Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-30
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH BILL

THE SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH BILL.
This bill, for the completion Of the grand scheme
pf uuiliug IL. continents by terGraphic cummuni
cation. he. passed The United State Senate by the fol!
lowing vote:
YEAS aleasr. Alien. Bell Of Y r. Bell OF Tenn,
!1-rjamiu, Biudhesd, brown. Culamer. Dodge.
Douglas. Durkee, F,ss-n':cn, Fisn, Foot, Foster
iIa!e, Houston, James. Jones OF Iowa, Mallory.
Pratt, kusk. SEWARD, Steward. Thomson OF D.,
Toucey, Wst.,. Wilson, Wright end iulee-.o.
SiYs-Mes. n. Biggs, Clay, Crittenden. Evans
Fi,zpatrirE Gc,cr. Green, liuGi,r. lverson, Mason
Peace. pugh, Reed, Sdsl!, Thompson Of Ky ,
Tcunt,- Trrmbull aud Weler-lS.
Aer glancng at the reusous advanced on both
sides OF the question, we cannot tut concade isGt
;he bill should no: have passed in its present ioTm.
The fact, that both the termni OF tbs submarine
wires would be within British doinin;ona, is Well cal
cula;ed to throw a doubt the prOpriety of Con.
gressions action for, as urged by Mr.. Pugh in case
Of war, G,ea, Britain eau secure secresy IS we'll as
despatch in tho transmission OF all her oommuuica
tions.
Mr. Hunter said be thought the bill required some
amendment, "a it lett the whole matter at the dscrs
tivu VI the President. He in favor of inserting
some limitation in the bill, s6 he feared the United
States might 60 beyond wha, was originally design
ed, unless this precuuton takon
Mr.. Eu,k thought the guarantee OF S7O,oOo per
anuum by hi. government for o wofk Of such mag
ui,uHa bod inportance, was very moderate. he
would have been willing 10 vote Tor S2OO,UoU year.
Mr.. Seward stated that The wire for this telegraph
was already made. and the whole enterprise had
heretofore been conducted and managed with Ane-
rican capital. On the 4,h of July next, IL the bill
pa.s, there will be girdle round the world. Ii is
proposed to lend vessels belonging 10 the United
States Navy. "a the British Government will lend
her vessels to lay down this wire. because there are
not in the commercial marine, vessels suitable for
tha, work. II we do not make this contract, the Bri.
tish Government will have q priority Of messages,
aud shall have TO pay Tor the of the line, in
accordance with the contract which they make. But
II we do make this contract, we shall stand upon
terms of equality with that Government.
Mr.. Weller was not willing that $4,000 yenr
should be expended f'r this telegraph while q smi.
lar connection with the Pscitc, which was vastly
more important, was neglected.
Mr. Butler WAS no, willing to ,rus, the desnies OF
thi, couu;ry to q wire controlled By Grea: Britain
and urged other objections TO the bill.
Messrs. Rusk, Douglus, Seward and Mallory press.
ed its passage.
Mr. Bayard remarked tha: it certain that, il
practicable, line will be established. II were bet.
ter we should bave share il it, cannot
prevent It's construction by our refusal to participate
iii the enterprise. lie offered an amendment, which
adopted, providing for such arrangements a.
may be necessary TO secure 10 each government the
transmission Of i;o own messages by its own agents
Mr.. Benjamin argued that n,tead Of pursuing
nivgaraly ard exclusive policy, Great Britain has
said she will not take advantage Of her position in
this matter, but will repay that Testimonial! OF good
feeling which have recently manifested in the res
torarion of the barque Resolu,e by rendering to US
that which is juhn:;5y more valuable aDd important.
Ours graceful OF generosity, but her'sis
great sacrifice Of u.tonnl advantages which sue ex.
rusively po.-e.sas and hich tenders to III in
spirit oi rmity which viii DC L prs.erva'ive OF that
peace we all affect 70 cherish, but which he was
afraid wo take ;ic pains 10 uaintaiu. Ii we reJcc
this oder, Geve, o,iil hive -Hch an advantageous
opportunity again. Let Us not always be thinking u
war; but uss all lneuus OF preserving peace. The
money which would be expsrGed ty iris government
il. six months OF war with Grea, Britain, would far
exceed everything this governmon, would have 10
Eay lOr ICE i5b OF tuo itIeSl Iuo wv S"'N
twenty I've years Of the contract.
In connection with ,hs interesting subject, lie
Cnon refers TO ~ letter written BY A Dudley Mann
10 The late ThomGs Ri,cLie, und which appeared in
tho Union ten years ago. 1t contained about the
ar. If not the very fret, Intelligence Of tho expert
men;s made viii! the telegraph uuder water, which
was published 10 Washington, aud which occasloned
much more amazerncut everywhere than the discoye.
~ of the lightning conductor itself The idea tha'
il was to operate successfully under water, either
across the British channel or Behring's strata, was
generally rtculsd too absurd to be entertained by
rational minis. But the prediction contained i'll tho
letter with reference TO the British channel was ver
Gad nearly Eve years ago. From the day that the
ccbl. com;neuc.d working between tho French and
English .hores we understand that it has never been
out of order solitary hour. From presen: indica
tious in much less than the twenty years Predicted
IN. wire will have made the circuit OF tbs gobs.