The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-02

more important our country And while we should
carefully guard the treasury against wanton waste VIII
never consent 10 be TO stand by II as sufly WaCh
dog 10 bar all access TO is deposits in every case ex
cept when stern necessity may open It's vaults u - my
impression. sir that the United States treasury IS me
repository OF the peoples money. and that thefe can DC
no better use made OF the excess. after having uy pro-
vlded for The wants OF The government than 10 expend
il for purposes and objects calculated TO promote lhe
public good. would mol recommend measures 10 empty
the treasury and 10 impoyerlsh The government nelheI
would act The mserly part, and, from The mere love OF
money hoard u up and nus withhold q .hg M can
minister 10 tae rsnown the reputation, or tne glory o
our naon, TO keep up. al the expense oi lhe ohNeu
States treasury such enterprises, such steamers, as
cannot support themselves P' And again 81 acknow
edge that il is beneficial TO faeite postal commun
cations, provided il can be done on lhe seil-sus
a new line OF legitimate business which would spring
up and support itself upon the legitimate fruits OF
industry. acknowledge would redonod to our nation
al honor and reputation" Now, sir. from all these
remarks, deduce but one isolated Idea; 1t s, That
nothing rebound to the glory honor and reputation
of our country except il shall return TO the government
al least dollar for dollar lo the expenditure This truly,
is calculating national renown glory honor and reputa
the basis OF the standard value OF gold and sl-
vera rule that occurred 10 me before. Vi course,
if dollar for dollar would give 10 our country certain
amount of renown glory honor and reputation or. ~
the senator's language, new line OF legitimate busi-
ness would give a certain amount OF those commodi-
ties, then, by the rule, profit OF one hundred per
cent. would increase them prodglousy. My own op'n-
is that the renown. honor glory, and reputation, OF
money and money-making, is not worth much and II
this result all the people OF the United States
aze IRON government expenditures, Il would seem 10 me
that they will not have much 10 thank us Tor.
Mr. President, what constitutes the true basis OF the re-
glory, honor, and reputation of nation, and ior
which, while thankful to higher power they have
good reason 10 indulge in becoming degree OF national
pride Sir in my estimation those great and important
characteristics res, principally not wealth, bu, the
government OF nalion-on It's political and civil insti-
ulons, the virtue and intelligence of lis people, lis just
and equal laws, and its exercise of justice and equity
home and abroad. In nation where these approx.
mate nearest to perfection there is noneed TO purchase
counterfeit reputation with gold and silver There talent
and industry will be 10 meet their reward there
works Of civilization and art will spring up there
tonal and individual wealth will accumulate and with
these will the national greatness be built up and estab
lshed On this greatness will be reflected the "renown
glory honor, and reputation" OF Tie nation, created by
lis moral and political character. Sir, nothing add
more TO this national greatness than progress in cylza
ton and The arts and every dollar expended by the gov
ernment TO promote these, though may be returned
directly 10 the treasury, will yield en-iod profit the
people, IRON whom it was first derived and whose prop
erty il ls On this view OF The subject sir uy opinion s
that Congress is would be, fully justified in extend
ing pecunay and 10 enterprises to extend civilization and
the arts as general benefit without the expecia
ton or promise OF direct remuneratDg return to the
treasury Such has been the practice OF all civilized
governments and 10 this practice. in part at least do
Great Britain and France the commanding position
they occupy in science, literature. and the arts
Mr.. President, was on the ground OF the general ben
eft 10 be conferred that we'll others, advocated
and voted for the additional compensation TO the Collins
line OF steamers. 1t was neither predicted nor promised
10 my knowledge, as the senator from Virginia Nr
HUNTERl would seem TO infer, that posages in.
crease immediately as 10 make the transportation OF
the mail elfsus,aning business The qualification OF
national pde the vast benefits conferred the country
BY means OF the important mechanical improvements
rved at 10 the process OF constructing the vessels that
compose that line, the powerful eject produced in
quence on our merchants steam marine, and also the
beneficial effect that might be expected to result to
steam navy-hese the principal causes urged and
constituting the main ground which The appropriation
4 made and aI!ege, that well
pended, il a single dollar OF il returned
But the senator from Virginia iners that, had not Con-
gess nlerered IN the construction OF these ships private
enterprise and competition would have caused ships 10 be
built, good these II not better Ii things
as they one tell how they would have been
Private enterprise, without government aid, might have
produced all that the honorable gentlemen imagine, and
II might produce nothing. This Is natter OF opn-
ion. One fact, however clear my viewf the gov
eminent wished 10 have steamers built suitable Tor
purposes TO be placed partially under its control, with
the night 10 take them into the public service whenever
!, might see hl !, was no more than right and just
that government should also contribute TO pay the
cost incurred that account But has been said that
these ships are "riekeay concerns. II they So
whose fault is it They were built in accordance With
government contract, under the supervision OF expe-
renced officers OF the navy Tho them when
finished to the government To call them "ricety
Germs Is 10 pay but poor compliment 10 those officers
know not how deeply versed the senator's from Virginia
and Florida Messrs. HUNTER and MALLQRYl may be in
the ART OF naval construction but for my own part.
would much prefer to rely on the opinion IN this matter
oi the navy officers who supernended their consiruc-
ton, the unrvalea success which has attended these
ships on The and The unqualified appreciation be-
slowed on them by the many thousands who have made
passages in them. My honorable friends are the only
persons have ever heard OF who pronounced them
rokets concerns and against this denuncatioa stands
II is believed the full force OF universal public opinion
al home and abroad.
But have also been told that these ships are unfit
for purposes, except to be used transports And
why sos They are as strong as our navy steamers;
have as good agong qualities and in point OF speed,
far exceed the best OF them Why, then, they unfit
sde-whees, while the British and French governments
are building propeers Here, then, is another deDuDca.
ton founded mere matter OF opinion. No practical
test has been bad 10 decide the question. Perhaps we
may be allowed, IN this country to be capable OF
forming correct opinion on this subject they in
England and France The side wheel steamer moves
with much greater speed than the propeller, and,
gagged IN battle with the latter, always choose her
own position If likely 10 be overpowered, she read
lily haul oil and leave her ntagonis-neher OF which
the propeller do. Bot the great apprehension with
regard to side wheel TO be the liability
have their wheels disabled in time OF action and some
people appear 10 think that every ball from enemy
must strike and demosh some part of the wheel or
wheels, yet probably not one ball in hundred would
strike any part oil tue Wheel and all being
there would be ninety chances for the ball to glance
without doing any injury for again il and great
damage might be done 10 wheel and yet leave 1t in
working order. mot only so but should one wheel be
utterly demolished against which there would be more
than thousand chances TO one, the speed OF the SIDE
wheel steamer with her remaining wheel would still ex
ceed that OF the propeller For and for other rea
sons and not alone my opinion is, that for purposes
OF attack and defence the side wheel steamer would be
superior ihoagh before having studied the subject was
inclined to give the propeller the preference.
Mr. President. we are told that the Collins line is an
tncu uhuan fhan Rv xpha n tha