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

iawand believe it is the duty of Congress to pass
sueh shall make the Post Office Departmen
selisustaining branch of the government am perfectly
wiling that my district should contribute its share
meeting the burdens OF the government but am not viii
ng when that is DONE that you should increase your
postal facilities between the great commercial cities to
mails day while in the rural districts the country they
no. gel more ,han two mails week. and in many in
stances not more than one week
bub sr u Is not my purpose TO espass upon the time
,he House but move to refer the bill to the Committee
the bill prefer that il should be recomitted to the Com
mites on the Post Office and Post Roads win not object
| Mr. CHuRCHWEII. win the gentleman a,,o,v ma ~
Mr.. McMULLEN No, sir my friend wants, know, to
pospone the further consideration Of this bill for three
weeks; but ! cannot consent to make or allow him to
Mr.. cnURCHWELI. win the gentleman allow me q
n9Renh tfJ fyslaaatleH wl yied tor that par-
Mr.. CHURCHWELL. / am forced TO believe that my
friend from Virginia not in the House during the early
proceedings or the day for he certainly has not understood
the position assumed in debate argument upon the
bill agree with my friend in his idea that the Post Office
Department should be sesusainng branch Of the gov
ernmen agree with him that should increase the
mail facilities in his rural district and mine desire
TO daily mails established in those sparsey settled
portions Of the country wish to see the department
placed in condition in which it may defend itself against
the competition of private enterprise against express lines
established BY private individuals. know that
muny need additional postal facilities, and object is
to increase the of the department
in his southwestern Virginia. and in Tennessee daily mails
over the mountain country.
A MEMBER. Ifyou receive weekly mails there you will
do WELL
Mr.. CHURCHWELI. Perhaps so; but | shall not be
satisfied with weekly; want 10 see daily mails there :
and could show that the operation of this bill would to
certain extent have effect in that direction for it will
be to increase the revenue Of the department
Now sir inasmuch this is an important BILL requiring
further consideration and nasnuch other gentlemen
desire to speak upon it, ask my honorable friend from
Virginia that he will allow to make the motion that its
further consideration be postponed for three weeks and
not to send it to the Committee of the Whole the
Of the Union where it viii be heard Of again this
session know that my friend cannot be so cruel TO the
only bantng which have before the body. Laughter
He processes to love and If he does then he certainly
cannot treat my measure harshly ILaughter] He will
surely let the poor bantlng live for three weeks Then
there be nothing in it, the bill will die When it dies
shall with it to the grave and tear il be the only
will allow me- now submit the motion that the consider
| alton Of the bill be postponed for three weeks 4
Mr., HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Virginia is still
Mr.. McMULLEN. ! have no doubt that my distinguish
cd friend from Tennessee believes all that he has said in
gard to the practical view of this measure.
Mr.. CHURCHWELL A good deal more.
Mr.. McMULLEN. The gentleman saysa good deal more
Of the Committee the Post Office and Post Roads in the
Thrsecond Congress equally sincere my friend
Tennessee in the belief that the then reduction of the
postage would not seriously affect the of the Post
Oice Departnspt lie was mistaken, and my friend may
Let go the Committee of the Whole the state Of
the Union There all the gentlemen who desire to speak
it, for against it, will have fair field and clear
sky. propose TO give the bill that direction propose
send II to the Committee of the Whole the state Of
the Unon where 1t will not be lost shall go with the
gentleman To resurrect it.
mission would ask the Chair whether motion has been
made that the bill be referred to the Committee OF the
Whole on the state of the Union? t
The SPEAKER The motion has not been made.
| Mr.. WASHBURN. would be glad then, If the gentle
man from Virginia would make that motion
Mr. McMULLEN. now yield, for the purpose OF expla-
nation. friend from TENNESSEE
Mr.. CHURCHWELL. When viii the morning hour eS-
pire Mr.. Speaker
Mr.. CHuRCHWBLL The honorable gentleman from
Virginia Mr. McMuLLEs has entirely misunderstood the
character Of the bill In all candor would inquire OF him
whether he has read the bill .H
Mr.. McMULLEN, have read portion of il in the
''s.peRfG M pdsTpdhWEnr eVfh'f portion Of III have s. one
more proposition to make to my friend from Virginia
win he agree to make the bill special ordcrY
Mr. McMULLEN: | cannot agree to do 80
Mr.. CHURCHW ELL. Then hope the House will agree
postpone its consideration for two weeks II 1t be the
pleasure Of gentlemen let the posponement be for three
weeks
| Mr.. McMULLEN. cannot
Mr.. CHURCHW ELL | desire simply to state, that II
the bill is referred to the Committee OF the Whole on the
state Of the Union il win be taken up for, as is
usual and customary the whole time when
mec will be occupied In discussing Nebraska, or some
other question hope therefore, that the House viii vote
down the motion TO refer the bill and postpone its consid
GRAFTON for three four weeks. Nt
The SPEAKER. The question is, on the motion to
refer the bill to the Committee of the Nhoc on the state Oh
\ the Union.
| Mr.. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker the bill which the House
has under consideration is affecting SO vitality the
interests of my constituents that cannot consent 1t shall
be disposed of without having opportunity Of exress-
ing what deem the interests not only OF the State OF
California but OF the general government IN the matter
The gentleman from Virginia. Mr.. McMuLKs, In his re-
marks yesterday upon this BILL took occasion to call the
attention of the House the fact that the Post Oniec De
parment is not scsusaining branch OF the gov
| crnment but that the contrary, IL ~ tax on the
treasury and there has TO be annual appropriation In
order to meet the necessary expenditures, 7Htf
However true that may be-and l am prepared to en-
dorse all Of the sentiments he cxprcsscd say that Of
the reasons why that very state Of things exists so lar As
the mail between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Is con-
cerned originates in the law in existence The prn-
cple of this bill is intended TO remedy this defect and
adopted by Congress- IL will be found that II will e
feet the result which the gentleman desires TO wit
that the Post Oce Department shall be selfsnstaining
branch Of the government
/ There TIVE large express companes-Adams Co.
caragua charging from twenty-five TO fifty cents on let
ter and the trip is made in twenty-five and twenty
days The result is that all commercial mon throughout
the country avail themselves Of these taees a. 'he mos
expeditions and the best calculated 10 carry out their pur
pose to wit to expedite them in the delivery OF messages
which materially affect their interests
The mail matter therefore, which carried BY these ex
press companies TO about onethrd OF the regular
United States mails and thus the department Ia cut OF
from about third OF its which to the main
| tenancc Of these large express companies.
Now, what does this bill proposc2 II proposes tha
when the asccrtans that mail can be carried
by any other route than the established in more ex
peditious manner s contract shall terminate with the ex
sng route and shall be given to that route winch VII