The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-18

Of tbe bill this morning appears appointed
o. ne committee OF conference on IT. IL had become my
duty 10 examine these questions and to understand them
fuiy and reference TO the proceedings will show thar
voted against the third section motion To strike il out
believe the honorable from Virginia has said
tat Is yioatiye Of the true principles of the contract and
common justice and deemed il my duty that OCCASION
IN every way which usthab prevent the passage
OF this b only rose at this time TO express my gratif-
cation that the attention Of honorable and distinguished
senators had been called TO it, that about 10
90 what we were upon the very Of preventing at that
ume-lusiice TO all these people Now, have doubt
that II the Senate adopts the notion and indefinitely post
ones this bill can bring up every question connected
win these lines of steamesboth those referred TO in the
third section and those referred 10 in the noceand dis
pose Of them in such to do ample justice 70 the
individuals concerned while maintain the honor of the
government hope to see it done sir
MI. BtODHEAD. 4 shall vote for the indefinite post
ponement Of the bill because believe both questions
be better considered either in separate bill or upon an
other appropriation bill during the present session Upon
that ground vote for the postponencnt without commit
ting ysef on the other question.
Mr.. BENJAMIN. will merely call the attention Of the
senate to the fact that this third section met with sach
stsng opposition the night of the I'd OF Aassst whes
it discussed at last session that repeated efforts
made to strike out only in whole hut in detail
and upon occasion then there present in the Senate
more than bare quorum The first effort made upon
my motion TO strike out from the third section the words
from New York 10 Liverpool from New York, via South
ampten, to Bremen, and from New York, via Cowes
Havre and back II determined in the negative
yeas 6 nays l7by one majority Of bare quorum Of the
Senate
The next motion was by the senator from Pennsylvania
who has just spoken. That moved to strike out
the whole of the third section That lost only thirty
three members voting, bare quorum-ycas "A and
10 Fraly the motion made by the senator from Texas
Mr. RusK to strike the notice. there was again vote
of but thirty-two members Of the Senateyeas u nays
l5
1t is obvious by reference to these figures that the
Senate has had fair opportunity Of pronouncng its de-
cision n Senate the questions involved in this BILL
which involve the national faith and honor SHALL there
FORE vote FIR the indefinite postponement of the bill
Mr.. TOUCEY. Mr. President these contracts were made
under the authority of Congress These vessels built
in accordaice with those contracts under the superntend
ence of the Navy Department They have been accepted
by the government and have performed the duties devovd
on them BY the contract for series of years. Now if
understand the third section Of this BILL it proposes
that, without our forming an opinion the subject
whether the other contracting parties have performed the
contract made by them and without investigation
shall commit to three Of our officers the power if they
see fit to freak up this contract concur with the honor
able senator from Delaware that it is question of public
aitha question which, in my apprehension rises infinite
y above any pecnnary consideration 1t is this consider
alton which decides my vote. am in aver of the motion
of the senator from Texas because of any objection
the notice upon which the two houses have differed but
the ground that would preserve the public faith and
abide by the contracts OF this government at whatever
cuniary sacrifice.
Mr.. BEOWN. l am as much in favor of observing the
public faith as my friend from Connecticut but if un
derstand the transaction faith has been preserved on
the part of the of these ships They required
has been already suggested by my friend from Calfo
Dullu ships Whcn should DE easily convertible
steamers Have they done that? Is there any pre-
tente that they have done 2 recollec that at the OPEN
ing of the last session of Congress document laid
tables from the Navy Department showing that an
vesgaon had been made to the capacity Of these ships
for purposes and that naval board had uncondon-
ally condemned the whole of them This the first
when Congress has been called upon to the subject
sine that report sent in. We might very we'll have
concluded without such report that the vessels had been
built according to contract but being officially notified
from the proper department. from the department
der whose auspices these contracts made that they
have not been complied with ought not Congress to take
notice OF the fact that there has been compliance the
part OF the builders of the ships The distinguished
ator from Delaware says that whether they built in
compliance with contract or not we accepted them How
did we accept them2 Was Congress consulted as to
whether they should be accepted They We're bait 1t
said they built in compliance of contract They
entered into the service under the direction of the Navy
Department but getting an idea that they had not been
built according contract the Secretary of the Navy in
sttuted investigation into that fact and ascertaning
that there had not been compliance with the contract he
brought the subject to the attention Of Congress Ought
we not to notice that fact at the first time when are
called upon say that the contract is binding and valid
Mr.. TOUCEY. In reply to my friend from Mississippi
would say that not debating the question
whether these contractors have kept the contract Con-
gress is not called upon to that question and if
We're should say to him that these vessels We're built
according to the instructions of the government at the
time, not variant from the contract The parties
structng these vessels followed the directions of the de-
partmen and after having built them in compliance with
the views of the government and the instructions
ceived they accepted Not only the executive but
the legislative branch Of the government has acted upon
the hypothesis that they built in accordance with the
contract well with the understanding of the govern
ment as to that contract AT the time
Now, sir, live in age Of progress live in fast
age and it, after the lapse of six years. from the
light thrown upon the subject appears that there
better modes of providing for the public service and
that these vessels will not the precise purpose for
which they intended is that why should
break up a contract which we have made am opposed
to any such course as that | very glad to hear
that the honorable senator from Mississippi win stand
by the good faith Of the government firmly any Of
Mr.. GWIN. | do not think this bill is in the proper
form to accomplish the object which at least desire
very anxious establish weekly line Of steamers to
California, and have doubt do it for the
paid for the semi-monthy line believe bill
be and brought forward for that purpose which
will meet the views of the contractors well ms of the
government and that accomplish that object be-
fore this session closes not in favor of the passage
of this bill in its present form. At the same time be-
cve the objects which desired by most of the advo
Gates OF the bill can be accomplished by new bill which
fore vote for the indefinite posponement Of this measure
with the hope that arrangement may be made by
which we shall have a weekly mail to California
Mr.. DIXON. desire TO inquire of the honorable SEN
ator from California if there evidence before the SEN
ate that the contract has been complied WITH that
the vessels which have been built in pursuance of contract
have not been made in conformity with its requirements
Mr.. WELLER | do not know that | understand the
senator precisely.
Mr.. DIXON | desire TO know whether or not there is
any proof before the Senate that the vessels not made
in conformity with the contract
Mr.. WELLER Understood my friend from Mississippi