Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26

The constant shipment Of coal to the Pacific would Civ
employment to class OF ships outward bound who's
voyages would probably be made up with large sur
pies Of guano thus reducing the price Of that valuabl
sumnant to vegetable production now SO necessary To
portion Of tobacco lands There the articles Of 10
bacco and guauo alone, without other commodities af
lord the means Of opening rapid and most profitable in
tercourse with China The product Of tobacco would b
increased in corresponding to the increa SCI
demand Of two hundred millions Of Chinese consumers
ana thus our national wealth be greatly augmented.
The most obvious measure which full examination OF
THE question suggests is the establishment Mt as early
day as It may conveniently be accomplished Of line Of
steamers adapted to the character OF the trade and inter
course II IL intended to BY what means or by
what conditions whether by the direct agency the Gov
eminent BY the encouragement and aid individual en-
terprise carefully and effectively directed to that end this
object is TO be secured with greatest advantage national
anu commercial interests, is question upon which this
Department will not venture to express opinion, the
subject being more appropriately and with the certainty
of better decision left the deberaon of Congress
That it will be productive of the most valuable and inter
esng results 10 the commerce of Asia and America when
ever this communication is Effected in such manner as TO
uy answer the demands upon it, scarcely be regard
ed as point for dissenting opinion Like all the other
Departments which have attended the national enter
prise OF late years the quarter of our new posses
sons the Pacific, shose which may be expected to fol
low upon the opening OF established and permanent
navigation between California and China will be not less
calculated to nce constantly increasing motives 20 com
mend the policy which sha foster and sustain it,
THE STEAMBOAT LAW.
Dir, DAVIS, from the Committee Commerce. report
ed joint resolution relating to the duties of inspectors
Of steamers, approved the 9TH day of January 1853
which lie asked might be considered at once.
Mr. DAVIS explained the object of the resolution which
grant extension of the time until the LIST of June
Mr. CASS thought the law involved interests of great
magnitude and should be carefully considered He did
pretend to accurate knowledge the subject he
had received letters from interested in the matter
which stated the law might very materially inure the
vi.r ntipsr i,,f.r tanfth hal lya
Mr. DAVIS again explained that the object to ex-
tend the time for the law to go into effect until the
ls June next, beyond which he did not conceive it
cessary to 60.
Mr. CAsS said the law in question contemplated radi-
cal changes involving expense we'll difficulty
and embarrassment very large amount of capital in
vested and that it had been represented to him would
well-nigh exterminate the navigation the lakes.
Mr. RUSK contended that the practical effect Of the
law had been already felt; there caution OBJ
served. Before this bill introduced they had
Of full five hundred souls having been swept into
eternity in avery short period Since its introduction he
had not heard Of single He regarded human life
of quite much value capital. lie paid compli-
Mr. DAVIS for the zeal evnced by him in perfect
ing the BILL and he regarded it Of the proudest
acts of that Senator's life.
Mr. HAMLIN accorded with every word uttered by the
Senator from Texas, Mr.. RUsK.) He thought the
MORALS with which the Senate had been deuged against
this law should not drive it from its propriey He had
read these memorials most Of which for the destruc
ton Of the law, rather than its modification.
Mr. PEARCE admitted that the extension of time grant
ed by the resolution TO the st June soened much Of the
harshness Of the measure but still there difficulties
and embarrassmens complained Of which represent
ed TO him grievous in themselves
Mr. DAVIS thought the law had been fairly stated
by the memoralist that frivolous objections had been
raised against it. and went instance wherein such
had been the Mr.. d. admitted that he desired the
aid and of the and masters of steam
boats and hence he thought the best policy extend
the time for the law going into effect until the st Of
june beyond which period he did not think it poll
tic to 20.
Mr. BoRLAND expressed surprise at hearing the state
ment made by the Senator from Maryland that the
tension Of time had materially softened the harshness Of
the If saving the lives of and children
was harshness then the bill might be considered harsh
but il he had his way he would not extend the time
single hour In Difference however to the Senator from
Massachusetts, (Nlr. DAVIS he would vote FOR the time
specified, TO wit, the 1st of June.
Mr. DAVIS again made succnct statement of the diff
fculties in the way Of steamboat owners and showed
what the resolution contemplated and the exceptions
made registering passengers and epreseryers IN
cases Of excursions Of pleasure, &c
Mr. BORLAND insisted that pleasure excursions were
the dangerous that the loss of life such
sions had been appalling and said he should move TO
strike out that section from the resolution.
Mr.. PEARCE did not mean to cast any reflection on
the committee when he said the extension Of time had
eyed the bin of much Of its harshness The harshness
Of the confined chiefly to the boats naygat
ing the Chesapeake In that quarter accidents fatal to
life were little known Indeed he had known Of only
instances Of which had occurred thirty years ago.
and another that had taken place when boat pre-
pairing for a trial trip. The subject he thought full Of
completely and difficulties and, well matured the bill
had been that it still needed revision He thought the
time should be extended and he would therefore move to
strike the ls of June and insert the LIST of October
Mr.. WALKER argued against the motion Of extension
of time
Mr. PRATT spoke of Of the chief objections this
bill being its extension vast territory and variety
Of interests However suitable might be for the West
was not applicable boats the Chesapeake and its
tributaries that portion Of the country did not feel
the necessity of any such He contended that
there had been less loss of life by steamboat travel
the Chesapeake than by any other mode Of conveyance
III the West desired the BILL he willing to vote for it
but he did not think that such useless resolutions ought
should for the st Of October but would prefer
exempt his State entirely from the operations Of the law
Mr.. BADGER opposed 10 any extension beyond
the st Of June be would vote for that period in accord
with the views Of the Senator from Massachusetts,
but beyond it he would not be willing go single day
hour II time that this power to leopard human life
the discretion Of the masters Of steamboats,
should be limited.
The debate was further continued by Messrs. B0R-
LAND BRIGHT, MALLORY, HAMLIN, RUSK, Sc
WARD, and DAVIS; when the question taken the
motion Of Mr. PEARcE TO extend the time TO the st Of
October, and decided in the negative:
YEAS-Messrs. Bayard Bright Brodhead Cass, Charlton,
Chase Dawson, James, Mallory Pearce, Pratt Toucey4
NAYS-Messrs Adams, Atchson, Badger, Bell Borland,
Bradbury Brooke Clarke Cooper Davis DeSaussure Dodge
Of Wisconsin Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Fitzpatrick
Foot Gwn, Hale Hamin Houston Jones of Iowa. Jones Of
Tennessee, Mangum, Miller Morton, Rusk, Seward Smith,
Spruancc, Sumner Underwood Wade Walker, Weller-55.
Mr.. B0RLAND then moved to strike out the clause re-
latng to pleasure excursions and ii agreed to.
Mr.. JAMES offered amendment, the effect Of which
would have been to have confined the feboats to Fran
css patent but il rejected and the resolution was
then read n third time and passed.