The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-22
SPEECH OF HON. D. B. WRIGHT,
OF MISSISSIPPI

SPEECH OF HON. D. B. WRIGHT,
OF xIsslsSIPPi
On the Office appropriation BILL delivered the House
of Representatives, August 3, 1854
Mr. WRIGHT of Mississippi asked that the sixth amend
ment may be again read
The amendment was accordingly read.
Nh. WRIGHT, of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, desire to
get the attention of the committee the amendment OF the
Senate At this period of the session it not to be expect
cd that members win take the time examine every prop
oson with scrutiny and for this reason and In view OF
the Importance of the cnaes amendment TO the interests
of State feel that have apology Tor asking the
indulgence the committee The State OF Mississippi pays
a large sum annually into the treasury. She bears this
heavy burden without a The little benefit she
receives in in the shape Of appropriations Of
money to build great edi6ces to adorn her cities in
improving harbors and rivers but in the mail facilities
which are grudgngly extended to her people.
Sir bcimportance of this department of the government
which controls the mails is much moderated There
function performed by the general government which
many persons interested in this matter of the public
mails Every man. woman, and child is interested in the
administration Of this department of the Our
highest social and intellectual enoyments dependent in
great degree upon it, The people watch its operations
with jealous vigilance and the slightest interruption or de-
lay in the regular transmission of the mails to bring
forth complaint and Politicians imagine that the
minds Of the people absorbed in the schemes and plots
which ambition coins for its own purposes But let me
assure gentlemen this floor, let all parties
that laundering partial inefficient administration OF the
Post Office Department produces discomfort among
the people than any other Of complaint
Gentlemen may, in the exberance OF their fancy sup
pose the introduction of small hobby will beget for
them mammoth reputation, and link their names with
Immortality Let suggest to such it is not only mis-
take but very silly bunder The instincts of the
are Natures philosophy 1t seldom errs, and in the end
seldom mseads We have heard in these halls
business the country and the social relations Of comm-
mites grant that it should be reduced to the lowest
capacity Of selsustaning machine but when reduced
below that you defeat the object of its reduction When
YOU reduce the department to the necessity OF sntng the
rural districts of the country in post offices and post roads
TO make the department sustain ITSELF you deal unjnsy
adj
the worthy portion of ellowcitizens Under the
present system the large cities the benecaries and the
farming and planting communities the sufferers. What
does the farmer planter whether his letters cost him
three cents when he has to send ten or heen miles
to post Office before he learn the market value OF MS
products To him, at least it is the system OF penny
wise and pound-foOlish policy.
was much surprised when heard from the gentleman
inst now that the Committee of Ways and Means did not
cur in the amendment the Senate but suppose it was
because appropriated S500o00 for the establishing OF
mail line upon The Mississippi river, from Cairo to our
great southern metropolis have SEEM since have been
here OF money appropraedto objects altogether
loca in their character and partial in their bcnehsyes
sir to objects of doubtful policy and in the estimation OF
some calling for the exercise OF power as doubtul as Is
H. nolicy When / this took it for granted that
mertorous proposition would have decidedly good time
and meet with universal commendation know tna'
herc were some gentlemen here who having very dis
nc idea OF any proposition objected to all to make show
OF wisdom doubted whether. upon proposition as clear
as this there could be found single Director bat IN .n
it seems slightly mistaken had not quite learned
the harness that necessary to give pi sale passage
through this body If it had been started in some onn
nus in company with marbe-fronted custom-houses,
think /, would in all probability have made the trp Or
if it had taken passage with river and harbor appro
priaon or with oceanna steamer think IL woula
have oated through But it is the misfortune OF TINS
amendment that it started alone standing ON Its own
merits upon It's perous voyage and hence the danger OF
being wrecked IT has the misfortune not 10 nte even
the recommendation of the Postmaster General III IL hau
come within the range OF the duties of the Secretary OF the
Treasury am inclined think he might have favored IT,
Ills iberatv on such subjects superinduces the belief But
IL fort wosn not
official sphere 1t is true it has the approval OF the sen
ate but the Senate is not conservative in the esmauon
az many worthy and talented gentlemen IN this END OF he
Capitol who doubtless think their places would be much
better Glled BY themselves But am inclined TO THINK,
when the people o the great valley OF the Mississippi come
10 look this question they will know now 70 appreciate
Its friends and reward its enemies. j,
Wise legislation adapts itself to the necessities OF the
case and takes advantage OF surrounding circumstances
The God of Nature has placed this continent valley
greater than most OF the European klngdoms
and richer its products than the valley OF the ME
Through this valley flows the Mississippi river It's length
is eighteen hundred miles and the waters that lave s
shores pass through eighteen States or this Dnion- !,
bears upon its bosom their commerce. commerce equal
to- if exceeding S3o000000o per annum rms river,
with its tributaries is the Union what the main arte-
res are the human system in commercial point Q,
view Without them the commerce OF this valley woud
sagnant the Dead and the energies OF he PROUD
and industrious people who nhabit 1t parayzed ana pros
srated.
ssWestward the star of empire takes its wayi
and gentlemen upon this floor should be careful how they
undertake rob this vast region OF its just rights AS
YOU stand upon some stately steamer she ploughs the
waves of this mighty river cast about and compute you
can the untold which flows In from the young
and vigorous West Look to the East and She too comes
with her products. Nor is my sunny south want
mo IN saying her tribute Natures laws. From the
head o NAVIGATION to the Gulf stream there is an exhibit
ton of one prominent fctand that fact is that there
more of marketable values that find their destination over
this stream than any other in the world Much OF these
commodities are exchanged by own citizens put muci
moro finds market in foreign countries. mat wmci
oes abroad exchanged for foreign prolucts Inc duue
raised from these importaons supply our government
with the revenues which srstais and uphold IT,
Now submit if il is not inst and proper that tiost
who fill The purse might be permitted, occasionally o.
least TO unoosc the puse-strngs Yet gentlemen would
recommend when the Senate proposes
after long-delayed Justice to give to the people OF TINS vas
valley their undoubed rights III mail facilities, ana AZ
eoua chance ia the trade, by knowledge OF the
market whether ct home abroad In their estimation
IL ia proper enough establish line of ocean mail steam
crs to Shanghai We cond afford give Ss6oooo to thu
Collins line 81 loss of something like 100000 per an
num- to promote commerce with foreign government
Yes we can aod millions to certain iayorlte lines OF oce
seaners TO ,,roui;tc with foreign people
;ut ,yhen hal million is asked for our own cltzensant
that portion of them which pays into the treasury wv,
thirds of its revenuets thought to be extremely pfouga
They think right give tho importer at the large cue
mon our coast the advantage of knowledge OF the make
abroad decidedly wrong to give TO the planter lrner
and artisan who the utilities in which the hlore
.leals the information never entertainer .c
high opinion of that charity which sought lis ooece
abroad for like the horizon their generosity recenes !"
YOU approach IL think people who produce th
utilities in which exporters and importers DEAL are emu
lied to correct knowledge of their market value and 2
give them this Information would send them the mails
have ever thought the duty of this government TO DIS
tribute is vors with an equal hand, and when fails