The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-28

Now what desire to call the attention OF the House TO-
more particularly is, that the principles Of this bin
right the government desires to relieve itself from
burden OF taxation in carrying and keeping up the mail
between the Atlantic and Pacific coast Il must adopt this
principle il possibly relieve itself from large
parden OF taxation laid upon its shoulders.
HOUSE, or REPRESENTATIVES,, AruL IL, 1854
Combination Of Debate
The SPEAKER. The question is on referring the fol-
lowing bill to the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of
the Union bill to empower the Postmaster General 10
contract for the transportation of the United States mail
nom New vY oresns M to San Francseo sssprd 'e"ss
"'iide SPEAKER It is
Mr. PHELPS desire to say something in reference
Mr.. HAMILTON, believe am entitled to the floor
upon that bill
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Maryland is en,i-
[Messrs HAMILTON of Maryland PHELPS Of Missouri and
N NJ % Of Virginia addressed the House in opposition
the floor, and closed the dehaie.l - -
NJ WAsIBuRNK, q Illinois Win the gentleman. yield
Mr.. CHURCHWELI. Does the gentleman rise TO qucs-
ton of order?
Mr. NJ WASHBURNE y,11S.aIJ,9 Iao.
Mr.. WASHBURNE. What desired to know was,
whether the gentleman has not occupied the floor
upon this matter?
The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks the gentleman has
Mr. CHURCHWELI Does the gentleman desire to speak
Mr. wAsHBURNE. No, sir, / do not If the gentleman
has occupied the floor once my purpose to move that
~. WEI nHs not occupied tho oor upou
The SPEAKER If that is the case the gentleman from
Tennessee is entitled to the floor.
Mr. CHURCHWELI. Mr. Speaker am well satisfied,
from the of things here this morning that bill
has more merit in it than was ut first supposed i has at
raced the attention Of the able member from Maryland,
Mr. HAMILTON who has discussed and dsseced its details
this morning, and st there is life left nhc main prin-
ciple
Sir neither the honorable gentleman from Maryland
the honorable gentleman from Missouri has touched the
principle of this bill: not all They have dwelt from
the beginning to the end upon questions concerning its
details They have talked about the compensation which
is offered They have spoken of the different routes be-
touched the great principles Of the bill ITSELF not one Of
them They have not told the House the principle was
wrong; they need not.
The honorable gentleman from Maryland tells the House
that he differs from in reference to this question That
true and differ upon many other questions besides this
take it that the honorable gentleman belongs to the class
of which there several in this House who opposed
to oil changes, whether for good evil who would not
spend one dollar to save ten but who are willing outa
dollar at time all day. long they get eighty
and half cents to dollar back will not such Is the
woaa not Be bns naaoa s They are the men who
sion-to the old fogy party For myself belong TO the
party which IS mbued with spirit of goahea3atveness he @
who when they branch Of the government wither
ing, shrinking, becoming mere incumbrance upon the
peoples treasury ready bring forward and support
measure which will have the effect to give that depart
ment new life and place in healthy condition, that
IL
yield revenue sufficient for the purpose Of carrying it
No business will succeed sir unless conducted in
ner to command the patronage Of the business public Let
ask If this is the with the Post Office Department.
No. sir the expresses carry the mail and the department
pay hundreds of thousands of dollars companies for
ming their steamers the pretence carrying the gov
mail Is this not so2 Were the facts this
before express lines established Then 1t had
competition, and the rural districts better served
with mail facilities than
Sir what the condition OF this department of the
before these expresses were established for car
ryng the ma2 We had revenue enough to afford proper
mail facilities But gentlemen now say the effect Of this
bill will be to increase the deficit Of this department. and
the honorable gentleman from Missouri, with pleasing
that should be bill to increase the deficit In the rcye
nues Of the department And why2 Because proposes
the paid for carrying the mail IL
does such thing 1t proposes entirely different thing
He thinks that time is Of but little consequence To this
argument have no reply All know the Importance OF
time.
Now wish this House distinctly to understand that in
making out this schedule have choice as to the par
ticuar amount Of compensation The object had in view
was only present sufficient TO induce competition
in carrying the principle which, like every new prn-
cpe must have test before II is permanently established
You may ii you choose strike out the compensation Alto
gcter and II you get any of sufficient patriotism
enterprise to undertake to carry for nothing no one
will be more gratifed than shall
But gentlemen say Why take it away from the Post
General? Sir proposes that he shall accept the
contract if in accordance with The law as nc accepts al
NO monopoly One great feature Of il Is to destroy
nopoly which its establishment will do ehectually y
~
tention Of the commercial world to contend for speed
proposes that after contract shall have been made II an
individual or company prove sufficiently and satsiacto-
ry before the Postmasr General that they can carry the
mail three consecutive months in less time than those nav
ing the contract do they shall be entitled TO the contract
Does the bill propose that the government sna aavance
nythng for the purpose OF carrying out c proc1 mas
heen the case on occasions No, sr the contract
Il to be carried out by individuals at their own expense
| and not at the expense of the government
Does Il propose Jake vessels Off the hands Of
ors whenever there shall be disposition change the
contract as the with the Panama and other
Not at ALL The government is amply guarded in
that respectindecd in every respect Sir, the bill con-
tans and important principle, which, tested VIII
be adopted successful the government will receive
much advantage from it If it fails the government loses
nothing II is Mt least safe But the honorable gentleman
from Missouri Mr Purrs tells the House that every time
the mails are changed there Is increase Of expenditure
that desire guard IL is expressly provided in
the ast section Of the bill that change shall
pcndturc TO the request gentlemen to read
that section they will satisfy themselves Of the correct
/ ness Of my position.
4 We are told that time Is Of consequence What arc
the With regard TO the southern mail by OF the
i South Carolina railroad to New Orleans for speed you
now pay over three hundred dollars per mile Time ia
moncyspccd time time saved is money made Yet
gentlemen say that time is of little Importance that the
revenue OF department cannot be increased by tne
saving of time ask in reply, If II could perform Tor ,ne
public their mail service in az goou nie MS e
individual express lines do, would not receive hao
tonal mail business and consequently increased revenue
far exceeding the outlay bring about the result
The honorable from ieans me 10 oeeve
from his remarks that he dcsres-h may pe oweu ,ne
n A.. nnfnt