The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-16

pose OF paying these for the purpose OF sub
Stating them for their subsistence y 10 be paid under
existing law-but Tor the purpose OF enabling the Prea
dent 10 carry into effect some incidental provision cons
emglaed by this bill And the honorable senator says
they TO sustain themselves. Now. entertain very
great respect for that senator's opinion upon any subject
But submit 10 him that ii we send these soldiers there
10 protect country OF some two three thousand miles
in exien-3 600 iaen in all-they will have but lutte
lime 10 raise supplies by agricultural labor, in any
other way. That will be found g & be The case AM
what 10 II 10 cost the country What is il 10 cost The
treasury 10 raise these 1900 men, for these purposes thai
at present. far as understand. purely pEospeciiye
- Inc honorahe senator irom New Hampshire, lMI
ALg the way, says that il will cost thousand
dollars man. That, then, makes 80 900, 900 at once.
do moi intend TO debate this bill 10 any extent at
present But seems 10 that. in order 10 preserve
harmony in the legislation Of this county this bill
which is almost entirely OF military character, should
pass under the revision OF the Committee on Military
Affairs therefore move that II be referred TO the Mill
Mr. DOUGLAS believe tha, motion canno, be en-.
ierianed until we get Out OF committee OF The whole
The honorable senator from Virginia, [NIr MAsoN.l
think, ,nlsaprcLcnds the Character OF the bill 10 which
he objects, The object o! this BILL has been prev
ousy stated. is to protect the regularly travelled e
grant route across the continent The objects 10 be ac
compshed are not imag mary or merely IN anticipation
but they are real. suppose there are now upon the
plains, crossing upon this route az least 20 900 men
women, and children, unprotected from Indian hosill,
ties, and every day or less OF them are scaped by
the sayages long ago in 1916 regiment was raised
and added the regular army for the express purpose OF
protecting this line OF elngratona regiment OF 1000
men,. The necessities Of the country-being then en-
gagged IN foreign Warnduced the then President OF the
United States 10 divert them from the objects for which
they raised and send them to Mexico. Since that
time il bas been found necessary, at any rate i, has
been deietmnet 10 keep Them in other service than that
of protecting this route Of emigration But apprehend
that man will pretend that il is consistent with the OBJ
legations and duty Of Congress and this government 10
leave this line OF emigration unprotected
We are bound 10 protect citizens, and there
are various high considerations that demand that this
line especially shall be rendered safe and secure The
question is, How is il TO be accomplished? Will you
send your regular army there or Will you protect this
route by line OF military colonization! If you send
your regulars there, then you must also send your sup
plies there both for the and their animals and is
this transportation that constitutes very large proportion
OF your military expenditures. | think that military coll
onzaon will be found the most ehectua and the cheap
est mode OF protecting this line This blu provides for
raising three regiments OF volunteers for three years. and
they are 10 be paid in land along the line. AT the
end OF the three years hope TO be able 10 withdraw
the military machinery of This place, and have connu-
ous line oil settlements from the States upon this side Of
the mountains TO The settlements in California and Ore
son. Your military force then be withdrawn On
the contrary, If you do not encourage military colonial
tion you must have army upon this line forever,
Tor very long time 10 come.
believe that these three regiments, which 10 be
composed OF farmers principally and required to raise
their own provisions and the supplies also for their
animals, 10 the fullest extent to which the country
be made 10 produce themhese three regiments will be
sustained upon this line cheaper than regiment ese
where; and if you will make comparison in dollars
and cents between the three regiments provided by this
bli and one regiment OF regular troops you will find
that the three regiments OF this bill will cost the govern
ment less money--perhaps not more than one-hal as
much money-as the one regiment oil regular troops
The expenses Tor the first year will be as lagepeihaps
larger than Tor the two years following. But believe
thai as mailer OF economy, and matter OF duty TO
our own citizens, this is the best mode OF accomplishing
The object IN view.
Now, in regard 10 the suggestion OF the honorable
senator that am anticipating the establishment OF mail
route across this county, and providing force Tor the
protection OF il before is established, beg leave say
years past mail route established upon this line. and
the mail carried regularly when il could be carried
through and protected from the Indians II arises from
the necessities of the that there is mail route
along this line We have military posts along this line
and we have territory organized half way over thus lIne
aud we have mails carried theTe-Dot very regular, mol
very often, may be yet there contracts in exist
ence for the regular transportation OF the mails across
this line.
Now in regard 10 this telegraphic ne that constitutes
a mere incident OF the bill.
Mr. MASON. Before the honorable senator leaves
The question OF the transportation OF The mail across this
route, should like TO learn from him If he is informed
whether there any existing contract TO carry the mail
between any of the States upon the Mississippi river
the State o Missouri or any other Sate-and the State
OF California and the Territory OF Oregon-an inland
mail route across the county should like TO have
him inform whether there Is any existing contract 10
carry this mail and il there s how often it 10 be car
Mr. DOUGLAS Not expecting TO be eaiechised upon
this subject, am not able TO these nteuogao-
res in detail happen to know, however that several
years ago-in 1916 thnk-a mail route was established
by law across this line; and happen 10 know that do
ring Mr.. Pok's administration, when Cave Johnson
the head OF the Post Office Department, he made con.
tract for the transportation OF the mail from the Missouri
border TO Utah Territory, and beyond TO the west
side OF the mountains.
Mr.. ATCHiS0N. I can answer that question il the
honorable senator from Illinois Mr. DouoLAsl will per
NIT me 10 do
Mr. DOUGLAS. Certainly; with pleasure.
Mr.. ATCHlSON. There is a ma.rouie established
and mail.ca employed 10 carry the mail to the Salt
Lake and the route continues TO Oregon. Ihe maui -
carried over this route.
Mr. MASON. BY whom
Mr.. ATCHlS0N. / do not know.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. The mail is carried 10 Utah, and has
been carried there for some years. | do not know
whether contracts made to transport the mail the
residue OF the way to Oregon and California not But
that is entirely immaerta The public interests require
mail 10 be carried this line But the mail IL the
least important OF the objects IN this bill The object OF
this bill is TO form line OF settlements along this route
that traders, and travellers, and emgrans, and settlers
may be protected from the avages and the iomahawks OF
the Indians have no faith that can hold settle
menis upon the Pacific in connexlon with those
uPoa thls side OF the mountains unless have line OF
settlements this country la the event Of Euro
pean war would like 10 know how you 10 have any
comm unicaton between the Atlantic and the Pacific
Staes believe that the safety OF this Union, the IN
legrty OF this rcpubc, requires that communication
these mountains should he kept up and rendered
secure; and believe that the only mode OF accomplish
ing that object is by continuous line OF settlements. and
thatne OF settlements be formed only by giving this
country military protection for short tms until they
strong enough to protect themselves. | think that
three years under the operation OF this bill would
form such a line OF settlements would enable
them 10 protect themse YES, at least upon the most