The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-27
Nc. RRODHFAn 81 aiaI


bu as There was some objection the former PROPOSE
ton, wished merely TO submit il in ne form and have
he vote OF ihe Senate upon IL The senator rises with
as much urgency and energy had never heard OF
The dock before II had time could refute everything
he senator has said He says that in 1851 Congress de-
eided against The dock II be will look al the act he will
nha hdt u s very evident that they decided against moth
ng OF the kind In his letter. the then Secretary OF The
Navy stated that he had reserved the right 10 abrogae
20 much oil the contract related the hasn and rail
way. Inc matter was then in this state And the whole
amount OF that is, that the Secretary should proceed 10
contract Tor the Dock and the authority which had been
gwen INN m regard TO The basin and railway taken
away IRON eim. Now, the state OF things is entirely
changed Let me read from private letter OF The Secre
ary on THIS subject II is addressed 10 The chairman oil
The Committee On Naval Affairs:
The purchase Of Mare island has been
me ute I. now in The United States The navy-yard may
therefore be regarded definitely established The basin
and railway Tor the floating dock Philadelphia In lu
intended" " NY '
That is all have 10 say only want yo,e
Mr.. MASON The honorable senator ffom North
Carolina showed me the amendment which he has now
offered and which indicates that the contract in relation
10 the dock should be carried out told him | would
cheeriuliy vote for IT, did know al that time that
IN 1851 the Congress OF the United States had limited the
discretion OF the Secretary which he had in that
contract The contract was that the contractors should
construct this dock basin, and railway of The appo-
paiion made Tor upon The terms prescribed but il re-
served 10 the Secretary The right rescnd sbroga,e
that part OF The contract for the basin and railway IT,
upon trial al Philadelphia. il found moi 10 be useful
ln 1851 the Congress Of the United Saies passed law
prohibiting The construction OF anything than dry
dock. suppose il was mandatory upon The Secretary
and that he bound abrogae so much of the con-
tract as related 10 the basin and railway cannot there
fore, vote for the amendment
Mr.. BRODHEAD. ask tor the yeas and nays on
the amendment.
Mr.. HALE. The provision of that act Of 1851 which
has been discussed was simply OF this character: The
Secretary had conditional right revoke this contract
provided that the basin and railway at Philadelphia
which was experiment. failed TO answer the expeca.
tons OF The government And this the direction OF
nnf In ~ -
but II was no revocation OF the contract
MT BRoDHEAD. do no, so understand the law.
The yeas and nays were ordered and being taken,
resulied-yeas 81, nays Pas follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Badger Bell, Cass Charlton, Dodge Of
Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa. Douglas, Downs, Fish, Geyer
Gwin. Hale, Houston. James, Mallory. Mangum. Morton,
Sumner. Walker and Weler-27
Bradbury Bright Bfodheaa Chase Clarke Cooper paps
Dawson, Fitzpatrick Hamiin Hunter Jones of II
Mason Miller, Pearce, Petit Prau, spruance Underwood
So the amendment was agreed TO-
LIBERIA
Mr.. MILLER. wish TO offer the following amend.
neni:
For equipment maintenance and supply Of an expedi-
Of Liberia and the sscertaining Of the Of that
esoi ana iaf me eoonzson o. the free blacks Of The
Secretary Of the Navy, SI25,0oo.
The Secretary OF the Navy addressed letter TO the
chairman OF ibe Committee on Finance recommending
ihis appropriation. with estimate, and requesting that
the appropriation should be made Ii has been acted
upon by the committee. aud have ihonghi nv duty
10 presen, this amendment Tor the action OF The Senate
lne Senate viii recolleci thai the Secretary OF the Navy
IN bis annual report, directed the attention OF the Presi.
dent and The country 10 this subject will read short
extract IRON that report:
In Commsnder Lynch whom The country is already
indebted porxni service in another field have Iouna
prompt and ardent volunteer for this empoyment He i,
now on his way TO the African He will and Ii
IBERIA, Cape Paims and other points, and will purn. his
a a he
cerainnent OF such localities The of the African
continent present the greatest seiite whether
by the river by iuland ronie for enetratIn
with least hazard to the interior He will collect tnforma-
uon ionchng the geosra phical character of The cosnry
ofafordng the necessary supple, Of men and pro
visions The temper OF the nhabitan wheier hostile or
iIendy the proper precautions 10 be observed
The health Of parry employed, and all other items OF
kuowsdse upon which II may be proper hereafter pre-
pare and corr bne the forces essential the Of
complete and useful exploration Of the interior la the
performance OF bis duty under the favorable
stances, be viii encounter the perils Of climate famed
for m unwhoesome influence upon the white man, and
may hardly hope 70 escape the exhibition OF hostility from
tue natives. Thesprit which has prompted him TO
this perous adventure honorable bis courage sud
philanthropy, trust will enable him 10 brave every hazard
WIN success 70 overcome every obstacle IN his progress.
and himself for the plshen OF the gre al
object 70 which base preparations directed. III tae
mean ne most earnestly commend the subject Of the
exploration 10 the early and iavoable OF Con.
gres with ihe expression Of my that
no eh.eplo q me present Gay that deserves higher
degree OF iavor that viii hono ably sgnaze the
enlightened policy Of this government Ia the OF
The present Or Of fntnte generations il VIII require lib
era appropriation OF money and an enlarged discretion
connotu Navy Department Tor
and arrangement Of plan Of operation which must
brace TIE en- pluJ met ot a number of Men. supply
81 bos.s, and tools, aad the enlistment such
scientific aid long and abortous inland exploration
besei with many dangers ahd difficulties. will suggest"
II will be perceived BY the Senate that this expedition
has two objects in The first is the exploration OF
the aieor OF Africa, and especially OF thar portion of
Africa, lying directly OF the republic Of Ii.
bera, for the purpose Of developing its natural wealth
and commercial resources II - believed by those who
have look ed this subject that there lsge region OF
country directly eastward from Liberia, oil higher eIeva
on productive and healthy, than that bordering on
the coast England has paid considerable attention 10
The exploration OF Africa for the purpose OF developing
is resources 10 reference 10 her trade with The inte
humanity and OF civilization, demand that we should do
something for the Improvement OF Africa.
The country intended TO be explored lies between the
merdians Of 20 deg west aud 20 deg east Greenwch)
and the parallels OF deg and IS deg north latitude; s
inhabited county OF which have sufficiently au-
thenc accounts from actual observation by white men.
and reliable reports OF natives, 10 warrant belief that
there live upon many millions OF people who need, and
desrous TO receive The products OF the agriculture and
manufactures OF more civilized nations. Towards that
county adventurous explorers have made essays from
the Niger The SOUTH and also from the Mediterranean
The British now eBdeavorng 10 trade with IT IRON
Sierra Leone, and from the gold coast. Between these
Two localities lies The republic OF LIBERIA, odeung The
only means OF which be securely open 10 the
activity OF the United States Hence the question OF
ploaion opens The question whether or not the United
States shall have proper share OF the great inland ra
&c of Africa
The second object is one which consider OF a char.
seier emneny national IL for the purpose OF aiding
in the colonization OF free persons OF color from the Un
ted States into Afnca The present position OF these