The true Democrat., 1854-07-19
GRESS SIGNAL.
h Senate, June 28, 1854. MAIL LINE BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND SHAN

GHAI.
 | Mir. Gwin. Mir. President, I ask the Senate now to take up the bill which was put aside this morning for the purpose of acting on the bill which has just been disposed of I move to take up the bill "to establish line of steam mail ships between San Francisco, in California, and Shanghai in China, touching at the Sand wich Islands and Japan.' 1 hope the bill will be disposed of
 ! Mir. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I regret very much to delay the action of the Senate on the bill; but after what has been said by other Senators, 1 cannot refrain from making a few observations. 1 have voted hitherto, against the establishment of all these lines on the Atlantic ocean, or rather, 1 should say. against establishing them by the money of the general government. 1 believed that our con- merce on the Atlantic was capable of sustain- ing itself 1 did not believe it required such an immense appropriation as the ocean mail steamers have cost to carry 1t on. do not think, however, that that is the situation of our Pacific coast. l believe that it is necessary to open channels of commerce between our Pacific coast and the opposite shores of that ocean, I believe that the obtaining of that commerce Is of sufficient national importance to justify a vote in favor of the measure now proposed It is on that ground that l support it; and pre- sent this view as defense to my own constitu- ents for my action.
 But, sir, 1t is said that this measure will have a bad effect upon the mail facilities in my DOT tion of the Union. 1 do not believe it will have any effect at all upon them; but if it has any, I am satisfied the effect will be as likely to be beneficial as to be injurious. 1 consider that we have already arrived at an exceedingly un- C q because the mail revenue does not equal the expenditure; and yet, in the opinion of some, it is not so far below it as to call for action at the hands of Congress to remove us from the point at which we have arrived; and Congress has re- fused to act
 1 think the postage on letters should be in- creased. 1 believe the revenue should be in- creased by the action of Congress in some such way as that. I think we are now carrying let ters at too low rate and certainly at the expense of what has always hitherto been fixed policy of tn general government In view of these facts, l have no objection to moving forward.- If we move forward, and yield the facilities to which the interests of the country elsewhere are entitled, it is to be hoped that it will pro- duce good effect upon our legislation in re- gard to postage facilities
 
 and no step can be taken that will not be for the benefit of the people among whom happen to live. They, sir, covering wide extent of country, are now suffering very much. donot think this measure will be of any disadvantaoe to them. In the first place, it tskes nothing from the actual postal revenue which is receiv ed and yet it points the public eye directly to the great difference that exists between the ac. ho of At the same time 1t does not appeal to the pos- tage revenue for its support, but goes to the traasury. When you turn the public attention to the fact that the postage system, contrary to what has hitherto been the fixed policy of the country, is not supporting itself, that it is be- coming charge upon the public treasury. we shall either recur to the original policy, or aban- don it altogether If we recur to it. we shall make the post office department support itself. and if that is done, it will be followed by an abrdgment, and very great abridgment of all these foreign mail facilities; and it will be fol. lowed by what, it seems to me, is evidently ab solutely necessary, that is an increase of pos- tage, which has been recommended bv the executive department of the government.
 We who live at extreme distances and con. tribute largely to the pastage revenues. have no oAAooO of postage'is actually paid by us for which we receive no credit. How is this? When a far mer or planter in my State writes to a mer- chant Tn one of the eastern cities-New York, for nstance-the merchant charges my consti- tuents with the postage he pays on the cores pondence, but the credit is given to the place where the eastern merchant lives. In this way, although we of the West really pay very heavy amount of postage annually the eastern States get credit for it, and charge is then brought against us that we do not pay sufficient revenne to entite us to the mail facilities which we enjoy. Is this just? No sir, 1t is injustice of the deepest dye. It prevents us from get ting that to which we are fairly entitled and it is time something was done to remedy this evil.
 Now, sir, I am desirious to see the attention of both branches of Congress drawn directly to the recommendations of the department, and to