The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-24

Mr.. HUNTER. suppose we can defer the contract I'M
ill., by treaty, make agreement with Great Britain
on this point
Mr. HUNTER Then TO pass the bill Is TO give the Brit
ish government these advantages.
Mr. RUSK. / do not think SO. We could cut the wire
in two three hours II we were to go TO war think 1t
win be great means Of preventing
Mr.. CASS wish to suggest whether the bill may not
be amended by adding proviso that money shall be
expended until have received from the Brit
ish government that this communication shall be free to
well in in peace. Otherwise 1t Is very mani
fest the honorable senator from Virginia says that we
building up OF rapid communication for the
British in time of war which We at the very
time when we may most need it. II seems to me such
provso could be inserted in the bill and not delay the
work.
Mr. PUGH rise for the purpose Of offering such
an amendment the senator from Michigan has sug-
gested:
Provided That this act shall not take effect until treaty
shall have been and ratified between the govern
Of Great Britain and the United States whereby such
portions of the British in North y
shall have been subjected to the principle OF neutraza
ton adopted in the convention relative to Central Amer
lea sgned at Washington the 10th of April 1885, and
such other supplementary thereto may be rat
flied hereafter.
am sorry that this bill is pressed to at this time
I am very much afraid that it is another Collins-lne
scheme In disguise; am very much afraid that we are
asked to vote public money to private corporation for
carrying its business and that no benefit will ever re-
suit to this government In time OF war; confessedy this
communication will not only be entirely useless to u.s.
but in the last degree injurious In time OF peace the
amount of money which stipulate to pay under this
bill is than will suffice to send all the dispatches we
need send to ministers abroad in England and in
France The of Great Britain can well afford to
pay this of money She has line OF colonies and pos
sessions bordering the whole Ut northern States This Is
communication between and another portion OF her
own dominons, as essential to her as Geographic com
But sir what is situation Central America is Of
vital Importance is the pathway from the At
lantc to Pacific possessions. We have been led by
the diplomacy of Great Britain enormously my humble
judgment nterpose there invincibe obstacle to our
in peace and to arms in war by the So
called Cayton-Buwer convention That which ID essen
ta to US we have allowed Great Britain to thrust herself
in and to dictate to the terms which we shall hold
communication with part Of this republic Now we pro-
pose to arm her with in time OF war to send ee
graphic communications from London to attack and lay
waste whole of the northern States of this republic In
Of the first thing which this must DO
Is to send an expedition Newfoundland of the tele
graph II then becomes act of the highest selfdeience
fr us to put stop this thing We shall have to fit out
an expedition for that purpose We shall have to invade
their couptry for the express purpose taking of their
hands this enormous engine cannot seel speak frank
lyhow to this government as government this scheme
can be OF any service and certainly never can vote for
4 In any shane until we have secured from the govern
meat OF Great Britain the doctrine in relation to
Newfoundland and those portions OF her POSSESSIONS wnch
command the western terminus OF this line which we have
annlied 10 Central Amereaha she shall neutralze thai
rrory that she shall not exercise control over III that
she shall not have It in her power 6y her ocers 70 take
oossesson of this terminus OF the telegraph
may be in error in these conclusions but 1t seems 70
m thai when proposition is brought here for us TO vote
equal amount OF money WIN inc Engnsn governmsa a
this engine will amount to in time % war; and what ben
eft il will confer us time OF peace As for the com
lnercia sd yantages in hme OF peace 40 pot dsny INA
they will be very great but cappot for the sake OF com
mecial advantages in time OF peace ahce Inc essenua
safety of the people in time OF war hops therefore, ina
my amendment will be adopted
MIR. SEWARD beg to suggest for the consideration
of the honorable member from Ohio that his amendment
would not reach his object If the British government
wanted to establish this telegraph to prejudice in time
OF war they probably would not despatch vessels from
Great Britain the coast of Newfoundland to cut of The
vie there but woad cut il of at the foot Of the lowe
stairs in London II the British government do not mean
that we shall any benefit OF it, they will have posses
sion of end of any way even If we spuate for free
of the western end.
Let us see where we are. What shall we gain by ref,
sing to into this agreement II we do not make II
the British government has only to add sterling
annually and they have the whole monopoly OF th
wire without any stipulation whatever-not only in wal
but ia peace five make this contract with the eopsny
we the hepet OF in time OF peace and w
POSTPONE and delay the hangers Of war; If there shall eve
be war would abroae all treaties that can be made u
regard This subject unless 1t be true s the honorable
from Virginia thinks that treaties cas se aoe
which will be regarded obligatory by nations IN time Of
war II So have all the advantages in time OF peace
for the purpose of making such treaties hereafter without
the least infer that there would be any
negotiation with u.s. IL we should desire to do In the
mean time the delay would prornct and endanger the
COmpleuon OF LnB enterprise,
Is eady except that naonal vessel 10 wanted for the
purpose OF laying it, 1t involves expensr~np gontr
button on the part of the United States The British gov
ernment it had such disposition as the honorable SEN
ator suppose would certainly have proposed to monopo
lze all this tslegraphic line, instead OF proposing TO oil
vide il.
Mr.. HALE. have objection to considerations Of
the character which have inst been spoken of subjects
of this kind. 1t that the spirit and the
matters of legislation which have necessary connexio
with Them If to be governed by considerations OF
that sort they would paralyze all improvements they
would stop the great appropriations for commerce. they
would neuraize that policy which sets our ocean
ahoat Nobody pretendS that the intercourse
which is kept up between Great Britain and this country
by our steamers would be continued a. time OF
war; the communication with France or other ma
lions
If we are deferred that reason shall be pursuing
policy that will parayze improvements on those parts OF
the COST which lie contiguous to the lakes Tbe city oil
Detroit will have be abandoned beautiful and progress
sve IT, because in time OF the mansions OF her
citizens there lie within the range of British guns
Mr. CASS. Do not be afraid about that.
Mr. HALE l confess this consideration struck me very
forciby when visited that beautiful city in l848 and
presidency lived directly within the range of British guns
in the city Of Detroit. Laughter
II we to be governed by considerations OF this sort
all great enterprises will be parayzed because the qnes
ton is brought up "What if takes placer do NOT
What will the suspension bridge at Niagara be good
for in time of war; II the British cut off their end OF it
our end will not be worth much. So it will be with all
these improvements am not going to yaticinate OF
prophecy indulge in antcpaons Of the millennium but
do not believe twas the object of Providence in creating
this world and placing here that should be in
tnual state of warfare. My friend from Georgia Mr.