The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-27

costs England nothing, and 1t costs US nothing
But American citizens have commenced this enterprise
The honor aud the glory Of the achievement If successful
will be due TO American genius and American daring
why should the American government be penurousl
do not know that that is the proper word for 1t costs
should we be actuated by beral spirit
as 10 refuse the of OF steamships to convey the
wire when does not cost rhng to the treasury of
the United Sates2 We did furnish moIcinnitely
than that TO help TO take the soundDgs across this
line for the benefit of conmerce We thought II
matter Of honor and credit to this to be
gagged In the great scenGc work of determining the depth
OF the ocean, and the tracks of vessels IL In order to
lie and expedite the transportation Of persons and
property Why not use one ship for this purpose?
10 this connexon will remark that iii order to obviate
the objections which have been suggested here about the
number of ships that may be furnished propose to make
verbal amendment The bill reads shat the President
citation for the aid OF the United States in laying down the
cable" would insert, for the aid of the United States
BY furnishing not exceeding two ships in laying down the
Mr. SEWARD. have no objection to that
Mr.. DOUGLAS That will show on the face Of the bill
what aid is to be furnished in laying down the cable
put in the limitation mot exceeding two" for the
that in looking into the memorial of the company find
Mr. SEWARD. The company ask for but one, aud il
was but question Of detail in drawing up the bill
1t thought that might be displaced, and another
the discretion of the President and the Secretary of the
Navy. t,r
Mr.. DOUGLAS will draw attention to the memorial
to show that they never contemplated to use more than
one ship @ - 5l5
To avoid failure In laying the CABLE 1t Is desirable
every Precauton and therefore have the honor to
viii authority to detail steamship for this PURPOSE
that the glory OF accomplishing what has bsen Justly
the q
the globe" osA t tF
A steamship is all they ask and am glad the senator
from New York is willing to accept the amendment to in
ser the limitation not exceeding two ships" Then the
only remaining expense to the United States $4,000
year. that we are to furnish for the transmission Of ne
gence this line. you look into this proposition you
will find that the expenditure to begin when the line is
in operation. Our compensation is to bethe that the
British government make We not to pay dollar of
money for laying down the WIRE We to contribute
dollar to the establishment Of the telegraph but
pay for the intelligence that cause TO be transmitted
it after it shall be in operation The proposition is
this:
"The British government from the time Of tho compile
ton of the line and SO long 1t shall continue in working
order undertakes to at the rate Of fourteen
thousand pounds year." 8
prise is successfa Suppose they and lay down this
wire and proves unsuccessful what responsibility do
incur? What loss have occasoned2 Nothing except
the OF steamship in transporting the wire from the
American coast to the centre OF the ocean, where is
meet British chip and the wires to be attached to
each other and the communication made complete If it
works WELL then incur the responsibility of paying
$4,000 for the of the telegraph by this govern
ment This is all there of it and when the profits of
company shall equal six per cent on the cost to
pay only $4,000 year s5i a .
think we gain more than that even in the saving of
mail service 1t is matter of vast importance that
mail steamers should 20 the in the short
possible time Our pecunary interests depend
upon the earliest possible intelligence. When this wire
shall be operation what difference will it make whether
the vessels take ten days twelve days in crossing the
with the mail-bags, when your commercial inell-
gence is going through each day and each hour you
have friend the other side OF the ocean, you
municate with him in few hours if not in few minutes
you have any business transactions you conduct
them as well without the mail with it. 1t therefore,
dspenses with that stern necessity of saving few hours
in the transmission Of the mails need not spend the
time of h Senate to prove that probably oneha Of the
expense of transporting the mails the
stoned by the effort to five six hours days
time in voyage can get your mails carried for half
price you will allow the vessels to take two days
In the voyage II is for the speed that you pay the
bounty The high bounty is for the greatest possible
| speed. 2ai 56S q
When look into this proposition cannot conceive on
what ground objections to it rest cast out of view
tirey the argument; look upon it solely peace
as commercial and business In that point
of view believe the government will obtain service
for the amount of money than by any other contract that
have made, make for the transmission
of intelligence 1t is mail operation. 1t is post Office
arrangement 1t is for the transmission of intelligence
and that what understand to be the function of the
post Office department hold it therefore, to be legiti
matey within the proper powers of the the
employing OF stage coach or steam car or chip to
transport the mails either TO foreign countries to differ
ent portions of our country.
/ Is the amount to be paid too much2 Clearly not |
will venture now the assertion that senator this
floor was astonished at the small amount of money asked
for to accomplish this great object had supposed 1t
going occasion an expense of several hundreds of thou
sands of dollars year. instead of $4,000 look upon 1t
wise and economical measure coming properly
within the conceded powers of this government and in
volving atitudnous wide construction in order to
find the authority of the government for the measure In
this point of view have felt TO be my duty to again
participate in this debate, although had hoped that
should have been able take the vote and pass the bill
before and proceed to the consideration of that
interesting topc-the great contest between Georgia and
South Carolina that is convusng us here in connexon
| with new navy-yard.
| Mr. BUTLER am very willing that we shall have
the contest If contest IL be- between Georgia and South
Carolina settled; and shall settle 1t in a
friendly spirit but have idea of trusting the desti-
nes of this country wire controlled by Great Britain
municaton, and that this wire is but post Office regu
latonl With qualification, suppose 1t may be
this qualification is palpableit is mail arran cement
under the surveillance OF Great Britain. Whether in mat
ters of diplomacy, in matters OF war, in matters of
mercc or in any matter which may affect the policy
may be involved with other nations, here is attitude:
England can, by this means write TO her agents. and the
communications be kept secret but our communica
tons will be known to the British government II they be
of magnitude enough to them in finding them
out Indeed, il 1t matter which touches the safety
and honor of Great Britain the allegiance of the operator
there to the Crown would absolve him from the oath to
| keep such secret M t4s sr y
| What would be attitude 10 the case OF a war
Great Britain might send communication to Newfound
land to lombard New York before any communication
could be given by proclamation. She would have all the
THOMPSON in his hurried remarks has uttered great deal
of wisdom. If you gave me the choice wonld not go
into this copartnershp If Gratlously offered to
would decline ii, because it is copartnership in
which must necessarily be under the control OF the
pcror power as long they choose TO be friends and they
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