which the navy proper de-
rives not particle OF benefit Now there may possibly
De some other point OF view in which this line OF steam
ere may be looked at in which this transfer 10 the Post
Office Department may be objection but have heard
none yet and therefore feel at liberty to insist upon my
motion. t@ 41HH
M. RUSK. i ask for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered
MIR. HAMLIN hope the amendment offered by the
senator from Florida will not be adopted by the Senate
The law requires that all the mail facilities which
amount Of which that department pays into the
treasury OF the government. Ii, therefore, we place
upon that department any increase of expenditure, there
Of necessity be a dimnulion OF that service That
point directly made and well stated by the chair
man Of the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads, IMr RUsK, and think that the senator from
Florida MIR. MALLoRYl has entirely failed 10 answer
lit Now, If this contract be placed upon the navy, and
additional amount is required for It's support, there
are limitations regulating the expenditures in that de-
partmen which II would affect, it would affect the
facilities which furnished with the Post Office arrange
ments Ii there were no other reason than that, 1t
would be sufficient in my mind to lead me to reject
But in my judgment there is, besides this. more in
innate connexion between these steamers and the navy
them more directly with the Navy Department than with
the Post Office Department. think this is matter Of
consideration which should impress itself upon the
dollars the expenditure of the Post Office Department
under decrease of the rates OF postage, and present
additional embarrassment to the service OF the country
may fail indeed OF preserving the rates OF postage
which have while, with that increase which il
is believed by all who have examined il will necessa-
ry follow in time from the reduction OF the rates OF post
age the department will take care OF ITSELF II Others
to be added 10 it, even the rates we have now will
fail 10 pay, and we may hope in vain for further re-
'Si Mr.. cAss do e not think. MI President ha, this
amendment is OF any importance in itself, and Tor one,
have feeling and wish that it should not be adopted
IL very evident that ii will not make cents difference
to the United Staes--no the slightest consequence
in any pecuniary point OF view for the money viii have
to be paid, and the receipts VIII have to come IN IN
the amendment Simply because amendment is
made in the laws providing for naval appropriations,
hs psi Ss DO
in the country, who will take the trouble to look the
expenditures Of the government and the various apopria
tons, will fully understand what belongs 10 the navy
proper, and what TO the Post Office Department think
every will fully comprehend il, and cannot think,
quence But The feeling have against simply this,
and may be but feeling do not wish to take the
character OF vessels for these at all be
cause in the event OF war, II we retain them, they
must TO purposes, and had rather they would
remain under control OF the navy, belong TO II, be
subject 10 ITS saPenntendenee to be used as an arm
1 10 country whenever we shall want them.
i Mr. BORLAND. IL is not my purpose TO make a
speech upon this occasion; am too unwe to do
But shall vote for this amendment OF the senator from
Florida, because, in my opinion, II tells the uull-be-
cause II represents this matter IN Its true light 10 the
country and exposes condition OF things connected with
this business which, IN my opinion has not been fairly
and perfectly presented TO the country The proposition,
II think, originated with the honorable senator from
North Carolina, tbr BADGER,l one of the best friends
and wamest advocates OF this measure Sir consider
it avirtua abandonment OF the ground upon which this
contract was originally made Warpurposes, we were
iold the only ground upon which many senators
and representatives justified their vote upon the contract
in the first instance. 1t either that,
nopoly Proeciion-a gratuy TO particular interest
was the only ground upon which gentlemen OF certain
political opinions could justify their votes; while others
said not protection bnt simple exercise OF power
10 maintain the navy and upon that ground they gave
their support
/ Now, SIR, here is the represented, think,
fairly The senator from North Carolina the other day,
first made this Suggestions and now he and his friends
have abandoned their own banting and we have the
naked proposition OF giving protection TO particular in.
teres particular project and, the other hand, 10
making il mere mail line which appeals TO Congress
and the country only 10 be connected under the pro.
vision OF the general law, that the Atlantic mail line
shall be placed upon the footing with all int
ror lines II s because II presents II in this aspect that
| | shall vote for the amendment II tells the truth
The question being taken by yeas and nays the
amendment OF MIR. MALJoRY-to transfer the contract TO
the Post Office Department-tbey stood yeas Is. nays
| 10, az follow
\ yEAS-Messrs Adams, Atchison, Borland, Bfodhesd.
las Hunter, Jones Of Tennessee King, Mallory. Mason
Sebastian, Underwood, Wade. and Wcler-lS
NAYS-Messrs Badger, Bell, Berrien, Bright, Cass.
Clarke Dawson, Geyer Hale Hamn, Houston, James,
Msngpm, Norris, Rusk, Seward, Smith, SUMNER and Up
hnm--l9.
Mr.. BORLAND. Propose to offer remarks upon
the amendment as 1t now stands; but the DAY s
pretty much consumed, and as am very much indis
posed do not think sh all be able get through to-
day. even if I should undertake TO speak | move 10
postpone the further consideration OF the subject until
Tomorrow.
The motion agreed to-
ny A. GREEN. Anessonssr.
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