The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-30

far IRON iayorng any scheme which would lead 10 the
abandonment OF steamship mail transportation BY the gov
eminent
Bat on the other hand il seems 10 me that The sys.
ten OF contracts with favored individuals, for long
Term OF years, has nothing IN II 10 recommend il 10 legts
laiiye favor Il might be justified aexpedient al The
outset when the whole system OF ocean mail communion
uon BENG newno contract could be nude except terms
such his contract contains But afler The expert
meni has been tried, and the communication established,
surely we ought TO avail ourselves OF the earliest posi-
bic opportunity TO reduce these contracts within the pn
clpes 81 our general postal system This amendment
simply effects that object. As the matter stands,
according to the representations OF the friends oil the
Collins line they are about to abandon the transportation
oil The mats. They gay they cannot 20 Oh, and will not
go on, unless will grant them additional compensa
ton, We are urged TO grant BY appeals TO national
prle and public poIicy-appealsl am free 10 confess.
not without great influence upon me but we should not
allow ourselves 10 be persuaded by such appeals 10 depart
any further Than absolutely necessary from general
system, which is applicable we'll to the transportation
Of the mails abroad to the transportation OF the mails
home system, uniform iii lis application 10 all trans
poraion, will work best If this object can be attained by
the adoption oil this asendmeni may reasonably grant
additional compensation for The limited period conlem.
plated We may then leave these gentlemen with their
steamships already constructed and benefited by this APP
proprlaon, 10 come into competition with any line that
may hereafter be devised On the other hand, the gov
eminent will be at liberty 10 avail itself OF any line
that may be proposed--the Northeastern and Galway
route for example, which shortens The distance between
the two countries several hundred miles, and will greatly
expedite the transit Of the mails desire that the gov
ernment may avail itself Of this opportunity and Of every
awaiting itself of all advantages arising from free and
open competition. Place these mail contracts
upon the footing with other mail contracts relieve
them from the mpuations OF fav0sm and lob5ng to
which they are snbjec.ed-and l think they will be
sustained, and be sustained Literally and cordially
Mr. SEWARD. Mr.. President, having addressed the
Senate at length in an early stage OF the debaie did moi
intend TO address the Senate again in favor OF this bill
rise now for the only purpose OF saying word with
gard 70 toe msIils q me proposition O The honorable
which renders il impossible Tor us who favor this amend
ment to accept his proposition. The propnelors Of these
steamers want aid advanced, and the sum that this bill
provides for is the least that will their purpose
Now, sir, the honorable senator proposes TO vote that and
but requires 10 take 1t condition that the contract
may be terminated al the expiration OF two years What
then. would be the condition Of the enterprise and OF the
parties engaged in at that time. il the contrac. with the
government should thus be broken up' Why, would
be this that after the vast outlay OF expenditure pro-
curing and furnishing these has been borne by the
poprietors the property falls into the hands OF the pro-
retors Then these steamers are 10 be left upon their
hands, and the government is at liberty to make contracts
with others to furnish The necessary mail transportation
The effect, think, would be to throw upon their hands
the whole OF their property .for which they would have
with the United States. for the benefit not Of the propre
tors, but OF the United Staesof entirely different
class and character from what the merchants would
have built for their They were required 10 be
built carry the mails; they required to be
built that they would be enabled 10 carry the mails with
greater expedition than any other steamers they were
moreover required TO build them that they would be
adapted for warlike purposes Now these merchants
do not want steamers for warlke purposes they do
not want them for carrying the mails II IL. therefore,
not right upon the part OF the United States 10 engage
these people 10 build steamers for chiefly Their own,
and alter having made the experiment. and demonstrated
that IS successful TO abandon the contract at the expi
ration OF two years, and throw the cost, and the burden
and the loss upon the proprietors should have OBJ
lection TO the amendment Of the honorable senator from
Ohio j he would add to il provision that the govern
ment should take the steamers upon the terms oil the
tract at the expiration OF that time But il very clear
that we should propose such an amendment, the hon
orabe senator would retire from the proposition These
propreiors ask and entitled TO aid The honorable
senator would give the boom but in shape quite too
costly for them TO accept II would prove 10 be like the
gratitude OF Romethe recipient would be crashed by MS
weight. w
Mr.. CHASE. | require but moment. Mr.. President
The amendment which offered was put into shape in
which those who opposed 10 this general contract
system with regard to steamships could vote for it, Ii
was framed IN precise accordance with bill which has
already passed the Senate al the present session. providing
for a line oil steamship mail communication between
New Orleans and Vera Cruz. ! could not have aDtici
paed the Objection which has now been made by the
senator from New. York, tMr. SEWARD because we
have been informed repeatedly, IN the OF this de
bate, that an increase OF compensation is not allowed
The pTopne,ors OF these steamships will be compelled 10
abandon their contract What then ollows They can
not then ask the 10 take these steamships oil
OF their hands, because they will have broken their con-
tract from the PRESSURE IT Is said, OF urgent necessity
which they cannot control do not dispute the exist
OF that necessity but II is fact that they pre-
pared now 10 abandon their conrac they ready
10 deprive themselves OF the advantage which II gives
tlen IN respect governments taking these steamships at
their cos-hen the absence OF such obligation from this
amendment cannot be legitimate ground oil complaint
because they 10 in the very prelcament which
the amendment places Them IN. do not propose, how
10 prolong the debate but as consider the amend
ment Of importance, ! Will ask The yeas and
nays upon IT,
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. RUSk MIR PRESIDENT The adoption OF this amend.
ment shall regard defeating the whole measure. II
would render il exceedingly doubtful whether sbould
vote Tor The original proposition al allF
1hq uIpt ho
proposes
"Thst the propr-tors OF said line OF steaor shall con.
sent 10 such modification Of the existing contract that tie
Potmaser General advertise for aud accept propo
sails for carry Ing the mails In suitable steamships OF less
than two thousand tons BURDEN between the United States
and Great Britain from aud alter Ito said STAT day
OF December, 1864, when said contract shalt cease be
obligatory"
That takes away the qualities OF these ships which con-
sinie The main grounds upon which have voted for
them. You have security 10 that amendment for the
strength and safety Of the vesses and the consequence
purpose OF carrying the mail; they would not be suitable
Tor war purposes and could not be used by the govern
ment N case oil emergency, which Is OF The strongest
arguments IN favor oil this system and which induced
me 10 support u. III, in carrying the mails, have
sufficient number OF good available ships 1t will save
much more Than the expense that lay out in the way
OF carrying The mails and us The expense OF adding
TO the navy proper II 10 keep pace with other
counties who increasing their naval FORCE either we
must make large additions TO navy proper, OF have
ships that in OF emergency we can nse. II we
abandon the qualities of these ships, then the ne
cessy exists nj once TO put navy proper on equal
ny win other countries, which adding largely 10 their
steam marine. TO increase navy will bring with il
train OF expenses. We must have large additional
and tnr II.