The daily union., 1852-09-10

OF those who much better acquainted with than
can profess 70 be, is infinitely superior TO the former law
upon that subjects be sci aside for the purpose oil
gratifying The Steamboat owners. Some OF them. have
40 doubt oppose i. might aud maa, simply because they
DO not understand its provisions They imagine thai
they VIII be required 10 change all The machinery their
boas al once, and consequently that the cost oil the
ehinery now IN will be thrown away This is mis-
take The machinery now in use will be retained ii ii is
al such character TO bear the test OF inspection thai
which will not do should OF course be rejected And
all The machinery 10 be made for future use must be sub
Some o the observations made 10 me by these steam
boat pfoprelors not al all cedabe them or 10 nu
man nature They have ayowed their determination 10
defeat The h and have raised such palry objections
the cost o some four five buckets which they will be
compelled to supply at something like quarter OF dol
whole perhaps TO not quite forty dollars
| Mr.. DAVIS. Not the hall OF that
Mr.. RUSK dare say my friend from Massachusetts,
is rlghhe whole will not cost more than half what
have slated And, sir this opposition the bill has been
characterized by such degree OF pertinacily have
never witnessed in outside pressure before. and have
much OF il here Their object appears to be the de-
ieat of all legislation the subject, and the power OF
| exercising their own uncontrolled discretion.
The question for the Senate 10 consider is. whether
they will act IN such to protect steamboat
tepsls alone or whether they will throw some safe
guards round human life, and prevent repetition of
those amentable catasirophes which have occurred so
frequently o late. he perls accompanying steamboat
nayigailon, under the present system great, and
the chances OF encounieng instant and horrible death
are SO numerous, that, for my part, would rather
threatened the journey OF three four thousand
miles from this place TO my home. However, my ind
vllua fate IS matter OF no great consequence 70 the
public-l must go al some time or other, aud possibly
might well go now, by the explosion OF steamboat
boiler by other means, al future day; but sir,
will canddly that would rather take part an
| Indian fght-ay, or enter long Indian campaign,
than venture undertaking this voyage OF three thou
sand or four thousand miles, as must, to my wife
| and children once again.
| Mr. HUNTER. The whole question resolves itself
into this the bill if were passed now, will not
go into operation until next March That being the
do not any reason why those gentlemen who desire
that il should be postponed until the session should
not be nduged by compliance with their request, and
that should devote the residue of the sesslonwhch
is little enough time-to the consideration OF the appro
pration bills AS to the ground taken by the senator
from North Carolina, Mr.. BADGER that the bill could
not be acted upon at the next session under the rule IN
OF posiponemeni think he Is IN error because the
question will then come up an "undeermined bill
All undetermined bills then alive and may be acted
upon.
MIR. RUSK There is one point which forgot 10 men,
ton, and to which should now wish 10 call the aen-
lon of The Senate. II the bill is become law and is
TO go into operation in March, il is necessary that the
owners OF steamboats, should be allowed time for
Mr.. WELLER. It will be scarcely possible for them
to be in rea ness in California then
Mr.. HUNTER. | do not understand the BILL and will
not therefore undertake tospeak but remonstrances
have been made to me by persons who represent that II
will be runous to their interests, and especially It's op
Grafton on the Atlantic board For that have
been desrous that il should be postponed until
sion. only in order that may have opportunity of
examining it, and of ascerainng whether practicable
pass such for the security OF human liie
without infringing on private rights, but that it may be
taken out OF The way OF the appropriation bills
! MIR. STOCKTON. At the risk of being considered
wanting n those sentiments of philanthropy and concern
for human lite which have been eoquenlly and so
ierventy expressed by the senator from Texas, [Mr
RUsK, muet, with the candor becoming senator, say,
thai opposed 10 most OF the details OF the bill
under consideration and that propose TO discuss all the
amendments made by the other House, will rndeav OF
/ In max 4 ian xtlih naltn spf
principles OF human liberty and The rights OF the Citizen
| as iii designed TO be protective OF human life.
Sir, eternal vigilance is the price OF liberty" We
are here TO consder--t 10 our undoubed duty TO
sdewbai Is necessary TO be done for the better proec
ton OF human lite steamboats, But II is likewise our
duty consider what Is due TO seamtoa property and
| steamboat we'll as what is due TO The propc
ton OF steamboat travellers. They all fellow
citizens, equally eDed 10 consideration But sir
there is principle, in my judgment, involved in this bill
lar beyond, Importance, eher OF those questions II
is this how lar the federal government through the in
st.umenality OF the two houses OF Consresg, shall be
permitted 10 interfere with the rights OF personal pro-
", the private business OF any CITIZEN THINK SIR
that under the influence of calamies. much
sensbiy is displayed on this subject; and am afraid
sr that too many AMI too strong eurs will be made for
ciby 10 consfan indiy iyldna liberty, and control pr-
waite business Mr.. President, extremes are near
each oihef--a good principle may go so far as
10 react upon itself, TO the injury OF society
the temperance excitement, for instance. What man,
what Christian man. will not raise his voice in favor OF
the great OF Temperament But sir. is il not likely
with which that benehcent cause threatens the
public Tbe pledge required IN favor OF TEMPERANCE,
while il is in consirain the liberty OF
individual free action, is voluntary principle, confined
10 the individual aud operating only on present time
But sir, when they come 10 improve morals by coer.
clonto interfere with acknowledge ed rights ireemen-
that is a serious matteT-bat is principle which,
though The moment beneficial in its effects, may be
preudicial 10 human liberty in all time TO come Would
you enslaye manknd-wodld you interfere with rights es
sentIa to human liberty and human dignity Would
you, 10 any number OF IRON niemperance,
the DEGREES OF God, which require that the pnnci
ples the heart OF should be altered, and substitute
human enactmenls for that Irrevetsble law upon which
alo any permanent reform may be expected Sir great
caution should be exercised in the application OF the
humane principles upon which this bill is based
When you are about adopting measures 10 save hu-
man life from destruction BOARD OF steamboats,, |
would have you to consider the value OF mans lie
compared with his happiness and his liberty, with the
freedom and happiness race Life is transient and
evanesceni, but liberty and equal rights hope will en-
dure as long as ruth shall endure.
Sir, we ought, indeed, TO be the guardians OF liberty
but seems that we to be not only the guardians
OF liberty, but 10 take under our charge all the men
and women who choose 10 90 on board a steamboat or
not, they see h--ay sir, and on board boat which
IS known to be in the constant practice OF racing
II man will 20 board a steamboat that is not iii
TO carry him, because he can go for a quarter OF dol
lar less than by other conveyance destroy
or any way Interfere with the proper rights OF other
citizens IN order TO him 1t must not be for
goIen that travellers themselves are not altogether Tree
from just reproach and responsibility in this matter
they are the principal cause OF these repeated losses OF