The Empire County argus., 1854-06-03
SPEECH OF MIR. LATHAM.

Mail from Nesr Orleans to San Francisco, according
| TO time.
Mr.. Speaker: The bill which the House has under
consideration now. is one affecting so vitality the
interests OF my constituents, that cannot consent
it shall be disposed of without having an opportunity
of expressing what deem are the interests, not
only Of the State of California but of the General
Government, in the matter. am not prepared to
say that am in favor of the bill before the House
in its details, because think there might be sub
sttute introduced which would more efsctually
carry out what is intended.
The gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. McMullin,
in his remarks on yesterday, upon this b took
occasion to call the attention of the House to the
fact that the Post Office Department is not now
seli-sustaning branch of the government but that,
on the contrary, 1T is tax upon the Treasury, and
there has to be an annual appropriation in order to
meet the necessary expenditures.
However true that may be-and am prepared
to endorse all of the sentiments he expressed-- say
that one OF the reasons why that very state of things
exists so far as the mail between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts is concerned, originates in the law
now in existence. The principle of this bill is in
tended to remedy this defect and if it is adopted
by Congress, it will be found that it will effect the
very result which the gentleman desires, to wit:
that the Post Office Department shall be selfsus-
tanning branch Of the Government
Now, what are the facts? At present the mail is
carried between the cities of New York and San
Francisco for $S5OOO0 per annum The average
length OF time by the Panama route-by which
route the mail is carred--s about thirty DAYS 1t
has been done in twenty-five days; but The average
time will be found to be thirty days There are
two large express companies Adams 6; Co. and
Wells, Fargo Co., which carry mail matter by
Nicaragua, charging from twenty-five to fifty cents
on letter; and the trip is made in twenty-five and
twenty-three days The result is, that all CONNER
cial men throughout the country avail themselves
| OF Ns 10 m nd Iast
calculated to carry out their purpose, to wit to
pedite them in the delivery OF messages which
terialy affect their interests
The mali matter therefore, which is carried by
these express companies amounts to about one
third Of the regular United States mails; and thus
the Department. s cut Of from about one-third of
its revenue, which goes to the maintainance Of these
large express companies.
Now, what does this bill propose? 1t proposes
that when the Government ascertains that u mail
can be carried by any other route than the one es-
tablished, in more expeditions manner, its contract
shall terminate with the existing route and shall he
given to that route which will carry it mura cxpc-
ditousy.
There are four routes between the Atlantic and
the Pacific now occupying the attention of men of
capital--the Panama route. the Nicaragua route.
the Tehuantepec route, and the route between New
Orleans, Vera Cruz, and Acapulco. have no doubt
in my own mind that the mails will be eventually
tween New Orleans and San Francisco Can be car.
ried safely by the Vera Cruz and Acapulco route in
fifteen days. But do not believe it will ever be
carried in ten days. at II cost to the Government,
under this bill of 100000, which seems to be the
greatest objection of many gentlemen to the bill
You now pay So5OO0O to carry the mails in from
twenty.sevcn to thirty days.
MIR. Churchwell Nine hundred and sixty thou
sand dollars
Mr.. Latham. Nine hundred and sixty thousand
dollars the gentleman from Tennessee says. This
bill proposes that the mail shall be carried in twen-
tyfve days for $4,000. And if the time is reduced
to fifteen days--whch IN my opinion is the lowest
possible limit that it can be carried--it will cost
Sl,OOOOOO, or but little over what the Government.
is now paying for the transportation Of the mail bv
the Panama route in twenty-seyen to thirty days
| Now what | desire to call the attention of the
House to moro particularly, is, that the principles
of this bill are right If the Government desires to
relieve itself from the burden of taxation in carry
ing and keeping mp the mail between the Atlantic
and Pacific coast it must adopt this principle or it
cannot possibly relieve itself from large burden Of
taxation laid upou its shoulders | wish to cay fur
| ther -
MIR. Smith of Virginia. Will the gentleman
from California allowsme to say that have not re-
ceived single letter from California for months.
MIR. Latham That's the true condition ofthiugs;
and so far do know such delay in receiving letters
from California to be true, that the really important
matter which comes to me as 4 member OF this body
receive regularly by the express companies, and it
reaches me some five six days before the mail
reaches me. And this is the in the experience
of the commercial men of the country, 1t is these
express companies which relieve the Post Office De-
partment Of that income which it should properly
receive, and which should 60 towards sustaining
the route that is at any time established.
/ wish to call the attention OF the House to this
fact. Kyou send this bill to the Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, the result will be
that the bill will never be reached and this Congress
will adjourn without being able to obtain any ac-
tion whatever upon it, whetOer it contains merits
or not If the consideration of the bill is posponed
for three weeks why then the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads can investigate this mat
ter; they can whether this bill is capable Of be-
ing amended in its details-and for one, think il
s-and the bill then be properly reached.
The committee can amend the bill SO to relieve
the Government from debt, and obyiate the very OBJ
lection which the gentlemen from Virginia Mr..
| MCMULLIN has expressed against the bill, and
which | know entertained by other gentlemen
upon this floor. When it comes up for consdera-
ton at the expiration of three weeks, the Commit
tee on the Post Office and Post Roads can report
substitute and amendments, and then it can be dis
cussed fully by the House, and the result will be
that the Government can carry out the principle,
which all know will tend to relieve the Post Of
! flee Department from that burden of taxation which
is now imposed upon it. now renew the motion
made by the gentleman from South Carolina, MIR.
ORR that the confederation of the bill be DOStnuncd