Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-06-19
OCEANIC TELEGRApH.

petite Tdeqraptic Communication for the
use Of The Gorerament IN rs foreign inter
course.
Mr. Foor Mr. President, voted for this
bill as it passed the Senate. shall vote now
in favor Of concurrence in the House amend
ments. Both Houses. upon full considcra-
ton have agreed upon the leading features,
and thus hgee siguifed their approval Of the
purposes of the bill. The House amendments
arc simple. we'll understood by the whole
Senate, Of comparatively little importance,
and require no examination in committee
They do not impair or essentially modify the
main provisions and objects of the bill. The
friends Of the measure can have no hesitancy
in agreeing TO these amendments at once,
without delaying, and thereby cndangoring
the passage Of the bill. The amendment of
the honorable Senator from Virginia Mr..
Hunter, is an adversary proposition. tend
ing, If not designed. to delay, aud so far forth.
to defeat the bil--a Legitimate and parliament
tary course, to be sure as coming from q hos-
tile quarter. Such a motion will of course,
enbody the vote Of the opposition to the bill,
bat will not be likely to command a vote from
those who desire its passage
shall vote in favor Of concurrence. be-
cause ! have no objection to the House a.
mendments, and am in favor of the objects of
the bill. and desire its immediate passage in
order TO secure those objects. ! regard the
measure which this bill is intended to aid as
the great and crowning enterprise Of this age
. of progress in the application of art and sci-
cnce TO the practical purposes Of life. ! have
am abiding confidence in the complete success
OF the proposed undertaking. This conf
dence ia founded chiefly upon the results Of
experiments already made, and upon the opin-
ions Of scientific and practical men Subma-
rino telegraph lines have been laid down in
several instances, and in every case they have
been attended with complete success to the
extent they have been tried.
But Mr.. President, let me inquire for a
moment what is the proposition upon which
we are called to act-the proposition contain
cd in the bin before us Why sir, TO express
it in brief, it is nothing moro nor less than
whether we will aid in an effort which, if sue
ccssiul, is TO place MS as Government and a
people in direct and immediate telegraphic
communication with the civilized world. for
the comparatively triAng consideration Of ff-
ty to seventy thousand dollars year The
experiment if successful, costs as nothing
but the use Of ono. or at most of two, vessels
for few months which would otherwise be
unemployed. in assisting to lay down the wire
The whole loss, in case of failure, falls upon
the company.
In the event of the success of the enter
prise-and success is hardly to be doomed
doubtful-its benefits to our country, and to
the whole country, and to every material in
terest of the country, commercial, political.
and social. must, indeed. be invaluable. No
man may now undertake to measure them.-
lt places us in daily communication with the
capital and the commercial marts of every
State in Europe, and with portions of Asia
and Africa. II places us in daily communi-
cation with our own diplomatic representa-
tlvcs at foreign courts-at Lonuou ana rdils
and Madrid and Viena and ST. Petersburgh
and Constantinople and elsewhere. The lead
ing events which transpired on the eastern
continent on yesterday are made known to the
American people to-day. The debates in Par
liament revolution in France the fate of
a battle the fall Of city or an empire; the
change Of dynasty; all the great and stir
ring events of the day as well the daily
prices current, are brought forthwith to the
knowledge of our own Government and poo-
pie. II is for those who say that all this is
nothing to oppose this measure. 1t is for
those who may regard all this Of no account,
to laugh at it as a wild and impracticable and
visionary schem. 1t is for those who may
count all this as of no value. to denounce it
as an extravagant and unwarrantabe waste of
the public money. But, sir, | have faith TO
believe it will stand the test Of the sevorest
ordeal, and outlve all assaults Of whatever
character, aud from whatever quarter that
it viii command the undivided assent Of the
American peoplea as great economical meas
ure-as measure of immense practical value
to the country-as a measure eminently Pro-
motive of international peace, union. and har-
mony--as one of the proudest triumphs which
genius and art have ever achieved-as, in
short the sublimest consummation of the age
in which we live
just so widely different are my views and
my antcipatons from those of the honorable
Senators who feel themselves constrained to
oppose the passage of this bill A very few
months, however, will test the results of the
experiment and test the wiser policy and the
deeper discernment of those who resist or OF
those who favor the measure When it shall
have been once brought into successful and
triumphant operation as its friends anticipate,
it will yindicate itself-it will silence all clam
or. all ridicule. and all opposition, and be
hailed everywhere and by everybody as boon
to the country aud the world. And wher
once its benefits and its blessings shall have
been fully realized, depend upon it. the Amer
ican people viii never consent TO dispense
with them. As soon would they consent tC
dispense with our whole system of railroads
and telegraphs and other modes Of interna
tional communication.
This is by no means the first time that ar
important experimental enterprise has beer
secuted as a wise and visionary scheme, in
yolving a useless waste of time and money
This case belongs not to the thousand schemes
and humbugs of the hour, resting upon NJ
principles of science or Of common sense bu
which contravcnc both. 1t belongs to nC
class of supposed new discoveries, nor docs
il propose the development of any new prin
ciple hitherto untricd and unknown. 1t on
. ly proposes to extend and enlarge the opera
ton of a well known principle Of natura
science, and which has been thoroughly test
ed. But all new and untricd enterprises
whether practicable or impracticabe, mus
I pass the ordeal public and private criticism
Fultons experiment encountered ieers ant
, ridicule, when he placed the first steamboa
y upon the waters Of the Hudson The frs
!, idea publicly announced of the possibility o
running carriages or cars over land by steam
.,,.or % tLo rote of thirtv or fortv miles nj